Condominium buyers may soon have more choices when it comes to making eco-friendly decisions.
With residential homebuilders eager to test the market to see just how far buyers will go in selecting energy-saving and environmentally conscious options, condo developers have also joined the trend.
One of the first developments out of the gate to gauge consumer appetite and to showcase what options are available is Tridel’s downtown Rêve project at 560 Front St. W.
Rêve features the EcoSuite, a penthouse that showcases an array of eco-friendly and energy-efficient controls and devices. It was designed and built with the partnership of two technology companies, networking giant CISCO, and Control4, a company that configures the hardware, wiring and devices that make the system execute commands like “roll down the window shades,” or “turn up the air conditioning.”
There’s an open house for the public Oct. 15 and 16 and the unit was also on parade for Green Build’s 25,000 delegates at what was billed as the world’s largest green building conference and expo in early October.
Suites range from 645 square feet to 1,455 square feet and are priced at $344,000 to $890,000. Many are ready for occupancy now.
The technology in the EcoSuite is a collection of controls, devices and servomotors that are connected by software and driven by the homeowners’ desires. These building management systems are most often installed in commercial buildings where meeting Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards are demanded by owners and tenants. Research shows so-called “smart buildings” have healthier interiors and happier workers who tend to stay at their jobs longer and have higher productivity.
Installing these systems in residential condominiums, however, is a leap because it drives costs up in a competitive market. It’s also a bit of a compromise, since buyers are also paying for fabulous vistas, even though the floor-to-ceiling windows necessary to make the most of the views aren’t necessarily the most energy-efficient design.
“It’s a balancing act,” agrees Jim Ritchie, Tridel’s senior vice-president of sales and marketing. “We could install triple-pane windows, but that would drive the price too high.”
However, he said,Replacement China Porcelain tile and bulbs for Canada and Worldwide. bedrooms do have fewer windows to save energy and increase privacy,It's hard to beat the versatility of zentai suits on a production line. something buyers will be comfortable with.
At this stage, he says, the mission is to present an array of options to buyers, see which ones generate interest and then start to look at how they can be streamed into the design and construction process in a way that’s cost effective.
The EcoSuite is designed to contain air much more tightly than a “normal” condo, where much of the air flow gets sucked up the elevator shaft from common spaces and the units themselves.
“The engineers nearly had a fit when we said we wanted to stop the practice of undercutting doors,” Ritchie says, referring to the practice of leaving a gap at the threshold for air circulation. As a result, the units are more like modern energy-efficient homes with individual energy recovery units (ERV), which draw fresh air from the outside and bring it to room temperature using the stale inside air that is being exhausted to the outdoors.
“Each HVAC (heat, ventilation, air conditioning) unit has an ERV built into the coil,” says Ritchie, noting reducing energy costs in a building goes a long way to bring utility fees down, as well.
If all units in a building are energy efficient and equipped for individual control with programmed settings (for example, programmed for times when the unit is empty, while the occupants are working, or in standby mode while they sleep), that could reduce its overall energy footprint substantially.
To that end, Tridel has also installed both passive panels to preheat hot water and photovoltaic solar panels that will provide energy for units. Elsewhere, high-density foam insulation has been sprayed to cut heat loss through the wall and water-efficient toilet and tap fixtures have been installed throughout.we supply all kinds of polished tiles,we supply all kinds of polished tiles,
In fact, the walls are so thick that Tridel has installed cellphone repeaters in the building so residents don’t lose their signals. That’s especially important because these days urban dwellers are less likely to have a traditional land line.
Other materials in the suite have been chosen for their sustainability. Kitchen cabinets and other materials are low VOC (meaning they contain low amounts of volatile organic compounds that may be harmful to human health); floorings — hardwood and carpet — are made from recycled materials; and the countertops are made from recycled porcelain and glass and have a quartz-like look. Even the kitchen and bath tiles are made with a special finish that reacts with light to kill bacteria.
With the unit’s extra insulation and air tightness, sound, odour and dust transmission are greatly reduced, a spin-off benefit of going green, Ritchie says.
“There are voice commands for the system, so you can say ‘goodnight’ and the system will activate the overnight program settings,The additions focus on key tag and magic cube combinations, turning off the lights,” he said. “Or, if you’re watching a movie, it will roll down the shades and dim the lights. When you leave, you can set it up so everything goes to sleep and you can even use your mobile smartphone to change settings.”
There are also screens in the unit that control functions and can be programmed to control a cluster of events for romantic dinners or reading.
The industry — and certainly Tridel — understand the cost of these features may keep them off some people’s must-have list when condo shopping.
“Really, we’re dealing with what gives good return for money and what is the market demand,” says Ritchie. “What we have here installed is about $20,000 in features and that’s not for everyone. We want to get some feedback from the marketplace.”
With residential homebuilders eager to test the market to see just how far buyers will go in selecting energy-saving and environmentally conscious options, condo developers have also joined the trend.
One of the first developments out of the gate to gauge consumer appetite and to showcase what options are available is Tridel’s downtown Rêve project at 560 Front St. W.
Rêve features the EcoSuite, a penthouse that showcases an array of eco-friendly and energy-efficient controls and devices. It was designed and built with the partnership of two technology companies, networking giant CISCO, and Control4, a company that configures the hardware, wiring and devices that make the system execute commands like “roll down the window shades,” or “turn up the air conditioning.”
There’s an open house for the public Oct. 15 and 16 and the unit was also on parade for Green Build’s 25,000 delegates at what was billed as the world’s largest green building conference and expo in early October.
Suites range from 645 square feet to 1,455 square feet and are priced at $344,000 to $890,000. Many are ready for occupancy now.
The technology in the EcoSuite is a collection of controls, devices and servomotors that are connected by software and driven by the homeowners’ desires. These building management systems are most often installed in commercial buildings where meeting Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards are demanded by owners and tenants. Research shows so-called “smart buildings” have healthier interiors and happier workers who tend to stay at their jobs longer and have higher productivity.
Installing these systems in residential condominiums, however, is a leap because it drives costs up in a competitive market. It’s also a bit of a compromise, since buyers are also paying for fabulous vistas, even though the floor-to-ceiling windows necessary to make the most of the views aren’t necessarily the most energy-efficient design.
“It’s a balancing act,” agrees Jim Ritchie, Tridel’s senior vice-president of sales and marketing. “We could install triple-pane windows, but that would drive the price too high.”
However, he said,Replacement China Porcelain tile and bulbs for Canada and Worldwide. bedrooms do have fewer windows to save energy and increase privacy,It's hard to beat the versatility of zentai suits on a production line. something buyers will be comfortable with.
At this stage, he says, the mission is to present an array of options to buyers, see which ones generate interest and then start to look at how they can be streamed into the design and construction process in a way that’s cost effective.
The EcoSuite is designed to contain air much more tightly than a “normal” condo, where much of the air flow gets sucked up the elevator shaft from common spaces and the units themselves.
“The engineers nearly had a fit when we said we wanted to stop the practice of undercutting doors,” Ritchie says, referring to the practice of leaving a gap at the threshold for air circulation. As a result, the units are more like modern energy-efficient homes with individual energy recovery units (ERV), which draw fresh air from the outside and bring it to room temperature using the stale inside air that is being exhausted to the outdoors.
“Each HVAC (heat, ventilation, air conditioning) unit has an ERV built into the coil,” says Ritchie, noting reducing energy costs in a building goes a long way to bring utility fees down, as well.
If all units in a building are energy efficient and equipped for individual control with programmed settings (for example, programmed for times when the unit is empty, while the occupants are working, or in standby mode while they sleep), that could reduce its overall energy footprint substantially.
To that end, Tridel has also installed both passive panels to preheat hot water and photovoltaic solar panels that will provide energy for units. Elsewhere, high-density foam insulation has been sprayed to cut heat loss through the wall and water-efficient toilet and tap fixtures have been installed throughout.we supply all kinds of polished tiles,we supply all kinds of polished tiles,
In fact, the walls are so thick that Tridel has installed cellphone repeaters in the building so residents don’t lose their signals. That’s especially important because these days urban dwellers are less likely to have a traditional land line.
Other materials in the suite have been chosen for their sustainability. Kitchen cabinets and other materials are low VOC (meaning they contain low amounts of volatile organic compounds that may be harmful to human health); floorings — hardwood and carpet — are made from recycled materials; and the countertops are made from recycled porcelain and glass and have a quartz-like look. Even the kitchen and bath tiles are made with a special finish that reacts with light to kill bacteria.
With the unit’s extra insulation and air tightness, sound, odour and dust transmission are greatly reduced, a spin-off benefit of going green, Ritchie says.
“There are voice commands for the system, so you can say ‘goodnight’ and the system will activate the overnight program settings,The additions focus on key tag and magic cube combinations, turning off the lights,” he said. “Or, if you’re watching a movie, it will roll down the shades and dim the lights. When you leave, you can set it up so everything goes to sleep and you can even use your mobile smartphone to change settings.”
There are also screens in the unit that control functions and can be programmed to control a cluster of events for romantic dinners or reading.
The industry — and certainly Tridel — understand the cost of these features may keep them off some people’s must-have list when condo shopping.
“Really, we’re dealing with what gives good return for money and what is the market demand,” says Ritchie. “What we have here installed is about $20,000 in features and that’s not for everyone. We want to get some feedback from the marketplace.”
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