Real-Life Performance of a Step 4, All-Electric Building, Canada
The developers (Innovation Building Group IBG) have made it their agenda to construct buildings without connecting them to gas anymore. Full electrification eliminates the need for typical gas infrastructure and associated trades, resulting in a reduction in both risk and cost.
In addition, newer, more airtight buildings are not a great place for gas-fired appliances, in particular gas cooktops. This is because the building code requires a range hood that vents directly to the outside. The range hood vent often compromises the air barrier system’s continuity and worsens the building envelope’s thermal performance. In addition, when the range hood is operating, it exhausts a significant amount of conditioned indoor air which must be replaced. This conditioning of the make-up air often increases the energy consumption of the building.
The latest research shows that indoor gas appliances can leak and produce more indoor pollutants than previously expected. Going all-electric is seems the better path for occupant health.
Staying ahead of the curve, building to the highest standards, and going all-electric ensures that buildings are resilient in a warming climate. This approach also ensures that the building owner is shielded from the financial consequences of emissions limits for existing buildings, which are starting to gain some traction in British Columbia.
In partnership with the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), every aspect of the Radius building envelope (IBG’s previous development in Pemberton) was modelled to identify the most cost-effective solutions for energy efficiency. Lessons learned from the Radius building were applied to Orion and IBG aims to continue to use or improve this model in each subsequent build. The solutions identified are simple:
- use the most efficient HRV/ERV,
- use the best-performing windows,
- use heat pumps to heat and cool the ventilation supply air,
- use a heat pump hot water system, and
- build an airtight high-performance building envelope.
This design offers resilience to extreme events, such as heat waves and wildfire smoke, by providing occupants with cooling, air filtration, and 100% fresh air for heating and cooling.
In addition, Orion encourages more climate-friendly transportation options by providing a 120V outlet in every parking stall and carport, which can be used for Level 1 electric vehicle (EV) and e-bike. Four Level 2 EV charging stations provide residents with faster charging options.
Lessons learned
- To avoid that the DHW pumps freeze, they all run simultaneously when there is a need for hot water. None sit idle.
- The back-up swing tank is heated by a Stiebel Eltron 36 KW boiler with a small circulating pump which was half the price of the original specification, a 120-gallon hot water tank with a 6KW element.
Key facts
| Building | Heat Pump and Source | ||
| Location | Pemberton, Canada | Number of HP | 2 for SH 8 for DHW |
| Construction | 2020 | Operation mode | monoenergetic |
| Gross floor area | 4827 m² | Heat source | air |
| No. of apartments | 45 | Type of system | central-decentral |
| Level of insulation | good | Model | Mitsubishi (SH) SANCO2 (DHW) |
| Heating sytem | Domestic Hot Water | ||
| Thermal energy demand intensity | 10 kWh/m2 per year | Max. temperature | 49°C |
| Additional heating | 500W baseboard heaters in each flat | Additional heating | EL boiler 27 kW (supplementary) |
| Other information | |||
| Climate Zone | Dsb | Refrigerant | CO2 |
| Family Membership | A2/A5/B1 | ||
Space Heating:
Orion has a centralized heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system which includes a Swegon Gold RX-35 energy recovery ventilator (ERV) unit with 86% efficiency. The ERV is connected to two Mitsubishi air source heat pumps with a variable refrigerant flow (VRF). The heat pumps allow the ERV to double its ventilation capacity and provide additional heating and cooling to respond to the peak demands.
The ERV has a bypass mode to flush the heat out and help cool the building in summers when the exterior temperature is lower than the inside temperature, especially at nighttime. The building also has a supplemental baseboard heating system with individual thermostat controls within each unit.
Energy-efficient appliances with minimal need for venting are selected to save energy and minimize envelope perforations that compromise the airtightness. For instance, ductless condensing dryers condense extracted moisture and discharge it down the drain, avoiding the need for exterior dryer vents in each unit.
Domestic Hot Water:
Domestic hot water (DHW) heating is provided by SANCO2™ air-to-water heat pumps, which are part of a system that includes a series of storage and swing tanks. CO2 is a natural refrigerant with a low global warming potential (GWP). It is becoming increasingly popular as a refrigerant for climate-friendly water heating in BC. Hot water is produced at 66°C and delivered at 49°C through a mixing valve.
An electric boiler was installed as a supplementary device that activates when the flow temperature falls below 49°C.
CA002 – Orion
Case study delivered by: Zero Emissions Innovation Centre (ZEIC) Orion: Real-Life Performance of a Step 4, All-Electric Building | B2E