The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Healthy House in Toronto is one of two in the entire country. After a design competition in the early 1990s, the Healthy House was built and showcases the most green and energy-saving building opportunities available to homeowners.
The Healthy House is self-sufficient, not requiring municipal electricity or water, with reduced energy and water needs. It uses rainwater that is purified naturally, using only 120 liters of water per day for an entire family, whereas an ordinary water consumption for a similar family is 1050 liters per day.
The Healthy House also has solar panels and super-tight construction, which keeps the place insulated. On average, heating bills for the house would be less than $80 annually, and the home has some of the best indoor air quality around thanks to the materials used. Its currently under the ownership of a research company and the owner of the research company and his family has lived in it since 1996.
The CMHC promotes the use of Healthy Housing elements in everyday homes, and all one has to do is follow the key elements:
Occupant Health
Indoor air quality, healthy water and lots of lighting are important for health and well-being of human occupants.
Energy Efficiency
Because 67 per cent of home energy used in Canada is for heating and cooling, a well-insulated home will help reduce energy wasted.
Resource Efficiency
The Healthy House uses sustainable but affordable building materials while conserving energy and water. Environmental Responsibility The Healthy House doesn’t use much land, relying on creative design to make the most of space. The landscaping of the home is also resource-efficient and considering collecting rainwater to even just water the plants or garden can go a long way.
