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The travelling, Sustainable Condo

Display is easy on the Earth
Showcases green products available

From the bed linens to the appliances, from the paint on the walls to the wood frame, every item used to build and furnish the Sustainable Condo display now on exhibit at the International Home Show in Mississauga has been chosen for the same reason — it's easy on the Earth.

The educational travelling display is intended to whet the appetites of homebuyers and builders by showcasing currently available green technologies and sustainable products.

"We want people to see what products are readily available so that they can begin to expand their lexicon," explains Mark Salerno, a district manager with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., one of the sponsors of the display.

"People today ask for gas fireplaces and granite countertops. They're starting to go beyond that and ask for energy-efficient appliances and lighting," he adds.

The display is a full-size, 1,000-square-foot presentation suite that came to Toronto from Vancouver via train in two freight containers.

It was created there about three years ago by the EcoSmart Foundation, a Vancouver-based non-profit corporation that aims to promote environmentally friendly technologies.

"We wanted to show the public and developers that there could be some alternatives in terms of green buildings," says Michel de Spot, president of the EcoSmart Foundation.

Wood used for building materials and furniture is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council to be from forests that are sustainably managed.

The flooring is made from reclaimed fir salvaged from a restaurant and sawmill in Vancouver.

The condo is outfitted with a hot drain water energy recovery system, which essentially harnesses the heat from wastewater going down the drain and uses that to preheat fresh water going into your hot-water tank.

A green roof provides an extra layer of insulation, reduces storm water runoff and decreases the warming of the urban environment.

An "energy wall" made up of photovoltaic panels captures energy from the sun and can offset electricity costs by $70 a year.

While most of the exhibit is from Vancouver, local interior designer Sue Bennett, of Bennett Design Associates, was tasked with outfitting the entire condo with locally supplied furnishings, accessories and appliances. Of course, they all had to be environmentally friendly.

It was a tall order with a short deadline of one month, but Bennett said it was easier to fill than she anticipated.

"There's a large market for sustainable products," she says.

Bennett says 15 years ago such items would have had to be custom made, but today they can be found in mainstream stores such as HomeSense, the Bay or Home Depot.

"It's amazing how many environmentally responsible products you can find. But you have to know what you're looking for," she says.

All bedding and linens are made from natural fibres, such as cotton, wool and silk. Because fabrics have been manufactured with vegetable dyes rather than chemical dyes, there are fewer emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The sofa has been made with low VOC foam and low VOC glue.

The bathroom is equipped with a water-conserving dual-flush toilet, which gives the user the option of selecting a short flush or a long flush. With the short flush, three litres of water is used to flush liquid waste. With the long flush, six litres of water is used to flush solid waste.

The kitchen has a Fisher & Paykel dishwasher, which comes with two drawers, each independently operated. This water-saving feature allows the user to wash small loads as economically as large ones. The Energy Star-approved appliance uses as little as nine litres of water per drawer. It also has a delayed start option, which lets the user program the dishwasher so that it comes on during the night when energy demand is down.

The Ariston combination washer-dryer is a space-saving, energy and water-saving appliance. An Energy Star appliance, it has a spin speed of 1,200 RPM, which allows more water to be extracted for faster drying time. "People will get a feel for things they can request from their condo builders and things they can go out and purchase themselves," Bennett says.

The condo was designed by Busby Perkins + Will Architects. Sponsors include the Conservation Bureau, RBC, Minto, Western Economic Diversification Canada, Tridel, Better Buildings Partnership, OZZ Comfort Solutions, the Toronto & Region Conservation Authority, and Viessmann.

The Sustainable Condo will be featured at the International Home Show until Thanksgiving Monday. The show takes place at the International Centre at Airport and Derry Rds. The display then moves to the CBC Headquarters at 250 Front St. W. from Oct. 31 to Nov. 14. It will be on display there as part of the Green Building Festival, Oct. 31 to Nov. 1.

It then moves on to the Construct Canada show for building industry professionals, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, 255 Front St. W. from Nov. 30 to Dec. 1.

Go to http://www.sustainablecondo.com