How We Build

The Box

A major feature of Howland Green Building Systems is the upgraded Insulated Concrete Form (ICF). Howland Green has invested in custom made ICF which increases the walls from 2-5/8” of Expanded Polystyrene Insulation (EPS) on each side to over 4”. Which creates an estimated R42 value, approximately 3 times more than the Ontario Building Code guideline.

The Roof

Generally, a very large area and exposed portion to thermal transfer, Howland Green Building Systems maintain an R value of at least R80 with the use of high density ISO – 4 times more than the Ontario Building Code requirement.

The Windows

High quality triple glazed fiberglass, Low E Argon filled and photo sensitized to reflect solar gain in the summer and adjusts for absorption in winter. This is 4 times the standard.

Garage Openings

Enclosed entirely, thereby eliminating at least 80-100,000 KWHs of energy for ice/snow melt.

Lighting & Split-Level Lighting

The most current LED options available. Plus, motion-sensored lighting for hallways, and garage parking, keeping the minimum active until motion is detected.

Smart Basements

Basements are constructed using enhanced ICF construction eliminating the need for any auxiliary energy as very safe temperatures are maintained, despite the outside climate. Also, a “super bright” white paint is used in the basement (excluding flooring). The result is an 80% reduction in lighting requirements as the light refracts throughout.

Through the simple effort of double wrapping hot water tanks, the “standby energy” required is reduced by 65%. The result is reduced energy for hot water consumption.

Hot Water Storage

Decant Recapture

A new and proven idea whereby “spent energy” of hydro transformation and photo voltaic inversion is captured from the air and fed into the domestic hot water supply. Thereby changing a problem of excessive heat into a positive reduction in energy for hot water.

Geothermal Heating & Air Conditioning

By endorsing energy conservation at the beginning, the efficiencies of geothermal are multiplied, thereby taking the customary highest energy use in a building and reducing it to one of the lowest. Approximately 10% of the normal building.

Energy Recovery Ventilator

Standard use for efficient delivery of required fresh air.

Photo Voltaic (Solar Panels)

As the primary energy source, photo voltaic offers a large production capability tied into the electricity grid and fed through Load Displacement, administered by a sub-metering network to individual needs. On some projects (Howland Green Business Centre), energy beyond annual needs is offered to the grid at no cost, helping to reduce someone else’s footprint.

Electric Potential Storage

NiCad and Lithium options to carve away energy from solar production and used for electrical potential independent of the grid for constant common lighting.

Energy from solar production and kinetic harvesters compresses air into standby tanks for energy use in garage doors and exhaust fans. One more step towards site self-sufficiency.

Pneumatic Storage

The collection of useful data regarding the nature of energy use within the building helps monitor actual real-world performance so adjustments can be made accordingly.