Its pretty cool when ideas about green construction that looked as far off as flying cars a decade ago are not only getting beyond the design concept but more and more frequently passing planning permission and receiving the go ahead for construction. Even in the last three or four years the rate at which such housing and business ideas surely seems to be accelerating, I’ll need to find some data to see if that perception is correct. The most recent example I found today comes from the city of Edmonton, Alberta  and shows that a new construction can indeed have no carbon footprint.

The new housing complex is not only an affordable option but the site will create just as much energy as it uses. It would be remarkable to see that become the standard in new construction, perhaps in the years ahead it can be? For example a new housing complex in Edmonton that creates as much energy as it uses. Funding has now been approved for the complex which will include 220 suites.  Brian Scott, director of research and marketing for Communitas who is behind the project adds:

“The idea is to create sustainability, not just environmentally, but economically and community-wise as well. The idea is to build a community where the energy consumed is 100 per cent off-set by the energy it creates, but is still affordable. The challenge isn’t with the technology, but how much money you need to throw at it.”

Federal money was acquired via the Equilibrium Communities Initiative, a goverment scheme that funds new methods of consumption and rewards environmental responsibility. The final construction blueprint is still being created but the building design will incorporate solar chimneys, which will provide ventilation by naturally heating contained air that in turn creates an updraft above colder, heavier air, which will cancel out the the need for an electric fan. Other ideas being researched include a waste-water system that would recycle via filtration through a series of biological filter tanks.

“As the water goes through each successive tank, each has a unique ecosystem to filter. Some will have plants, some will have algae, sometimes snails are used, all sorts of organisms that process water through the tanks. After that, you can pretty much drink out of that last tank.”

The development is projected to use about 75% less energy that a traditional building. The development will consist primarily of apartments located in four “connected” buildings each with its own distinct community. A connected block of townhomes are also being considered. While the overall development will consist of approximately 220 units for both purchase and lease, the creation of distinct “buildings”, each with its own co-operative community association will create smaller and friendlier areas in the complex. The project is being strongly linked to the idea of sustainable construction featuring rainwater harvesting, passive solar, solar PV, solar thermal & heat recovery processes.

To learn more about the ‘Station Pointe Greens’ complex please visit their website.