This article has been reprinted courtesy of Inamn News.com
Monday, June 06, 2005

A company that builds rechargeable batteries has partnered with a custom-home builder to create an energy-efficient "smart home" in Calgary, Canada.

The Hybrid Living Home will feature roof-mounted wind turbines and solar panels to provide electricity for the operations of the home; "earth tubes" to draw fresh outside air into the home through an underground piping system; and a lithium electrical storage and power management system to provide multiple energy storage access stations located throughout the home.

Hybrid Technologies Inc., which specializes in lithium batteries, partnered with Enviro Custom Homes of Calgary in the construction of the home. Enviro provided the architectural design for the home and is serving as general contractor for the 6,000-square-foot home.

Your Energy Company Inc. will be providing the bulk of the alternative energy features in the home and smartSPACE Technologies Inc. will be providing the smart-home features. The home is scheduled to be completed by March 2006.

Some other features of the home:

Smart-Home Elements

Full security system that will incorporate fingerprint access control.
Low-energy dc-powered plasma and LCD televisions and dc powered audio and video distribution amplifier system.
Wireless communication systems with central panel
Multi-source distributed audio system to allow 6 individual zones to switch between 6 sources independently with a load-balancing panel for sound distribution.
Low-energy media room incorporating a surround-sound amplifier/receiver system, high-definition satellite receiver kit, 65" high-definition rear projection television using 3-touch screen interface units for house sound and lighting interfaces.

Base Elements

Recycled rubber roofing shingles with a minimum of 40-year warranty.
Low V.O.C paints used throughout to help eliminate "off-gassing".
Water-based finishes used on woodwork and water-based urethane finishes on wood floors.
Use of hard floor surfaces (wood, concrete, tile) – minimum 75 percent of floor area.
Natural fiber material carpet – tacked not glued.
Engineered wood products for beams, joists and headers.
All shelves and countertops made with formaldehyde-free materials. Solid wood and natural products used extensively.
Indoor moisture control program.
Natural cement stucco.
Recycled broken concrete under garage slab and base for driveway.

Energy Elements

Energy efficient site design – home orientation with regard to solar access and prevailing winds.
High-efficiency "opal" fireplaces that are designed to provide heating to the entire home through a duct-work system.
DC-powered appliances.
Waterfall feature to provide humidity.
Triple-pane wood windows with low emissive glass. Energy-star-rated and have a maximum winter u-value of not more than 0.18.
Advanced sealing package with neoprene gaskets (electrical boxes, sealing of joints, plumbing stacks).
Injected organic fibre wall insulation for all wall, ceiling and rim joist cavities. Formaldehyde-free insulation for interior partitions.
Geo-drain exterior foundation insulation board/cactus board waterproofing/under-slab insulation.
Energy-star light fixtures.

Environmental Elements

High-efficiency air filtration using UV and ionization filtration.
Septic heat recovery system to recover heat.
Water conservation program - includes rain water harvesting, low-flow showerheads, faucets and water closets (toilets).
All interior wood finishes to be sustainable, renewable, high yield and only from eco-approved plantations (lyptus, bamboo, cork).
Recycled content sheathing, insulation, exterior decking, roofing materials and batten material.
Ecological design – designing with the sun and the climate, using existing resources to minimize the disruption to the existing trees and other aspects of the local habitat.
Water conservation features including low flow toilets to low consumption showerheads.
Landscaping features to incorporate "xeriscaping" – promoting native species while conserving water and energy.
Recycle or re-use job site waste – job site recycling plan.

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