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The Canadian R-2000 Programme
From Building for a Future magazine Winter 1997

The Canadian house building industry is very different to that in the UK. In most regions it is dominated by small builders, each constructing only a handful of dwellings per year, using predominantly low rise, timber-framed construction. House size varies by region, but an average floor area of about 170 m2 is considerably larger than in the UK. Furthermore, the climate in many areas of Canada is much harsher than ours, although some coastal areas have a climate similar to the UK.

Partly due to this harsh climate, during recent years Canada has been a leader in the development of energy efficient housing. Central to this has been the R-2000 programme which has been developed over the last fifteen years to improve the overall quality, energy efficiency, and environmental impact of its housing. The principles of the programme have been adopted by other countries such as Japan and areas of the USA, and there is much that we in the UK can learn from this initiative.

The R-2000 programme was initiated by Energy, Mines and Resources (EMR) a department of the Canadian Federal Government in 1981 as a response to the, energy price increases of the late 1970s. Its goal is to encourage the construction of energy efficient homes in Canada by establishing a new energy performance standard, training builders to construct houses to that standard, and stimulating demand for such homes.

The programme includes:
builder training
construction inspection
certification of new houses
promotional, financial, and marketing assistance for participating builders
technical information for the industry
further research and standards development

Dwellings built under the programme are 30% to 50% more energy-efficient than homes built to Canada's existing codes and the programme has proven to be a viable means of stimulating the construction of energy-efficient homes regardless of R-2000 certification. Over 8,000 certified R-2000 homes have been built in the first 15 years of the programme, which represents less than 1% of new housing during that period. However, an estimated 15,000 or more have been constructed to the R-2000 specification but not certified, and the programme has significantly improved the standards of the entire house building industry.

The R-2000 programme is supported and assisted by government departments, industry partners and trade organisations. Those builders who participate fully are offered a complete package of services including training, certification and marketing. Alternatively, builders may wish to familiarise themselves with the technology in order to improve the general quality and energy efficiency of their homes.

R-2000 differs from schemes such as the Environmental Standard award recently introduced in the UK by the Building Research Establishment. It embraces a holistic approach to design based on the concept of "a house as a system" - recognising that you can't isolate elements without putting them into the context of the whole house. By concentrating on performance rather than construction specifications, and adopting an integrated approach to design and construction, the programme focuses on improving the quality of the home, making it more energy efficiency, comfortable, healthy, and durable. Furthermore, it involves an all-embracing drive to raise the standard of the house building industry by training, education, marketing and research.

Technical requirements
The R-2000 standard is based on an energy consumption target for a house and a series of technical requirements for ventilation, air-tightness, insulation, heating system and other factors. Ongoing research ensures that the standard remains at the leading edge of energy-efficient construction technology. In 1994, to stay ahead of general housing standards which were catching up, the R-2000 requirements were updated. The energy target was reduced by 15%, and the scope widened to include other environmental issues such as materials selection, water use and indoor pollution emissions.

The annual energy consumption target is calculated using a degree day based computer program called HOT 2000. The target varies with region and depends on fuel type used. The equivalent space heating target for a gas heated house with 100 m2 floor area, based in the Midlands of the UK, would be about 40 kWh/m2, compared to the current UK average of about 100 kWh/m2 for newly built dwellings. The hot water target reflectsthe greater use of hot water in North America, and at about 70 kWh/m2 for a typical gas heated house is higher than that expected in a UK house. A similar electrically heated dwelling would have a lower space heating target of about 33 kWh/m2 and hot water heating target of 45 kWh/m2..

Other features of an R-2000 house include:
a continuous air-vapour barrier
an air infiltration rate below 1.5 air changes per hour at 50 Pascals
high insulation levels which vary depending upon region but for a UK climate would be equivalent to a -U-value of 0.3 W/m2K for the walls and 0.2 W/m2K for the roof
insulated doors and energy-efficient windows
mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, tested and balanced by qualified installers.
high-efficiency condensing boilers in homes heated with natural gas
selection of some materials with recycled content
selection of some internal materials and finishes that have low emissions of indoor air pollutants
water conservation measures, such as low flow taps and low flush WCs
recycling bins for household waste

Some of these criteria are not explicitly stated in the Technical Specification but must be used in order to meet the energy consumption target. The appropriate mix of elements tailored to a specific house design, location and orientation is left up to the builder to decide, based on the HOT 2000 analysis.

Central to the R-2000 approach is the concept of a well sealed, well insulated envelope, with tests carried out to check performance. The maximum allowed air leakage rate of 1.5 air changes per hour at 50 Pascals is a demanding standard that is rarely reached in the UK. However, in Canada, particularly in areas where external air temperatures can drop to -30oC, it is essential to prevent such cold air infiltrating through the building envelope. Thus, R-2000 homes are all pressure tested, and since virtually all Canadian house construction is timber-framed, to achieve this low infiltration rate they are built with a very well sealed air barrier. Clearly, a controlled ventilation strategy is necessary for reasons of health to occupants and to control condensation. Thus, R-2000 homes have continuous ventilation, at varying rates for different rooms, using a mechanical ventilation systems with heat recovery, providing an overall ventilation rate of about half an air change per hour. The remaining demand for heating is then satisfied by a very efficient heating system.

The 1994 update expanded the R-2000 specification to address additional issues some of which are optional. These include:
the supply of the most energy efficient electric appliances (using the Canadian Energuide rating system)
energy credits for the use of high-efficiency lighting (40 lumens/watt minimum)
a requirement to use at least one from a list of material with a significant recycled content such as cellulose insulation, mineral wool with a recycled content, steel with a recycled content, plasterboard that uses recycled gypsum, recycled hardcore or engineered timber products
a requirement to select some internal materials and finishes chosen from Canada's Environmental Choice labelling scheme, including carpets and other flooring, paints and kitchen units
a requirement to include some facilities to aid household waste recycling

The average three-person household in Canada uses about 1,000 litres of water per day, which is approximately double that used in similar household in the UK. This is partly due to the use of WC's with double the flush water content of European WC's. The latest R-2000 specification requires the use of low flush WC's (although these still use 13 litres of water which is more than standard 9 litre UK WC's and double the 6 litre WC required by the UK Environmental Standard award). Also required are water saving taps and shower heads. All these measures are expected to reduce water demand by 35%.

Builder registration
To register under the R-2000 programme, a builder must complete a course of training and construct a demonstration home which is inspected during and after construction. The training includes topics which range from conceptual ideas such as the "house as a system", to appropriate site techniques such as air/vapour barrier sealing. Certified builders must submit subsequent plans to their regional office for approval. R-2000 certificates are then provided to the home buyers.

Perhaps the most important impact of the R-2000 programme has been the trickle down effect on improving energy efficiency in other new homes. It is estimated that current new housing in Canada is 30% to 40% more energy efficient than a decade ago. Much of this improvement is due to the R-2000 programme's promotion to consumers and builders and the training provided to builders in constructing energy-efficient homes. Since the programme began, over 5,000 builders have been trained, and although only about 300 are actively participating in the programme, many others are still constructing homes that meet or come close to R-2000 standards. Furthermore, the programme has stimulated the development of improved equipment such as high performance window frames and high efficiency MVHR systems, including a better understanding of their installation problems.

Conclusions
A recent Canadian government audit found that 90% of R-2000 home owners had remained in the house since it was newly built. This reflects a high level of satisfaction with the dwellings which are valued particularly for their increased energy efficiency, improved comfort, construction quality and indoor air quality. Although the number of certified dwellings built has been lower than originally envisaged, the principal success of the programme has been the indirect benefits that it has generated due to its strong influence on general residential construction. Thus, the direct energy savings from certified R-2000 houses since the programme's inception are estimated to be 1.2 peta joules (PJ = 1015 J) of energy, but indirect energy savings of 83 PJ are claimed. This is the equivalent to the total energy consumption of about 150,000 conventional Canadian homes. The programme claims savings of over C$150 million (£65m) in fuel bills from R-2000 homes

In some regions financial incentives and grants to home owners and builders of R-2000 homes have given the programme an added boost. In Ontario, for example, the local utility company, Ontario Hydro, pays C$2,000 (£900) to the R-2000 home buyer and gives the same incentive to the builder as long as the home is built in a non-gas supplied area. The Bank of Montreal offers a 0.25% reduction to mortgage rates for R-2000 homes. Thus, although the construction costs of an R-2000 house are estimated to be between 2% and 5% higher than a standard Canadian house, when fuel and mortgage costs are taken together the predicted total annual running cost of a R-2000 house should be no more than for a standard house.

In order to maintain the leadership position of the R-2000 home, a subsequent Advanced House Programme was set up in the 1991. This demonstration and education programme resulted in the construction of ten homes which have an average energy demand of 50 % of an R-2000 home. These are test bed houses for new and innovative technology, and the intention is that over time the best products and techniques proven in the Advanced Houses will be incorporated into the R-2000 specification, keeping it at the forefront of housing technology.

The success of R-2000 demonstrates that an integrated programme aimed at improving the standards of construction can have a real effect throughout the industry. Its particular relevance is in demonstrating how a multi-pronged attack which addresses technical, environmental, marketing and training issues can reap long term results. In the UK, private housing is dominated by large builders who build to the minimum standards required by the Building Regulations, with little interest to improve quality. Emphasis is placed on the kitchen and bathroom fit-out, and the traditional aesthetic of the house rather than on issues such as construction quality or energy efficiency. The BRE's Environmental Standard award is an attempt to encourage builders to be more aware of some of the issues, and the National Housing Federation publication entitled Standards and Quality in Development considers the issue of overall quality in housing. However, there is much that we can learn from the integrated, proactive way that the R-2000 programme has addressed these issues, and the way in which government and industry have worked together to improve standards.

Author: Mark Gorgolewski