ECO-TEAM

Jorg Ostrowski, Tony Argento, Helen Ostrowski

 Where It Started
Alberta Sustainable House

•  Off the Grid

•  Built 1990 -1994
•  Continuously occupied
•  $143 in net utility cost in 2009

•  Over 150,000 visitors to date

•  Low-E windows
•  Non-conducting wall system
•  Passive solar heating
•  Waterless toilets
•  Grey water management

Educating Children

Page  3
Professional Portfolio • Awards
Professional Portfolio • Awards
Professional Portfolio • Media Coverage
Professional Portfolio • Media Coverage
Professional Portfolio • Media Coverage
Portfolio (lista) 7/11:• industry/gov't
researc
h
(investigación para la industria/el gobierno)‫‏‬
Project Portfolio
• RETROFIT: residential, commercial, institutional
Project Portfolio
• NEW+RETROFIT: educational (college)
Project Portfolio
• residential projects (sustainable housing)
Project Portfolio
• residential projects (sustainable housing)
 Sustainability
• green building+conserver lifestyle+responsible transportation

Sustainable Community 1990

Earth
1/4#/month

1 week
Renewable energy
• solar & wind
Waste Management (on-site recycling):
• less: capital cost & demand on land fill
Water (rain/grey/black water) 1 of 2:
• multi-purpose resource for profit

Quote: The use of water efficient appliances and treated water in toilets
and irrigation, combined with the potential sale of excess treated water to
other developments, is projected to save approximately 70 million gallons
of water per year... (city sewage system not needed)‫‏‬
Water (rain/grey/black water) 2 of 2:
• resource for collection, treatment & reuse

1993

2001
 Energy Management (user pay):
• awareness reduces waste
Hunter Monitor, ARE Report, 1987

Quote: Each suite features individual meters that

measure hot and cold water, heat and electrical consumption,
and allow residents to monitor and compare their usage by day,
month and year through an online interface.
Responsible Transportation:
• walking, cycling, public transportation
Energy Conservation (buildings):
• insulation, thermal breaks, air tightness
Energy Efficiency (mechanical):
• HRV (heat recovery ventilator)
Renewable & Alternative Energy:
• PV solar for lighting, biomass for heat
 Recycled Content:
• construction waste, underwater trees

Quote: To minimize building eco-footprint; each

building will utilize recycled content, sustainably harvested
materials, and rapidly renewable resources; while at the
same time minimizing construction and household waste.
Summary of MAIN POINTS (1 of 2):

01) leading-edge projects


02) sustainable development is trend

03) recycling of dormant industrial sites

04) brownfield -> greenfield

05) good commitment to sustainability

06) good application of sustainability

07) Climate Change was addressed

08) regional interconnection

09) on-site sewage treatment

10) on-site rainwater collection 

blackwater/greywater treatment

11) fully integrated design
Summary of MAIN POINTS (2 of 2):

12) joint venture with Community


13) prudent use of the land and space

14) modest conservation energy

15) renewable energy (waste -> heat)

16) carbon (GHG) neutral target

17) minimum fossil fuel use, utility 

costs & GHG emissions

18) impressive performance

19) recycling & durability addressed

20) tie-in to pedestrian trail

21) affordable housing opportunities

22) offers investment opportunities

23) uses "Triple Bottom Line"
Performance: for inhabitants+investors
• Annual Sustainable Report

• construction waste reduction: 90%

• energy: 45-55%
• GHG: >100%
• potable water: 65%
• sewage: 100%
• storm water: 100%
• affordable housing
• surplus heat for sale to neighbours
EcoVillage Work
• educational village 1980
EcoVillage Work
• agrarian housing 1995
EcoVillage Work
• agrarian housing 1998
EcoVillage Work
• safe community 1998
EcoVillage Work
• urban housing 2000
EcoVillage Work
• educational village 2002
Toronto: • new life for 96 acres of derelict land
Toronto: • Waterfront Plan, October 1972
Toronto: • recycled urban real estate 2007
Sustainable Waterfront Development:
• planned to be filled with people & fun
Toronto: • trail, history, culture & people
EcoOffice demonstration 2002:
• “energy surplus”
Vista Del Lago – Invermere BC 2007:
• “Stormwater management”
Vista Del Lago – Invermere BC 2007:
• “Environmental Stewardship”
Vista Del Lago – Invermere BC 2007:
• “Environmental Stewardship”
Eco-Development– Calgary 2010:
• “Sustainable Urban Planning”
Eco-Development– Calgary 2010:
• “Sustainable Urban Planning”
Eco-Tech Centre– Calgary 2010:
• “Green Tech Business Incubator Centre”
Eco-Tech Centre– Calgary 2010:
• “Green Tech Business Incubator Centre”
Corporate Office– Calgary 2010:
• “Office Retrofit”
20 MAIN MESSAGES (1 of 2):

01) sustainability entered mainstream


02) if it is not sustainable, it is obsolete

03) business as usual is bad business 

04) sustainability is a good investment

05) every project must be sustainable

06) sustainability retains value 

07) it is ethical, social & green

08) most features are not new

09) Windmill has taken the lead 

10) Windmill has set the benchmark

11) this is a good mentor project

20 MAIN MESSAGES (2 of 2):

12) critical to walk the corporate talk


13) practice what one preaches

14) sustainability can sell fast

15) sustainability increases resale value

16) sustainability will outperform

17) slow firms will be left behind

18) NZE projects are obsolete

19) time is right (now), no time to loose

20) ACE/ASH/Stoneset have 92 man yrs
ecodevelopment experience

IMPROVEMENTS:

01) industry/gov't/NGO partnerships


02) more thorough approach: CO2, CO,
SO2, CH4, NOx, N2O, CO, NMVOC

03) embodied energy is essential

04) greater energy savings

05) Green+: energy, water, air, CO2 

06) ethical/social record critical

07) soft+green v. hard+brown

08) many Rs, not 3 Rs

09) on-site rainwater -> potable water

10) liaison person optimize performance

BENEFITS & OPPORTUNITIES:

01) government policies: brownfields


02) municipal incentives & bonuses

03) much better design of buildings

04) sustainability sells & retains value

05) savings can help finance features

06) free advertising $ cannot buy

07) new business opportunities:

tradable emissions, IPP

08) discriminating investment portfolio

09) win-win strategy

10) QBL: planet+people+business+future