SALUS HOUSE International environmental first Passive House social housing project taking shape Canadian Design and Construction Report staff writer The contractor and owner of the first multi-unit afford- able housing project in the world to be built to Passive House standards in a northern climate are demonstrating an initiative that is successfully transcending conventional construction and social housing taboos. Ottawa Salus Corporation executive director Lisa Ker says the 42-unit structure, in an established urban residen- tial neighbourhood in Ottawa, designed to house individu- als with severe mental illnesses in their own independent apartments, has construction costs of about $7.5 million, about 10 per cent greater than a conventionally built af- fordable housing project. However, the building has been designed to consume at least 80 per cent less energy than the building code standard – and its durability will hopefully extend beyond conventional affordable housing projects, Ker said. The project is nearing final construction stages, as tradespeople install interior finishes, plumbing and services. 6 – May-June 2016 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report While the energy savings are incredible, the non-profit organization has budgeted for only a 50 per cent energy/operating savings – and expects a payback of the additional construction costs in three to four years “and then it’s money in the bank.” Additional costs were incurred to import building mate- rials – especially for the building envelope – but there are savings in the mechanical systems, maintenance and on- going energy consumption. “Just to give you an example, there’s no pot-boiler in this building” said Taplen Construction president Michael Assal. “Instead, it has two hot water heaters – like residen- tial hot water heaters, not a big monster thing you see in commercial buildings.” Ker and Assal, the project’s general contractor, said they have received much co-operation and support from the City of Ottawa, including its building inspectors, who have asked to participate in the project’s planning meetings. Tradespeople have also invested additional time in learning how the Passive House systems work, although they have still bid their work competitively, Assal said.