How to Reduce Your Water Heating Costs

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It’s no secret that heating water is one of the biggest energy wasters in your home.  Whenever you shower, you mix water and energy together, use it for a few seconds, then send that warm water, and all the energy you’ve just paid for, down the drain.  Did you know that somewhere between 80% and 90% of the energy used to heat water ends up going down the drain?

What is a Drain Water Heat Recovery System?

With a drain water heat recovery system (DWHR), you can recapture some of the energy as the hot water drains away and use it to pre-heat incoming cold water using a simple, passive device.  A DWHR system consists of a length of drain pipe that is generally 3 to 5 feet long and 4 inches in diameter with a metal water pipe tightly coiled around it. 

Drain Water Heat Recovery System

When you shower, as the water you just paid to heat washes down the drain, it travels down through the drain pipe.  Fresh cold water enters the coil water pipe it picks up the heat from the metal wall of the drain pipe, then flows to the water heater.  As the water travels through the coil pipe, it is heated by the hot water in the drain pipe. 

The heated water in the coil is directed to your water heater and because the incoming water is already pre-heated, your water heater will use significantly less energy to heat and maintain the temperature of your water. 

Benefits of a Drain Water Heat Recovery System

Lower Energy Bills – The already warm water will cost less to heat, thus lowering your energy bills and resulting into a relatively quick payback time.  It’s a sustainable investment.

Prolong the Life of Your Hot Water Heater – Lowering your heating demand can reduce the workload of your hot water heater.

A Simple and Reliable System –A DWHR system has no moving parts and once installed, requires practically zero maintenance.  And it has a lifespan of over 30 years

Consider a Drain Water Heat Recovery System in your home.  It’s a great and uncomplicated way to save money every time you use hot water.

If you are interested in learning more about building High Performance Home, contact us today!

Framing at Taylor Landing

Project Update “Taylor Landing”

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Framing at Taylor Landing!

Over the past few weeks we’ve begun framing at our Fraser Valley project we call “Taylor Landing”.  It’s been exciting to see this home take shape and we are pretty happy to be finished the often wet and muddy foundation work.  Soon the main floor walls will be going up and trusses will follow shortly!

A Step Code 5 High Performance Home

This High Performance Home is Step Code 5.  Step Code refers to the steps of performance targets in new construction making homes more energy efficient.  Step Code 5 is the highest level of energy efficiency in Step Code and means that the home is Net Zero Ready.  The goal of Step Code in British Columbia is to have all new buildings Net Zero energy ready by 2032.

Features in this High Performance Home

Taylor Landing will feature many High Performance Home items:

    • Heat Recovery Ventilator: We call it a Fresh Air machine.  It provides 24/7 fresh air and regular climate control
    • Insulated Concrete Forms: Also known as ICF, this foundation will keep the home more quiet, comfortable and energy efficient a home built with a traditional foundation
    • Exterior Continuous Insulation: We will wrap the exterior of the home in a special exterior insulation before we apply the exterior cladding.  By doing this we block any gaps that result in mold and air leakage.
    • Rainwater Harvesting: Rainwater harvesting can be used for sprinkling lawns and irrigation, flushing toilets, washing cars, and laundry.  There are four 1,700 gallon tanks in this home.
    • Solar Panels: These panels will  take energy from the sun and convert it into clean power for the home.
    • Geo Exchange: The geo exchange system uses the energy of the sun, stored in the earth, to keep the home comfortable all year long.
    • Radiant Floor Heating: Radiant heating has a number of advantages. It is more efficient than baseboard heating and        usually more efficient than forced-air heating because it eliminates duct losses. People with allergies often prefer radiant heat because it doesn’t distribute allergens like forced air systems can.

Contact Us for Information!

If you are looking for more information on building a High Performance Home, please don’t hesitate to contact us!  We believe you will “Live Better in a High Performance Home”.

Understanding Radon

Understanding Radon

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What is Radon Gas?

Radon gas is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas found in many, many homes.  There are an estimated 3,300 radon-induced lung cancer deaths per year in Canada.  It is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking.

Where does Radon come from? 

Radon comes from the decay of uranium minerals found in rock, soil, and water.  It does not naturally occur indoors, however, radon can get into your home anywhere it finds an opening where your home contacts soil.  For example, cracks in foundation walls and floor slabs, construction joints, gaps around service pipes and support posts, floor drains and sumps, and water supply.

Why is Radon so dangerous?

Radon itself is radioactive.  When outdoors, radon mixes with the open air and dilutes it.  However, indoors, it is trapped.  It becomes concentrated resulting in serious health risks, especially lung cancer.

To find out if your home has a radon problem you have to measure the radon concentration inside of it.

How Do I Test My Home for Radon?

To find out if your home has a radon problem you have to measure the radon concentration inside of it.

Health Canada recommends you test for radon every two years.  Radon is volatile and it is normal for levels of radon to change regularly 

There are radon professionals in the Greater Vancouver area like Radon Environmental who can work with you to test your home.  They provide radon mitigation solutions for residential homes and workplaces.

Radon Mitigation Products

As a builder, we use radon mitigation products in the construction of your home to decrease the amount of radon gas capable of seeping into the home.   By doing so, we ensure your new home is safe and free from harmful levels of radon gas.

Health and safety is one of our top priorities, which is why radon mitigation is an important aspect to every one of our new homes.  We urge you to look into what you can do to keep your family safe.

ICF Foundation

ICF – Starting with a Better Foundation

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This week we started the foundation on the “Woodside” home at the Vine at Pepin Brook.  If you drive be the site, you will notice we are building the foundation out of Quadlock ICF, also known as “Insulated Concrete Forms”.   These large foam panels are easy to assemble, almost like building with lego, and contribute to our High Performance Wall system.  Once the concrete for the foundation has been poured, the icf panels remain in place, not stripped away like form panels of a conventional foundation.

Why Do We Use Insulated Concrete Forms?

We believe achieving the best living environment starts with a solid foundation.  We use ICF (insulated concrete forms) to produce a more comfortable, quiet, and energy-efficient home than those built with traditional construction methods. Homes built with ICF foundations retain heat more effectively.  Basements feel warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.  Homes have a more even temperature, fewer drafts, and fewer hot and cold spots.

Building for Comfort

As a builder, we keep comfort in mind when we build a home.  Both thermal comfort and sound-wise comfort.  We find ICFs are ideal for both.   A comfortable environment offers a better quality of home life for families and their guests.

Saving on Energy

An ICF foundation provides greater insulation performance ratings, resulting in better energy efficiency.   These high-performing foundations contribute to lower energy bills and less wear and tear on the home mechanicals.

Good Air Quality

Indoor air quality is something we often don’t think about until it becomes a concern.  Maintaining a healthy environment is important in any indoor space, especially your home.  An ICF foundation, combined with the Sonbuilt High Performance Wall system and a heat recovery ventilator, will keep humidity levels in a healthy range and provide filtered, unpolluted air for everyone in the home.  The risk of mold is greatly reduced and indoor air is filtered and fresh.

Are you interested in owning this rancher, the “Woodside” and benefiting from living in a better built home?  Contact us today!  Let’s talk!

ReUse, RePurpose, ReCycle

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This latest Sonbuilt Fraser Valley project is all about doing a demolition responsibly. We are re-purposing as items in the home as possible by reusing many materials in the new build and recycling the items we don’t use to ensure they don’t end up in a landfill.

Reducing Waste

As a team, we are tackling this home as a “dismantling” project, rather than attack and destroy. Each item is carefully uninstalled and analyzed. If it can be reused in the future home, we will wrap it for storage. Some items are being donated to charity. Others are being sold on social media. Recyclable materials will be sorted through responsibly. As much as possible, we are avoiding the garbage bin.

We are enjoying this challenge! Stay tuned for updates and photos!

Fraser Valley Home and Garden Expo

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We are very excited to be in the Fraser Valley Home and Garden Expo in Abbotsford at Tradex on February 8 – 10!  Come visit us at booths 212, 213, and 214.

This Fraser Valley based show has a vast array of both interior and exterior products for your home and features a number of landscaping, remodeling, interior design, and home construction companies from areas throughout Greater Vancouver.

When and Where:

Show Location:  Tradex, 1190 Cornell Street, Abbotsford, BC

Show Times:

                Friday, February 8:  1pm – 9pm

                Saturday, February 9:  10am – 6pm

                Sunday, February 10:  10am – 4pm

 Click here for admission prices and show info.

See you at the show!

Merry Christmas from Sonbuilt

Merry Christmas from Sonbuilt!

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Merry Christmas!

We at Sonbuilt Custom Homes would like to take a moment to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2019 is already shaping up to be a busy year for Sonbuilt!  This past fall we have worked diligently at completing the site services at THE VINE at Pepin Brook.   We are excited to be starting construction in the Spring.   If you are looking to have a home designed and built, be sure to contact us early in the New Year.

All the best this Holiday season!  And … a big thank you to all of our customers, staff, trades and suppliers!  We couldn’t do this without you!

Building a Rancher

Yes, We Build Ranchers!

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Do You Build Ranchers?

It’s the most common question we are asked.  A classic Rancher floor plan combines the kitchen, great room, 1 or 2 bedrooms, laundry room, and all other essentials spaces for daily living on a single level.  The home may include a basement below, or a games room above.

Ranchers are ideal for those ready to downsize after the kids have left home.  Perfect for one level living, yet still maintaining plenty of usable space for visiting grandchildren, entertaining friends, and weekly family dinners.

Several years ago we won 2nd place in a Canada wide competition for accessible housing.  This home, the Panama, was designed and built specifically for a “young at heart” couple who planned to live in their Sonbuilt home as long as possible.  It was their final home.   To see photos of this home, click here.

Do You Want to Live in a Rancher?

Are you thinking about downsizing and plan to make your next home your “final” home?  If so, let’s make that home a place where you can live independently and safely as long as possible.  We call this “Aging in Place”.  Click here to find out more information on what we design into our homes to ensure the home is safe and smart for long term living.

YES!  We do build ranchers!  Contact us today for more information!

Healthy Home

Quick Tips For a Healthy Home

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If you already own a home, here are some easy tips to follow to keep your home environment healthy:

Ventilation

Make sure you have fresh air circulating in your home.

Use Eco-Friendly Products

Keep air fresher and cleaner using toxin and pollutant free products

Choose Hardwood Flooring

Carpets can hide dust, pet hair, fungus, and other harmful particles

Unplug

Switch any technological devices not in use

Remove Your Shoes

Shoes can carry pollen, dirt, and soil from the outdoors into your home

Get It Tested

Ensure your home is radon free by getting it tested

Ensure Paint is Dry and Cured

While it’s exciting to set up a freshly painted room, ensure that paint is dry and cured before using it.

Change That Shower Curtain

Rotate your shower curtain regularly and avoid ones made from vinyl as they do become moldy quickly.

Visit our webpage on the High Performance Home to learn about building a healthy, energy efficient home.

radon gas

Radon Gas in Your Home

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What is Radon Gas?

We all want our homes to be as safe as can be for our family. There is a danger that we are just becoming aware of that most people probably haven’t ever heard of in the form of Radon gas.   Radon gas is an odourless, tasteless, invisible radioactive gas produced from the breakdown of uranium in soils.

Why is Radon Gas so Dangerous?

Radon gas is airborne and can be inhaled.  While in your lungs, these particles breakdown even further, releasing small bursts of radioactive energy causing damage.  As a result, there is an increased risk of developing lung cancer when they reproduce.

Did You Know …

Health Canada estimates that about 16% of lung cancers deaths in Canada are attributable to radon.  It’s the second leading cause of lung cancer and the leading environmental cause of cancer.

 

How Can Radon Gas Get Into My Home?

Radon can get into your home anywhere it finds an opening where your home contacts soil.  For example, cracks in foundation walls and floor slabs, construction joints, gaps around service pipes and support posts, floor drains and sumps, and water supply.

To find out if your home has a radon problem you have to measure the radon concentration inside of it.

How Do I Test My Home for Radon?

There are radon professionals in the Greater Vancouver area like Radon Environmental who can work with you to test your home.  They provide radon mitigation solutions for residential homes and workplaces.

As a builder, we use radon mitigation products in the construction of your home to decrease the amount of radon gas capable of seeping into the home.   By doing so, we ensure your new home is safe and free from harmful levels of radon gas.

Health and safety is one of our top priorities, which is why radon mitigation is an important aspect to every one of our new homes.  We urge you to look into what you can do to keep your family safe.

Watch our video to learn more.

Radon Gas