Most Canadian families have the dream of living in their own detached home. However the capital cost of such a home is often out of their economic reach from a construction and operating point of view combined with vagaries of the real estate market. In many parts of the world housing is constructed entirely of local materials and in some cases it is also portable. By Western standards this means that this type of housing is sustainable.
SEEDA is in the business of sustainable development for a wide variety of engineering projects focused on petroleum, industrial and infrastructure development. SEEDA is an association of professionals with wide experience in Canada and some 40 other countries and believe that this experience can be applied to family housing development in Canada that could radically change Canadian housing development as well as lowering the environmental impact of housing construction and its construction and operating costs.
Most Single Family housing designs in Canada are based on designs that originate in Western Europe and do not incorporate design or construction concepts from Asia, Africa, Siberia or pre-colonial Americas. SEEDA believes that a holistic approach could be taken to single family home design construction and operation which considers all aspects of the housing equation such as:
House geometry and position in relation to prevailing weather
Use of construction materials mainly originating within 50 km of house location
How innovative design can reduce the demand for Municipal services
Availability of solar and wind energy and natural fresh water supply
Reduction of greenhouse gasses generated by construction and operation of house
Life-cycle cost reduction of the house based on 50 and 100 year period
SEEDA would tackle this assignment with a team which includes Civil Engineers, Environmental Specialists, Logistical Experts, Socio-economists, Architectural House designers and other experts as required. The objectives of the study would be to develop a methodology for developing future house designs to optimize development costs, reduce greenhouse gasses generated during all aspects of the house development and operation and thus contribute to Canada’s contribution to global greenhouse gas reduction. The initial emphasis would be on housing in Western Canada with the long-term objective of adjusting the new technology for other regions of Canada and the USA.