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HypothÉco, Ecological Mortgage

Submitted by Marie-Reine Roy on September 16, 2009 - 08:51.
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About
Associated Group(s): 
Caisse d'économie solidaire Desjardins
Location: 
Montréal, Québec, Canada
Content
Summary: 

HypothÉco is an environmental recognition program unique to the Caisse d’économie solidaire. It is offered to members who buy or renovate a home meeting specific energy efficiency standards. Tied to a mortgage, the program offers a cash refund, a free energy assessment, and a two-year subscription to the magazine La maison du 21e siècle. In addition, it comes with a $100 contribution to Gaïa, a fund created jointly by Équiterre and the Caisse d’économie solidaire in support of social and environmental projects.

HypothÉco encourages Caisse members to engage in environmental action, and acknowledges their social and environmental efforts. As of the end of 2007, this environmental recognition program has been improved; it now allows home owners of certified Novoclimat or LEED houses to receive a cash rebate of up to $1,750 on every $100,000 mortgage. Morever, it augments government or Hydro-Québec subsidies granted to homeowners who improve their home energy efficiency through renovations.

Implementation: 

From the beginning, the Caisse d’économie solidaire partnered with Équiterre in order to carefully identify the various aspects of home energy efficiency. For greater efficiency, the Caisse chose to complement existing government programs rather than develop new ones.

When conducting home energy efficiency assessments the Caisse partners with organizations known for their expertise in the field. On-site assessments are available throughout Quebec. In Greater Montreal, the Caisse partners with Équiterre, and in Quebec, with Vivre en Ville. Elsewhere in Québec, it partners with various organizations known for their experience in this arena.

Finally, the Caisse has publicized its program through informational material: a brochure and an Internet microsite which explain to consumers the differences between the government programs Rénoclimat and ÉnergieEfficace, the Novoclimat and LEED certifications, energy efficiency reports, and so on. The Caisse has established indicators of program use, and has trained its financial advisors on the topic.

Challenges and Solutions: 

After ensuring that the employees responsible for hypothÉco fully understood all aspects of the program, the Caisse faced its first challenge: to adapt its financial product to its practices and existing programs while maintaining the highest possible consistency.

It was sometimes difficult to find qualified organizations to conduct on-site energy efficiency assessments in remote regions. Furthermore, the Caisse has had to rethink its approach with such organizations in order to improve efficiency. For example, it’s clear that members of the Caisse that are interested in hypothÉco need to schedule an appointment with the assessors. However, it was found that phone calls increased unnecessarily when clients postponed their energy assessments because of exceptional circumstances related to a move or home renovation.

The Caisse initially offered consultations to those with new homes constructed for optimal energy efficiency, in order to evaluate the daily habits and small steps that can save energy: lowering the thermostat at night, more efficient lighting practices, and so on. However, this evaluation didn’t generate much response.

The Caisse d’économie solidaire has adapted and modified its program to changing practices in the field of energy efficiency. Novoclimat certification has become something of a norm, new construction projects are more frequently LEED certified, and the needs of ecovillages or eco-neighborhoods differ.

As a result, the Caisse is now working to improve hypothÉco, highlighting three aspects of LEED certification. It has also adapted its program to better meet the needs and initiatives of ecovillages.

Results: 

As of early September 2009, 71 new homeowners have taken advantage of hypothÉco’s free energy assessment, which constitutes a first step towards more efficient individual utilization of natural resources. Now positioned as a leader in green home and ecovillage financing, the Caisse d’économie solidaire finances one ecovillage and one eco-neighborhood. To get there, it had to gradually adapt and transform its product which, in the beginning, was a green mortgage geared towards single-family residences. Ultimately, the Caisse turned it into a genuine environmental home recognition program that is evolving alongside practices in the field.

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Industrial symbiosis in Kalundborg

Submitted by World Forum Lille on March 4, 2009 - 14:04.
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About
Location: 
Denmark
Content
Summary: 

Industrial activities are natural resources guzzlers and induce some losses such as waste or liquid waste. Companies are aware of the losses and implement systems that can limit these losses or process them. But the process is often carried out at the end of the cycle and hardly favours reuse ; besides, it often induces a great quantity of waste on site (sludge from treatment plant, ashes from incineration plants).
Kalundborg city has implemented an Industrial Symbiosis Project to make the better use of losses and waste from its industrial park.

Favouring the development of synergies between companies and thus helping them reuse their residual products (steam, water, waste…) between them or with the community and reduce material losses in the consumption and production processes.

Implementation: 

In Kalundborg, the industrial symbiosis focuses on three different areas : making the better use of water, saving energy and reusing waste.
This networking began in the 60s when Statoil refinery was founded. This company needed great quantities of cooling water and established exchanges with 3 other companies from the industrial park, that discharged water too. Gyproc, a plasterboard company, experimented the initiative, as it recycles gypsum the power plant produces, and uses the extra gas from the refinery to dry gypsum and plaster, the latter being energy-gazzling.
The cooperations between companies developped themselves gradually, as steam was provided by the power station to the refinery and Novo Nordisk pharmaceutical plant.
Thanks to quality acquaintances between all players of the network and in the framework of SMART objectives (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timeable), Kalundborg industrial symbiosis is now a profitable and eco-friendly business model.

Social and Environmental Benefits: 

• There is a reduction in annual CO2 emissions to the atmosphere, reaching 75,000 tons.
• There is a reduction in annual oil consumption, reaching 20,000 tons.
• There is a reduction in annual water consumption, reaching 2,9 million km2, i.e. 25% within 10 years.

Results: 

• The network gathers all needs and points out the adapted and cheapest solutions.
• There are savings on raw materials (oil, water).
• The return on investment was generated between 2 and 5 years.

Condo Design that Reduces Residents' Ecological Footprint

Submitted by Rune on December 31, 2008 - 11:06.
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About
Associated Group(s): 
Produktif
Location: 
Montreal, QC, Canada
Content
Summary: 

Maison Productive House (MpH), a condominium project conceived and executed by Produktif, re-builds 5 condemned city apartments and adds 3 new townhouses in Pointe St-Charles, a post-industrial, inner-city Montreal neighborhood. MpH offers efficient housing solutions based on the principles of Zero Emissions Design (ZED), that is, that the building’s green value be measured not only by the materials and energy used but the eventual ecological footprint of the residents who make use of the living spaces.

MpH is designed to enable residents to cut their individual ecological footprint by 60% or more compared to the current Canadian average, combining energy-efficient housing design with accommodations for alternative transportation and local food production.

Implementation: 

Enabling Alternative Transport

The Productive House site was chosen for its access to Montreal’s principal walking, public transport and cycling circuits. It is walking distance from Canal Lachine and the Atwater farmer's market with its water-front recreational and green park area, half a block from the Charlevoix metro station and bike paths linking to downtown Montreal, Verdun and La Salle, and Lachine.

The condo provides sheltered bike racks for its residents and two parking spaces dedicated to carshare vehicles of Montreal’s Communauto carshare service.

Lowered energy consumption for each resident:

Maison Productive House uses a combination of renewable energy systems and specifies energy conservation measures both in building materials and permitted appliances.

* Geo-thermal radiant floor heating
* Solar panels (Convection-tube solar collectors, etc)
* Passive solar design through the overall orientation of building mass
* High R-value materials, and low U-value fenestration
* Energy-efficient lighting and appliances (Energy Star appliances specified, LED-lighting, etc.)

Enabling Local Food Production On-Site:

The MpH is designed for residents who enjoy growing their own vegetables in urban green spaces. Shared gardens on site include fruit orchards and an herb garden, plus a rooftop greenhouse and garden that will produce fresh edibles, year-round. Private gardens include kitchen gardens in the backyard as well as growing space on balconies and in indoor solar atriums or Sun Spaces in each apartment unit.

Through innovative use of temporary and seasonal covers as well as age-old technologies such as cold-frames, the Maison productive House introduces multiple solutions to extend growing seasons with both summer and winter harvests. This innovation takes advantage of the relatively southern latitude of Montreal and the generous number of sun-days in this location, while taking measures to trap heat and protect growing areas against extreme temperature drops.

Waste Reduction:

Maison Productive House’s principal innovations center around recuperation of runoff and waste water for irrigation purposes.

Runoff rainwater is redirected to irrigate the rooftop gardens. In addition, Maison productive House collects and filters domestic greywaters from showers and basins and reuses them for toilet flushing. This initiative, combined with the use of water-efficient appliances and fixtures aims to reduce water consumption by 50%. This eases the strain on already overburdened municipal infrastructure as well as minimizes our waste of potable water.

Social and Environmental Benefits: 

MpH will save the atmosphere an estimated 48 tons of CO2 each year, a 50% footprint reduction.

MpH will reduce municipal water consumption by 50% per resident.

MpH will generate locally-grown vegetables for its residents.

All above results need to be confirmed through post-occupancy monitoring.

Results: 

MpH is designed to save residents approximately 60-80% in heating costs.

Sun Spaces(tm): Applying passive solar design to balconies and patios

Submitted by Rune on December 24, 2008 - 09:47.
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About
Associated Group(s): 
Produktif
Location: 
Montreal, Canada
Content
Summary: 

The Produktif SunSpaces ( Implemented at the Montreal Productive House condo project) is a prototype innovation for applying passive solar design to balconies and patios, allowing these spaces to become become 3- to 4- season winter gardens.

To seize the essence of this feature, think of the housing envelope as the skin that reacts to outdoor weather, sun, temperature and humidity, or a house that expands or shrinks according to the seasons and the needs to either conserve heat (shrink) or expel heat (expand). The SunSpaces provide a buffer zone between the exterior and the interior: opening up in summer becoming a shaded balcony space, and closing in winter with the help of transparent panels that open or close and easily stack away.

The SunSpaces are a response to Montreal’s extreme climate oscillating between winter lows of -35° C. and summer peaks of +35° C, which places unique demands on the building envelope and its residents: requiring shade in summer and insulation in winter. The objective is to increase residents’ enjoyment of the outdoors wile minimizing the inputs of mechanical cooling or heating systems. These spaces benefit primarily from sun exposure and the recuperation of heat from the adjacent building.

Implementation: 

New Product Development Process:

In order to develop the SunSpaces, a dedicated team was set-up to deal with this challenge as a standalone project. The object was to build a prototype specifically for the Montreal Productive House, with design principles and application methods that can be replicated and scaled for other projects.

The solution was designed to rely on already existing materials. Several precedents exist from the vernacular architecture, ranging from verandas found in hot climates, to external storage areas found in Nordic traditional housing, to greenhouses and winter-gardens applied since the Middle Ages for utilitarian to beautification purposes, from do-it-yourself modest budgets, to pieces of sophisticated creations of art.

The SunSpaces looked at all these precedents to develop a prototype suited for the Montreal climate and local clientele, making use of new plastic technologies and local know-how.

The development of the SunSpaces required two to three weeks of additional work on the condo project. A tentative budget for this approx. 750 square feet, 40’ tall structure was defined as: plus 12 000 $ in Research and Development, and 30 000 $ in material costs, not including labor and prototype development and oversight.

The prototype and development phase is set to last 2-3 months, with installation date targeted for February-March, 2009, depending on weather conditions on the construction site.

In order to test the final product before the Productive House is delivered, all parties are working to insure installation as soon as possible to permit testing and proper functioning onsite.

Installation and Use:

The balcony railing is made of permanent glass window panels while the retractable panels are made of non-permanent polycarbonate plastic sheets that slide into the balcony railing when not in use. The non-permanent nature of the plastic sheets allow us to work with the building and fire code for non-permanent spaces and juxtapose layers of transparent materials letting the sun enter while trapping the sun’s heat, in other words : maximizing the “greenhouse effect.” The heat storage is further maximized through the use of mirrors, masonry and tile-work, that serve to reflect light or store heat, respectively.

Additionally, special provision has been made to facilitate the growing and maintenance of a year-round garden in the SunSpaces. Easy irrigation and hosing down of this area is possible thanks to the tile surface and floor drain. Also, the SunSpaces can be supplemented with cold-frames (planter boxes covered with glass) to create additional insulation for plants during the coldest months. Venetian blinds provide extra shade in summer, and help trap heat lost during cold nights. Heating lamps--while consuming electricity--can help during the coldest month for an outdoor meal even during January Through March.

Post-Occupancy Monitoring:

The performance of the SunSpaces will be monitored by Design 1 Habitat during a two-year post-occupancy study and the results will be published as part of Design 1 Habitat’s philosophy of helping home-builders in an “open source” fashion of sharing best practices data.

Challenges and Solutions: 

The definition of a new kind of buffer space that is neither external nor internal posed challenges to the architects’ conventional notions of space, and created hesitation and doubt with respect to the SunSpaces compliance to current building code requirements. The architects involved in this project took the most conservative stance of : “risky and cannot do”. Opening up the project to other talent who could “rain on the [architects’] parade” may also have been a factor. After several attempts to include the SunSpaces conceptual concept into the architects plans, this was abandoned. As a result, the SunSpaces were developed in parallel and as a standalone add-on to the Productive House architectural plans. A compromise was later achieved when the architects agreed to include the spacial dimensions of the final SunSpaces as conventional balconies in their plans. This to avoid discrepancies in the dimensions between the project on plan and the final product.

Social and Environmental Benefits: 

Sun Spaces will reduce energy loss during the winter months as they serve as an insulating layer between the unit’s exterior wall and the exterior climate.

In the summer months, Sun Spaces also protect the interior space from excessive heating from direct sunlight, therefore reducing the need for air conditioning.

The exact extent of energy savings remain to be determined during post-occupancy monitoring.

Results: 

Sun Spaces add considerable cachet to these condominium units, offering an attractive leisure space enjoyable in throughout several seasons.

Sun Spaces will also reduce heating and cooling costs for the unit owner because they serve as a buffer between the extremes of outside weather and the interior space. Just how much of a savings remains to be determined during post-occupancy monitoring.

The Tamié Abbey recycles the biogas from its cheese dairy

Submitted by World Forum Lille on December 22, 2008 - 16:30.
in
About
Associated Group(s): 
L’Abbaye de Tamié
Location: 
France
Content
Summary: 

The abbey is located in the Bauges mountains (73) and has a cheese dairy that processes 4,000 liters milk day and thus produces 400kg cheese, inducing 4m3 whey and 8m3 white water, that is to say 12m3 trade effluents to process or to eliminate.

-Reducing transport costs
-Recycling trade effluents on site
-Reducing sludge and pollution in the soil

Implementation: 

In 1990’s, the abbey stocked the whey at 12km from its site to sell it to a recycling channel, and it clarified white water on site and spreaded the sludge in the soil. The trade effluent became costly after a decrease in the whey purchase money and an increase in the transport cost.

In 2002, a survey was conducted in association with the Institut Technique Français du Fromage, and the abbey built a methanization plant in 2003 as a result, to process 1,000m3 whey and 2,000m3 white water a year.

The process is done in a combined area:
- The trade effluents (white water and whey) are collected in a 24m2 settling tank to acidify them
- A USB reactor (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket) eliminates the solid residues converted in granules by carrying out an aeroflotation
- A methanisor favours the germ destruction without the oxygen from organic materials and produces biogas with 60% methan for the boiler of the abbey (60kw). It runs between 15 and17h a day and produces hot, healthy water to supply 60 to 80 persons.
- The liquid is reoxygenated when coming out, making it biodegradable before it goes back to the settling tank and is disposed of in the soil ; COD is measured.

Three cheese dairies from Doubs and Jura have already implemented the device, as it has been a success in the abbey.

Social and Environmental Benefits: 

• Reduction in transport required to get the effluents processed.
• Reduction in energy consumption.
• Reduction in the sludge and effluents in the soil.
• It has been an example for other cheese dairies located far from the recycling channels.

Results: 

• 7.30 euros are being saved as equivalent to a m3 whey
• The abbey has developed a specific know-how and is getting famous for that.

Gasma nurseries uses biomass heating for its greenhouses

Submitted by World Forum Lille on February 4, 2009 - 12:55.
in
About
Associated Group(s): 
Gasma
Location: 
FRANCE
Content
Summary: 

Greenhouses consume an enormous amount of energy, which is very costly for the operator and a major impact for the environment.

Objectives :
- Reducing the costs of the energy used
- Reducing the environmental impacts

Implementation: 

Gasma nurseries has 4000m² of greenhouses which provide a habitat for tropical plants requiring an ambient temperature of 20°C.

In 2000, the company had to face the increase of gas prices and started looking for a less expensive alternative for the heating of its greenhouses.

In 2004, it chose wood burning biomass furnaces, installed for an investment of 230,000 Euros, 35% subsidized by the Ademe and the region. A connection maintained with the old gas boiler allows for backup power if necessary.

The wood consumption is around 90m³ per week during the 4 coldest months, then of 50m³ per week during the shoulder season.

The wood used is drawn from various waste products including those that result from pruning of the company's own trees. A crusher transforms these wastes into wooden chips.

The site has a storage silo of 90m² as well a storage shed of 200m³ allowing 2 to 3 weeks of autonomy, with a backhoe loader to feed the silo. The construction of the shed was chosen to avoid a silo with too much capacity.

Social and Environmental Benefits: 

• Reduced us of fossil fuels and the transportation costs associated with them

• Reuse of wood waste products

• Credible alternative solution for other nurseries

Results: 

• 700kw power, 100% of the heating needs covered by the wood burning furnace during the first year

• Reduction of overall costs

Clayrton uses water-based ink and recycled paper

Submitted by World Forum Lille on February 4, 2009 - 12:35.
in
About
Associated Group(s): 
Clayrton’s
Location: 
France
Content
Summary: 

The products and accessories florists can choose between to wrap flowers have a very limited life cycle and are often made with harmful substances. Clayrton wanted to do something within their business on the issues climate change and resource depletion. In 2007, they embarked on an environmental audit and identified 3 areas of intervention:

- Creating harmony between the flowers’ life cycle and an ecological packaging
- Preserving the environment and its resources
- Reducing the use of harmful substances

Implementation: 

A sustainable development approach has been implemented in association with Alliances pour la RSE, in partnership with the innovation cluster MAUD (Matériaux à Usage Domestique) ; an ecology engineer from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Grand Lille worked with Clayrton’s.
The company implemented a printing, water-based ink process on biodegradable polypropylene. The technique must make the flowers’ wetness compatible with ink stability.

The company reduces its impact on the environment in the following ways:
♦ products: 100% kraft paper and tissue-papers comes from managed forests ; 100% chucks come from companies with an iso 9001 standard
♦ catalogues: 100% are printed on recycled paper with 100% water-based ink
♦ energy, transport: contract with EDF for 100% renewable energy ; the sales representatives drive eco-labeled vehicles ; 21% transport is rail transport ; 70% transport in France.
♦ pedagogy for the consumers: information provided on the labels.
Clayrton’s has been training drug addicts to be florists since 2003, in partnership with le Relais.

Social and Environmental Benefits: 

• No volatile organic compounds (water-based inks)

• Reduction in CO2 emissions (18t less thanks to this new process)

• Reduction in energy consumption (transport of goods and business trips)

Results: 

• Corporate brand; new business openings

• The employees are proud to belong to the company

Gulpener Bier for a sustainable beer production process

Submitted by World Forum Lille on February 4, 2009 - 10:09.
in
About
Associated Group(s): 
Gulpener
Location: 
NETHERLANDS
Content
Summary: 

Producing the same quantities of beer while reducing the consumption of fossil energies and water is a challenge the brewing industry has to take up. The small Gulpener brewery produces its beer adjusting to sustainability and environmental responsibility.

Managing the whole supply and production chain in a responsible
way as far as raw materials, energy and water are concerned.

Implementation: 

In 2001, the Gulpener brewery prepared a letter of intent on sustainable
development and identified actions to be undertaken to meet this issue.
Today, Gulpener stands out as:

All ingredients required to produce beer are grown locally, following
environmentally-friendly methods.

Only “green” energies –solar and hydraulic- have been used since 2004. Even the manufacturing process partly uses solar energy.

Its 40 supplying farmers do not use pesticides and their harvest is bought at prices higher than world prices by 10%.

The use of water in the manufacturing process is optimised. ll bottles are recyclable and minimum packaging is used.

The company is now part of the local community.

Social and Environmental Benefits: 

• Thanks to the location of the production lines, transportation costs and CO2 discharges are reduced.
• The cultivated land is neither polluted nor depleted.
• The water consumption of the manufacturing process is divided by 3.
• Gulpener offers its consumers a quality beer.
• The choice not to pasteurize beer saves 4
million megajoules a year.

Results: 

• Good reputation.

• High motivation of the employees.

• Satisfaction of the consumers for the products.

SNCF sets up environmentally sustainable stations

Submitted by World Forum Lille on February 3, 2009 - 19:38.
in
About
Associated Group(s): 
SNCF
Location: 
France
Content
Summary: 

As it was aware of the impact of its activity on the environment, the SNCF Proximités branch designed modular « environmentally sustainable » stations. The first station opened in Alsace in 2008, and two other ones will be set up in 2009 in Aquitaine and Midi-Pyrénées. According to projections, almost 300 will be installed by 2013.

- Optimising time required for building and working upon stations; optimising costs
- Using recyclable materials and renewable energies
- Blends into the environment

Implementation: 

The position and walls of the station are not selected depending on the centreline of railways, but on the direction of the sun and prevailing winds: to the north, the station is insulated from the cold with a service area and wooden wall; to the west, we use deciduous plants that let the sun in in the winter and filters the sun in the summer; to the east, we use a glazed wall for the morning sun; to the south, we use a metal or wooden shade screen having various sizes depending on the number of hours of sunshine in the region. The vegetated roof (seal coat and substrate of plant origin) reduces water run-off, absorbs CO2 and regulates temperature (heat is absorbed in the summer and released in the winter).
Photovoltaic panels and proximity sensors are installed for lighting and a rainwater collection system is put in to water green spaces and clean the station.
Preference is given to recyclable materials: low-maintenance zinc, whose production requires little energy and which is 100%-recyclable, and has a life cycle of 40 to 100 years; glass, for its qualities as heat insulating and transparent material; wood, which is a heat insulating material which uses little energy when it is processed (4 times less than another material).
Concrete is not frequently used: we use minimal foundations, and a floating floor on easily disposable blocks.
With its prefabricated modules, the station can adjust to requirements and offer varied services (access ramp for disabled people, bicycle shed, display panels, information on trains and on cultural or sports events, automatic ticket machines, connection to the Internet…)

Social and Environmental Benefits: 

• Energy and resources saved (practically autonomous for light, selection of materials, recovery of rainwater)
• Reduced waste (modularity and recyclable materials)
• Blends into the environment and absorbs carbon (use of plants)
• Simple model easy to duplicate

Results: 

• Comfort for users (services, temperature, light...); image

• Reduced costs

• Adjusted to requirements (modularity), easy to install and dismantle

The Lesaffre SI transforms its yeast effluents in Agricultural supplies

Submitted by World Forum Lille on February 3, 2009 - 16:14.
in
About
Associated Group(s): 
Lesaffre
Location: 
France
Content
Summary: 

A corporate citizen, Lesaffre intends to reduce at the maximum the amount of effluent discharged at the end of its production. Anticipating regulatory and environmental constraints, the company transforms them to meet the needs of its customers in fertilizers
To independently ensure an effective treatment of recovered yeast liquid effluents, and to reject a clean water in the Marque.

To produce derived liquid and solid products responding to precise specifications for the greatest satisfaction of the users both in fertilization and in animal nutrition.

Implementation: 

The flows, mainly composed of derivatives, are homogenized then pre-concentrated. The first treatment stabilizes them and limits the development of odor through secondary fermentations.
The concentration allows the obtaining of a liquid organic fertilizer, beet juice and des-sweetened cane, used in several ways:

- As such as a liquid fertilizer intended for agriculture,
- After a chemical treatment, allowing the concentration of this juice, the obtained derivative is enriched in protein and used as raw material for animal nutrition.
- In concentrated form, it also serves to obtain by centrifugation a solid fertilizer composed primarily of potassium sulphate and used as raw material for the fertilizer industry.

The waters evaporated during concentration still containing volatile organic compounds are processed in a wastewater treatment plant which generates biogas and an organic amendment, the Fertel, which is dried and granulated using the biogas.

Social and Environmental Benefits: 

• 99% of effluents enter into the composition of by-products.
• Limiting the extraction of fuel potassic salt thanks to by-products for animal nutrition
• Reducing the use of plant cakes thanks to by-products for the fertilization
• Energy savings related to the production of biogas

Results: 

• The sale of by-products generates a revenue of 3,000 kilo Euros, which reduces the production cost of by-products.

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