Presented Live (via webinar), January 2021 - December 2021
Based on our Ashnola Net Zero Demonstration Project, Building It Right presents a riveting 20 CPD series comprised of ten 2-hour sessions, describing every step of the design and construction of a Net Zero home, off-grid and embracing some of the technologies that will become the new normal in the construction of residential homes. 

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Series Overview
Builders have developed the skills and knowledge to build the houses of today, and we all enjoy the benefits of this professionalism. What is looming ahead for the industry, however, requires that all builders completely re-visit every aspect of design, construction, and the marketing of homes that will satisfy the ambitious energy benchmarks now set in law in British Columbia and which are inevitably expected throughout Canada, North America and much of the rest of the World. Our team has been researching, testing, inventing, revising and re-trying components and systems that address the new energy requirements while avoiding catastrophic unintended consequences like we saw with the Leaky Condo crisis.

Our education and training has presented many of the specific approaches that will make up the future of our industry but it has become very clear that a key final step is missing in this process; putting it all together into a complete build. We are putting our money where our mouth is and are building a Net Zero (plus) home on our time and with our money, and we are doing it as the world looks in and shares in our successes and failures.

​Follow along as our film crews capture the real story and we narrate our build from beginning to end, through good and bad, sometimes embarrassingly, but with nothing hidden. This series starts at the beginning of the design and winds up with a “Move That Bus” moment as we walk through the finished project and review the real costs of the final build. Presented in 10 2-hour (2 CPD Credit) stories. Come and enjoy story time with Murray and the team at Building It Right and collect 20 CPD credits along the way.
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SESSION 1: DESIGNING THE FUTURE
The first episode in a series exploring the process of designing and building a Net Zero Home
  • The series begins with an introduction to the project from a high level,
  • A new design paradigm for Step 5 “Net Zero” homes will be reviewed. The process of this radical new combination of systems and approaches will be examined,
  • Learn why excavation of the site was avoided and how the structure is supported,
  • Explore the building enclosure design and the integrated approach to the mechanical/sewerage/renewable energy production and storage/co-generation/ water treatment and the long list of site specific challenges presented to the design team on this very off-grid site nestled in a valley between crown land and a Provincial Park beside a gold and fish-filled river,
  • Examine the actual engineering and design drawings that have driven the project forward, and
  • Review the first phase of construction including site preparation and the start of the installation of the structural anchor for the home.
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SESSION 2: COMING OUT OF THE GROUND
  • Explore the radical approach to the foundation without excavation and with resulting control of the level of the structure to millimetre accuracy, 
  • Understand the load transfer from grade to structure and live through the real world challenges experienced during construction (and the solutions that were built up), 
  • Experience a prime example of the problems that can occur on being at the bleeding edge as a solution to stabilizing the lateral strength of the structure is required to address the first of many lessons learned, 
  • Witness the modular approach and explore why this was a design priority as well as how it contributed to significant cost reduction for obvious and even not-so obvious reasons, and 
  • Relive an old structural approach as it takes on renewed relevance as one of the logical approaches to extreme energy efficiency and see this hand-crafted Douglas Fir heavy timber structure go up on a modular floor that is dead level and multipurpose.
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​SESSION 3: FILLING IN THE BLANKS
  • With the main floor in place and the heavy timber frame rising from the adjustable, GLT modular Douglas Fir floor, the team now introduce the mezzanine and align the Timber Bents, 
  • Learn about a new approach using the “Perfect Wall” concept and the benefits of an uninsulated service wall and infill exterior walls that are actually interior walls, 
  • Explore the structural advantages and understand how a few, expensive layers can provide greater value than a many, less expensive, layered approach typical in current home construction,
  • Witness the advantage of complete control of plumb, level and true in this unique construction design, and 
  • Live the challenges faced and lessons learned during this phase of the build.
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SESSION 4: THE UGLY DUCKLING
  • Explore the installation of the timber roof deck as the minor structure of double T & G Douglas Fir is structurally fastened with performance long-screws to complete the structural diaphragm in a fraction of the time of the old-school drill and spike technique, 
  • Discover just how simplifying the geometry makes the installation of high performance airtightness and insulation a quick and efficient task, 
  • Also discover just how uninteresting a house looks when the geometry is simplified for high-performance energy,
  • Discover the minimal performance impact by designing and building low energy impact structural connections, and
  • See the installation of wood “P” trusses, tension rod timber brace connections, low-conductance cladding and roofing ties, and how this approach makes the air barrier and continuous insulation construction construction very efficient.
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SESSION 5: HEATING WITH A MATCH AND COOLING WITH AN ICE CUBE ​
  • ​Witness the process of balancing the heating and cooling with the building envelope and the process of trading component costs to total cost while recognizing life cycle cost and ultimately comfort and convenience; all while targeting Net Zero for Energy performance, 
  • Explore the additional localized challenges for this site including winter solar shade, complete off grid conditions as well as the expectations for use by the Owners, 
  • Discover high performance options for potable water supply and a sewerage solution that is not another tired septic tank/field, 
  • Be introduced to advanced mechanical controls with monitoring and remote controls as well as the integration of a cogeneration (cogen) design that recovers all of the heat of power generation, power storage and conversion, sewage treatment, water treatment and ventilation losses (through HRV) to minimize heat demand at this heating dominated location, and 
  • Review the advantages of the service wall for mechanical and electrical services, and 
  • Discover the complex cogen/renewable energy strategy and the specifics of the Photovoltaic and storage solution.
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SESSION 6: ELECTRIFIED
  • Discover the complex cogen/renewable energy strategy and the specifics of the Photovoltaic and storage solution,
  • Balancing cost vs. efficiency vs. storage vs. demand, 
  • Follow the process for choosing hardware for inversion, storage, monitoring, charge control, system voltage, installation methods and location(s), and PV panel types for this project, and 
  • Be surprised by the choice to run heating, cooling and Domestic Hot Water (DHW) with electricity in this off-grid project and learn about why the design drifted into this answer.
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SESSION 7: ENJOYING THE VIEW
  • Explore the design path that drove the selection of window performance, glass/ coatings/films for the Insulting/Insulated Glass Units (IGU), 
  • See a detailed explanation of the installation of the fenestration (windows and doors for this project) into the very high performance perfect wall structure, 
  • Examine the trade-off of where windows and doors are installed vs. building envelope to fenestration ratios and why the lowest U value possible makes sense for this project but how this may not necessarily be the care for all designs, and
  • Enjoy a discussion about the effects that choice of window type, installation, site location, distribution across the facades, structural challenges, and supply challenges encountered on this project and the choices and fixes that emerged from these challenges.
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​SESSION 8: FROM THE TOP DOWN
  • Follow the discussion relating to the final choice of a metal roof for this project, 
  • Examine the details of the roof structure build-up supporting the metal roof, 
  • Consider the details at transitions to adjacent structure, at the roof/wall transition and at valleys and the chimney, 
  • Understand each of the 5 lines of defence that our built into the roof system, and 
  • Review the field installation complete with a conversation about challenges and fixes during the build.
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SESSION 9: FROM THE BOTTOM UP
  • ​Follow the discussion relating to the final choice of fibre cement board for this project, 
  • Examine the details of the floor structure build-up supporting the structure, 
  • Examine the details of the wall structure build-up supporting the cladding, 
  • Consider the details at the penetrations & transitions, at the wall/floor transition and specific details providing raceways and major structural elements to ensure continuity of the high energy performance targets, 
  • Understand each of the 5 lines of defence that our built into the wall system, and the three lines of defence to the underside of the main floor above grade, and 
  • Review the field installation complete with a conversation about challenges and fixes during the build.
SESSION 10: MAKING A HOUSE INTO A HOME
  • Explore how the heavy timber construction was used as an important final interior aesthetic, and how the use of this structure and the Glued Laminated Timber (GLT) panelized floor slabs ultimately contributed to cost moderation, 
  • Understand how the main structure is constructed with no interior structural demising walls leaving a blank canvas for floor plan now and in the future, 
  • Review how bringing the structure inside the building enclosure and providing multiple lines of defence from the exterior environment leads to extraordinary life expectancy for the home and a unique, high quality interior design canvas, and 
  • Sit back and take in the final finished structure and the "tale of the tape” as we disclose real costs of the entire project and lessons learned along the way.
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