Many Shades of Green - Sustainable Saskatoon - Saskatoon HOME Magazine
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$4.95 DESIGN • ARCHITECTURE • DECOR SUMMER 2010
Many Shades
of Green
Sustainable
Saskatoon Tips and
Techniques
for Eco-Friendly
Home Living
Saskatoon HOME Summer 2010 1
Style for Life
Our experienced Design Consultants offer professional advice and can provide the
perfect solution for your decorating needs. Whether you are designing a new home
or commercial space, expanding to support a growing family or modernizing a dated
look, we have the flooring, window fashions and accessories to fit your lifestyle.
www.braidflooring.com #1–2301 Millar Avenue, Saskatoon, SK Ph: 306-244-1973
INSIDE
7 FRONTLINES
Vital News for Homeowners
Development news, real estate, civic policy,
green briefs and tips.
17 PROFILE
Forensics Leads to Business
And we thought only Superman saw through walls.
19 SUPPLIERS
A Fence That Makes Sense
Make sure what surrounds you is made of the right stuff.
41 DESIGN
Eco-friendly Outdoor Comfort
Patio and deck accessories are sustainable and
maintainable.
45 DECOR
Thrill of the Hunt
P32 One-of-a-kind finds at garage sales and flea markets.
47 SPOTLIGHT
The Craik Green Home
Foundation for a school of social responsibility.
F E AT U R E S 51 PRACTICAL
More Than Just an R-Rating
21 SUSTAINABLE SASKATOON
Has our city made the grade?
Other ways to improve your home’s energy efficiency.
A TALE OF TWO HOMES PART 1
53 GREEN
23 We follow two couples in their search for
Sensible, Sustainable Moving
A simple service, a wealth of wisdom.
their dream homes.
PROFESSIONAL PANEL
55 INSIDE
27 The experts scoop on eco-wise Saskatoon
Pretty and Purifying
Indoor plants add designer flair and clean the air.
development.
57 OUTSIDE
32 LEAN, GREEN NEW HOME APPLIANCES
They do their job, but you have to do yours.
Energy-Efficient Hot Tubs
It’s all about insulation, covers and heating.
36 MANY SHADES OF GREEN
A home that takes sustainability to a whole
59 BACKWORDS
Eighth Street
new level. This strip was made for cruising.
COVER:
The home of Candace and Gordon Franke. Photo: Darrell Noakes.
Saskatoon HOME Summer 2010 3
Keen on Green: New Home Trends
That all said, the concept of and how to indulge in garage Issue 10, Summer 2010
There are so many terms environmentally-conscious sale finds without becoming
ISSN 1916-2324
these days that describe living, no matter how you a pack rat. You’ll learn about
the concept of practicing want to call it, has become sustainable moving (no more info@saskatoon-home.ca
sensible, environmentally- much more complex than just cardboard boxes!), and pu-
Publisher
conscious living. Green is taking your glass bottles to the rifying your indoor air with
no longer a colour or a golf dump or using fabric bags in- plants. Amanda Soulodre
course; it is a label for any stead of plastic bags to carry In our feature section, two Editor, Writer
product or method that pur- your groceries. But, still, the 4 couples share their tales of
ports to contribute to this R’s, reduction, reuse, recycling creating their ideal homes Dona Sturmanis
philosophy. and recovery, remain one of through renovation and in- Contributing Writer,
Sustainable is another of the essential cores of doing it fill. Another couple shares
those words that is used to right. how they turned their abode
Photographer
brand an act, product, or This issue of Saskatoon into an optimally energy- Darrell Noakes
method that brings us closer Home is devoted to how you efficient residence with geo-
Art Director
to Mother Earth. can live more environmen- thermal and wind-generated
Then, of course, there are tally-conscious at home. In power. You’ll also find out ev- Mark McCann
words and phrases like all- our departments, you’ll find erything about the latest “lean Associate Art Director
natural, eco-wise and enviro- dozens of tips including how and green” fridges and laun-
friendly that crop up on labels to make your home more en- dry machines. Finally, our es- Stephanie Symons
of products to indicate that if ergy-efficient, how to choose teemed panel of professional Contributors
we buy them, we will be doing sustainable and eco-friendly experts weigh in on exactly
Gail Jansen
our part to reduce our carbon (there we go!) outdoor furni- how far Saskatoon has come
footprint. ture, hot tubs and accessories in terms of sustainable resi- Karin Melberg Schwier
dential development policies Jeff O’Brien
and philosophy.
You’ll notice this summer Janet Wanner
issue of Saskatoon Home has Rand Zacharias
expanded from 48 to 64 pages.
This is the result of increased
Advertising Sales
support from our advertis- Heather Boyko
ers. We are truly appreciative
of and grateful to these many
professionals and suppliers Saskatoon Home is published by:
who are here to make your Farmhouse Communications
home living an optimal expe-
rience. We are proud to pres- 607 Waters Cresent,
ent these talented individuals Saskatoon SK S7W 0A4
and companies in our maga-
Telephone: 306-373-1833
zine and encourage you to use
their services. Fax: 306-979-8955
Whether you want to call www.saskatoon-home.ca
our new home living con-
sciousness green, sustainable
or eco-friendly, it’s all a good
thing. By improving our prac-
tices at home, we also help to
improve the planet. No part of this publication may be
copied or reprinted without the written
DONA STURMANIS, EDITOR consent of the publisher.
Publications Mail Agreement #
41856031
4 Saskatoon HOME Summer 2010
Saskatoon HOME Summer 2010 5
6 Saskatoon HOME Summer 2010
FRONTLINES
Saskatoon barns on Avenue D across adaptive reuse. The city will compatible mixed land use.”
from the T. Eaton Lofts, in- also work with the Caswell Hill The location of the transit
City Council creasing park and community Community Association to facility “would be the most
Accepts space in the neighbourhood,
providing new affordable and
identify other potential park
space in the neighbourhood.
desired location for new park
space while accommodating
South Caswell market housing, establishing In addition, the plan calls for other additional land uses,”
stronger links to the down- rezoning at least some of the the report added.
Hill Redevelop- town, and establishment of a current light industrial land to “The South Caswell Con-
ment Plan “creative industry hub.” commercial and residential, cept Plan is an important step
The concept plan evolved eliminating heavy industrial to establish a common frame-
City Council plans to pro- from the Caswell Hill Local zoning within the neighbour- work, or vision, for how the
ceed with the redevelopment Area Plan, which recommend- hood and removing all indus- future transit facility site will
of south Caswell Hill, having ed that the city evaluate using trial uses north of the rail line. ultimately be redeveloped,”
adopted the concept plan for the space occupied by the A city report said that in continued the report. “Much
the area at its regular meeting, Municipal Transit Facility as 2004, more than 200 proper- the same way the Pleasant
April 12. a park and consider convert- ties were “rezoned to facilitate Hill Concept Plan guides de-
The ambitious plan will see ing some of the bus barns to this transition from a histori- cisions on future use of land
heritage_billboard_Feb11_highres.pdf 2/11/2010 4:27:04 PM
the retirement of the old bus a community centre through cally industrial area to a more and buildings, the South Cas-
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
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Saskatoon HOME Summer 2010 7
well Concept Plan will height- ■ A new one-acre park
en the potential for optimism
among the residents of the ■ A “focal point” for community
neighbourhood, and create recreation, leisure, commercial,
an attractive, safe, commu- and cultural events
nity focal point.”
■ A “rapid” transit stop on the
The planning principles north side of Jamieson Avenue
adopted by the city include:
■ A “Rails with Trails” pedestrian
■ Creating more green space linkage along the Canadian Pa-
cific Railway right-of-way.
■ Creating more affordable
housing opportunities, espe- ■ Increased residential density
cially for seniors and students
■ Three new development sites
■ Respecting the community’s for mixed-use activities, housing
heritage in the design of in-fill and commercial, adding 52 new
structures housing units to the area
■ Reducing crime, minimizing ■ Two new development sites
nuisance and vandalism for 12 low density townhouse
style dwellings
■ Creating better transporta-
tion linkages that reduce short- ■ Two new development sites
cutting for 62 medium density multiple-
unit dwellings
■ Developing a diverse com-
munity with a mix of residents ■ Design guidelines to retain
of all ages the heritage and character of
Caswell Hill
■ Developing safe pedestrian
and bike passages Architect and LEED con-
sultant Charles Olfert said in
■ Accommodating living, shop- a letter to council, “Anytime
ping, and working within the that publicly owned land and
neighbourhood buildings become available
for re-development, it is a
■ Promoting adaptive reuse great opportunity. The con-
and “green” building design cept plan embraces this, but it
does this in isolation and does
Among the not address the need to create
recommendations: effective linkages through the
site and between the commu-
■ “Adaptive reuse” of at least nity of Caswell, the downtown
two of the existing transit facil- and the University.
ity buildings, the 1913 Streetcar “When you consider that
Barn, at the comer of 24th almost all the residents of
Street and Avenue D North, and Caswell are within 1500 me-
the 1984 transit office, at the ters (a 15 – 20 minute Walk) of
south comer of 24th Street and Midtown Plaza, the river and
Avenue C North downtown, it is unbelievable
that there is virtually no safe
■ A pedestrian-only corridor way for a pedestrian to make
that includes closing 24th Street this journey,” he added.
between Avenues C and D “We can’t get those obnox-
ious diesel fuels out of there
8 Saskatoon HOME Summer 2010
Saskatoon HOME Summer 2010 9
soon enough,” Olfert told Calgary-based Lake Placid which it bought from Remai mendous opportunity to look
city council. He said the area sought to revive its earlier pro- Ventures Inc. in 2008, and an- at development in a different
needed an integrated pedes- posal for Parcel “Y”, after miss- other, smaller lot beside it. way there,” he added.
trian corridor linking down- ing a deadline for purchasing Councillor Maurice Neault,
DARRELL NOAKES/VERB NEWS
town, the warehouse district the property last October. Lo- who put forward the motion,
and Caswell Hill. cal entrepreneur Karim Nass- wants to see the development
CITY OF SASKATOON er announced in March that go ahead. Entry-level
he was joining with Lake Plac- “Let’s get this project go-
id CEO Michael Lobsinger on ing,” he said. “Let’s get it off Home Ownership
Lake Placid Still the development. the ground.” Scrapped in
The $200-million develop- The previous agreement
in the Running ment proposed in 2007 would worked for everybody, he Willowgrove
for River Landing include an eight-storey bou- said.
tique hotel/restaurant, four- “Nobody in their right mind City council voted April 10 to
City Council has decided to storey commercial building is going to pay $11 million,” remove a “pre-designation” at-
give Lake Placid another crack with retail, and 20-storey con- Neault added. “There’s too tached to a 12-acre parcel of
at a hotel-condominium dominium tower. The resi- many conditions.” land at 1015 Patrick Crescent
mega-project at River Land- dential space would include a “To basically just sell it at in Willowgrove for entry-level
ing. combination of tower suites, half of what the estimated home ownership.
Council voted on April 10 to live/work town homes, and price is now, really concerned The city will try to sell the
discuss a new sale agreement terrace homes. me,” said Charlie Clark, the land to the highest bidder, with
for the city-owned site known A report to city council said only councillor to vote against a reserve price of $7.08 million.
as Parcel “Y” and the adja- that the appraised value has the motion. “What I don’t If it doesn’t sell through the
cent lane, based on the terms risen to between $10.4 million want us to do is continually tender process, the adminis-
and conditions of the original and $11.6 million. The city lower expectations on what tration recommended that it
agreement. had agreed to sell Parcel “Y” we could or should be doing should be offered “over-the-
The administration will in 2008 for $4.765 million and on that very important piece counter, on a first-come, first-
conduct a “due diligence re- the lane for $0.475 million. of land.” served basis.” At that point, it
view” with auditors Deloitte & Lake Placid already owns the “The more I look at it, the would be available for market
Touche. former Legion site next door, more I think that there’s tre- housing.
10 Saskatoon HOME Summer 2010An administration report city currently has pre-desig-
said that the site is too large nated sites in the following
for developers to finance and neighbourhoods:
could result in an “unaccept-
able concentration” of entry- ■ Hampton Village, entry-level
level units. The report added homeownership (currently be-
that the triangular site is dif- ing rezoned)
ficult to develop, adding costs
that “cannot be absorbed by ■ Confederation Park, afford-
an entry-level project.” able homeownership (currently
The land was pre-desig- being pre-designated)
nated by city council in 2008
and offered for sale for “entry- ■ Blairmore Suburban Centre,
level homeownership multi- rental housing (proposal cur-
unit housing”, under the city’s rently under review)
Housing Business Plan. Up to
300 units were to be devel- ■ Lakewood Suburban Centre,
oped, to be sold at prices af- rental housing (report to Plan-
fordable to households with ning and Operations Committee
annual incomes between recommending acceptance of a
$52,000 and $75,000. proposal in progress)
The city mailed its request
for proposal to more than 50 In addition, the administra-
land developers, builders, and tion plans to recommend a
affordable housing providers. two to three acre site in Stone-
Neither the mailout nor ad- bridge for pre-designation
vertising and web promotion for entry-level ownership
generated a single proposal. later in 2010 and a site in Ev-
The city then tried offering ergreen for entry-level owner-
the site on a first-come, first- ship in 2011.
served basis, with one Saska-
CITY OF SASKATOON
toon developer expressing an
interest, the administration
report said. Saskatoon
The report said that the
developer “was interested in Amends Land
building entry-level, market, Speculation
and affordable housing on the
site. Numerous meetings were Rules
held between this developer
and the city; however, in the Saskatoon city council has de-
end, the developer was unwill- cided to keep the “three-year
ing to purchase the site.” time frame to build require-
“Rather than pursue other ment” and $50,000 penalty
developers for this site, it is felt intended to reduce property
that the most prudent course of speculation. However, the
action would be to remove the city dropped a lifetime ban on
designation as an entry-level purchasers who failed to meet
site,” the report concluded. the time frame or residency
City council in 2009 pre- requirement. The decisions
designated a 2.5 acre site for were passed during the regu-
entry-level housing in Hamp- lar city council meeting on
ton Village that “should be April 10.
more suitable for an entry- Anyone purchasing prop-
level development,” the re- erty from the city is required
port said. to have a dwelling completed
The report noted that the and passed all inspections
Saskatoon HOME Summer 2010 11within three years of the pur- contractors faced greater dif- Replacing Lead The replacement will be at
chase date.
In 2009, the city amended
ficulty selling homes and ob-
taining financing, leading to
Water Pipes the home owner’s expense.
The city gained the authority
the lot sales and land alloca- council’s decision to extend Now Mandatory under the Cities Act in 2003.
tion policies by extending the the time frame from two years Saskatoon is the first city in
two-year build requirement to three. in Saskatoon Canada to make replacement
to three years, with a require- The intent of the original mandatory.
ment to review the policy an- two-year build requirement The City of Saskatoon has Most water service connec-
nually for new sales. was to prevent established made it mandatory to replace tions installed throughout
Council imposed a $50,000 neighbourhoods from expe- lead service pipes bringing North America before 1950
city mortgage beginning in riencing significant number water to some homes in older used lead pipe. The city has
2008, to enforce compliance of vacant lots and to reduce parts of the city. been replacing the lines as
of the “time frame to build” speculators from holding The administration advised part of an ongoing program
requirement. They saw the onto lots until prices rise, the in a report to city council on or when repair work has been
lifetime ban as another meth- report said. April 10: “Due to the health undertaken. A portion of each
od to reduce speculators from and safety concerns regarding connection is on city-owned
CITY OF SASKATOON
the market along with the fi- higher concentration levels of land, while the portion from
nancial penalty. An adminis- lead in water if the lead line is the house to the property line
tration report to city council cut and rejoined with a new belongs to the home owner.
said that the financial penalty non-lead city portion, the city Until the new mandatory pol-
is more effective than the life- will be exercising its authority, icy was introduced, property
time ban, and recommended as outlined in Section C-11.1 owners could choose not to
removing it. 22 of The Cities Act, and hom- have their portions of the ser-
By late 2008, the new and eowners will no longer be giv- vice connection replaced.
existing housing markets en the option of replacing their
CITY OF SASKATOON
softened, the administration portion of a lead connection.”
report said. Individuals and
12 Saskatoon HOME Summer 2010GREEN BRIEFS
Pleasant Hill Condo CHBA-Sask Holds Package and LEED for Homes port said, adding that the ad-
Goes Solar Forum (LEED-H) Builder Option
Package, Cultural Diversity
ministration has “developed
a strategy to determine the
Cenith Developments has Focusing on in the Workplace, a modular- City’s direction with respect to
resumed construction of 12
townhouse units in Pleasant
Sustainability ized safety course developed
to assist the residential con-
a curbside recycling program
for Saskatoon.”
Hill. Located at 315 Avenue N Canadian Home Builders’ struction industry in reducing The administration expects
South, these affordable units Association — Saskatchewan the number of job safety inci- to spend $30,000 on consulta-
will incorporate two solar held a Builders’ and Renova- dents, and online marketing tions and submit a final report
panels systems. The first solar tors’ Industry Trade Forum and advertising. to city council for a decision
system will reduce the cost of in Saskatoon, April 13. The on November 8.
SASKATOON & REGIONAL HOME
hot water heating via a large forum put an emphasis on
BUILDERS’ ASSOCIATION CITY OF SASKATOON
holding tank and thermal sustainability. Len Semko,
heat exchanger. The second assistant chief building of-
system will be the first of its ficial with the building stan- Survey says Gas Collection to
kind to incorporate an agree- dards branch of Saskatche-
ment with Saskatoon Light wan’s Ministry of Corrections,
Saskatoon Citizens Reduce City’s
and Power to sell power back Public Safety and Policing, Want Better Greenhouse
to the grid. Units are expected in Saskatoon, presented a
to be completed by August 31, seminar on the Future of
Recycling Gas Emissions
2010. Marketing of the units Building Codes. A Utility Services report sent City council has approved a
will begin shortly through Seven presenters com- to city council on April 26 says recommendation from Utility
Century 21. prised the Energy Supplier that results from the last 10 Services to design a gas col-
Showcase, organized by Sun civic surveys show that Sas- lection system and blower/
PLEASANT HILL VILLAGE BLOG,
Ridge Group, introduced in- katoon citizens rate recycling flare station at the landfill, at
CITY OF SASKATOON
novative new products and “as having a high degree of a cost of $388,300.
services for homes. Other importance.” A Utility Services report
seminars provided oppor- Citizens believe that the to council on April 26 said
tunities to learn about the city needs “more significant that Saskatoon Light & Power
Energy Star Builder Option recycling initiatives,” the re- has been working with the
Saskatoon HOME Summer 2010 1314 Saskatoon HOME Summer 2010
Environmental Services City Park Local ment. Development concerns
Branch to develop a system identified during the LAP are
to capture methane gas emit- Area Plan incompatible residential in-fill
ted from the landfill. The first Addresses Growth developments, possible de-
stage, to be completed by velopment at the Weir, future
early 2012, will collect and Concerns development at City Hospital,
“thermally destruct” the gas City council approved the Lo- and future use of the Mendel
in an enclosed flare. Later, the cal Area Plan for the City Park Art Gallery and Civic Conser-
gas will be used to generate neighbourhood on April 26. vatory.”
power for the Saskatoon Light Said an administration re- The plan contains 37 pro-
& Power grid. The city will is- port: “City Park is one of a posed recommendations, in
sue a request for proposals dozen neighbourhoods ap- addition to 365 submitted pre-
this summer, with the power proved by city council to un- viously, of which 175 have al-
generation facility expected to dergo a Local Area Plan. The ready been completed. It iden-
go online by summer of 2012. area was originally included tifies main areas of concern as:
CITY OF SASKATOON in the 1978 and 1991 Core ■ Traffic and Circulation
Neighbourhood Studies. The - improving pedestrian safety,
area is experiencing unique
Timely Tips for a circumstances and pressures
addressing parking concerns,
and reviewing the residential
Green Home Office due to the neighbourhood’s
age and proximity to the
parking permit program
downtown. Improvements are ■ Land-Use
1 - Put plants in your work space. They are aesthetically - regarding in-fill development
pleasing, are said to increase productivity and concentra- desired within the neighbour-
tion, absorb toxins from indoor air and improve humidity hood to ensure the contin- ■ Sustainability
by returning 90% of the water we give them, making you ued long-term viability of the - becoming a champion for
feel more comfortable. neighbourhood. active transportation
“The neighbourhood has
2 - Reduce heating and cooling. Close off vents to unused been relatively stable in terms
■ Municipal Services
rooms while you are working in your home office. In the - addressing surface deficiencies
of growth and development.
summer, to keep cool, use a fan in your office and draw and paving
However, it does face future
those curtains. In the winter, turn down the thermostat, challenges with regards to traf- ■ Local Area Plan
pull the blinds to conserve heat and wear a sweater. fic and circulation, land-use - implementation
3 - Conserve power. Switch off all your equipment includ- pressures, and issues relating
ing computers, printers and lights when you are finished to municipal services such as The approval of the City
working. Turn off cell phone chargers when the phone is surface deficiencies and aging Park LAP will add an addition-
fully charged. Better yet, plug everything into a power bar infrastructure. The future of al 37 recommendations to be
to save energy and flip that off, too, when not in use. City Park will be affected most implemented.
by demands for in-fill develop-
4 - Think light. Turn the lights off in the rest of the house CITY OF SASKATOON
when you are working in your office. Install energy-effi-
cient light bulbs. Make as much use as possible of natural
light for reading.
5 - Be paper-savvy. Turn scrap paper into notepads. Use
the other side of old documents for writing and printing,
or print double-sided. Send emails of PDFs instead of fax-
ing. Reuse old envelopes by putting a label over the old ad-
dress. Scan your paper files for electronic storage... just be
sure to make a back-up! Buy recycled office paper. Keep a
recycling bin handy for the paper you do use.
6- Buy second-hand. Everything in your home office
doesn’t have to be brand new. Use furniture and shelves
you already have. Think before you buy new technology.
What you have may be good enough.
7- Pass it on. Don’t throw away your electronics and
furniture when you buy new ones. Recycle, donate or sell
them when you buy something new.
For more Green Office tips visit www.saskatoon-home.ca/office.htm
Saskatoon HOME Summer 2010 15SaskHomeMagazineToto.ai 12/05/2010 11:26:35 PM
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16 Saskatoon HOME Summer 2010PROFILE
Forensics Leads a lot of mould. Although the
house was reparable, it would
to Business have been too much for this
And You Thought couple to manage — and even
worse had they not learned of
Only Superman the hidden hazard.
Could See In addition to scanning the
exterior of a house to look for
Through Walls thermal leaks, such as find-
ing poor insulation, he’s been
Cliff Gerow sees through called to check for heat gen-
walls. No, he doesn’t have X- erated by electrical wiring,
ray vision, but he does have find the exact location of in-
some pretty sophisticated floor heating pipes or locate
technology that lets him see sources of leaky roofs. He’s
if a house has poor insula- also been requested to check
tion, moisture leaks, mould the installation of doors and
growth, insect or pest activ- windows.
ity, or other problems. A friend suggested he look
Gerow’s secret for seeing at horses that had been hurt.
what others can’t comes from “If you’ve got an injury,
thermal imaging. He uses in- it swells up a little bit, the
frared camera technology to blood rushes to it, increases
detect the minute differences the heat, and I can find it,” he
in temperature that can be the says. “Where they can’t find
first indications of trouble in some injuries with an X-ray
the home. or an ultra-sound, I can see
It’s a unique business for it very clearly. So now, I’ve
Saskatoon, one that Gerow is started doing the equine side
uniquely suited to running. of things.”
“I’ve been running my own A veterinarian asked if he
business for about two years could look at injured dogs.
Photo: Courtesy Cliff Gerow, Heat Seeker
now, but I’ve been doing “Sure enough, it works the
thermal imaging for about 20 Cliff Gerow uses infrared camera technology same way. Every time I think,
to detect heat leaks in a home.
years,” he says. ‘that’s it,’ something new
Most of that work was as Since launching Heat Seek- tanks and all kinds of things. comes up. It’s very interesting
a forensic specialist for the er Thermal Imaging, Gerow’s They just don’t see the appli- work.
RCMP, a job he retired from business has been increasing cation of it.” “I do quite a bit for manu-
five years ago. steadily, but he still finds that “The technology’s been facturing and industrial side
“We’re like CSI, but not most people don’t really know around forever, but it has so of things,” says Gerow, not-
nearly as sexy as that,” he what thermal imaging does. many applications it’s hard to ing that his work takes him
says with a laugh. “We’re the “Some people, when they nail it down,” he says. throughout Saskatchewan
ones who go out to the crime think of thermal imaging, Not long ago, an elderly and into Alberta.
scenes, bring the evidence think of a plane flying over couple given care of their For example, he might get
back in, do most of the analy- following cars or, if they’re grandchild asked him to check called to do building electri-
sis and then present our evi- militaristic at all, they think a house they were thinking of cal surveys, imaging the junc-
dence in court.” of thermal imaging sights for buying. Cliff’s camera revealed tion boxes, breaker boxes and
Saskatoon HOME Summer 2010 17wiring. At one location, he eye, it’s hard to tell what might
was able to narrow down the be in a storage tank, but when
source an annoying, intermit- Gerow turns his camera to-
tent electrical problem. The wards it, he can tell how much
thermography showed a dif- oil is inside, how much water
ferent heat signature for two is on top, and how much sedi-
electrical panels, compared to ment has accumulated at the
the remaining ones. That gave bottom. He can spot pump
the building owner a start- jack bearings and bushings
ing place for the electricians, that are overheating because
instead of having them take of worn parts.
days or perhaps weeks to go “The nice thing is my tech-
painstakingly through every nology non-destructive,” he
circuit in the building. says. “I don’t have to put a
Gerow gives another ex- probe in your wall. I don’t have
ample: “There’s a downtown to poke a hole in your roof.”
office building. I just did their “I can do it at a distance, a
electrical room on each floor, safe distance, for both myself
spotted what I thought were and for everybody around
problems. I flagged them and me,” he adds. “It’s just a good
then they have the electrician idea.”
come in and check. Instead of
DARRELL NOAKES
days of work, it was hours.”
He’s also in demand in the
oil industry. With the naked
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18 Saskatoon HOME Summer 2010SUPPLIERS
A Fence that The Vinyl Alternative
Makes Sense: Linda Friesen, of Fenced in
Make Sure What Vinyl, a custom fabrication
company of fences and other
Surrounds You outdoor products, is natu-
is Made of the rally a great advocate of vinyl
fences.
Right Stuff “Vinyl can stand the test of
Fencing products today are time,” says Friesen. “Admit-
no longer simply a marker of tedly it’s an investment, but
personal space; they’re also a it’s a lifetime investment.”
marker of personal style. But “buyer beware,” says
“Your fence acts as your bar- Friesen. Not all vinyls are cre-
rier and your security system ated equally.
from everything around you,” “People really need to do
says Jordan Krawchuk, owner their homework when choos-
of Krawchuk Construction, ing a vinyl product,” says
a company that helps peo- Photo: Courtesy Hanneson Construction Friesen. “They should actu-
ple build and renovate their ally look at a cross-section of
An attractively surrounded deck enhances
homes. “But as more people the appearance of a home. all the varying grades before
than ever before expand their deciding on one. It all has to
living space to include their do with the thickness of the
backyards, it also has to have vinyl’s wall.”
a certain aesthetic appeal.” Available in a variety of co-
For Krawchuk, the trend lours with added UV inhibi-
he sees more and more are tors that stop colours from
fences made of pressure- fading, vinyl fences not only
treated wood. act as a very private backdrop
“The old picket fence that for your outdoor living space,
people used to build was made they can also effectively block
of spruce,” says Krawchuk. wind, as long as they are in-
“And that material needs to be stalled properly.
primed, painted or stained to “Just like there are different
‘cure’ it and to help it resist the Photo: Courtesy Krawchuk Construction types of lumber, there are dif-
weather. So while it’s less ex- ferent grades of vinyl, differ-
pensive than pressure-treated A pressure treated wood fence can last ent styles of vinyl, and differ-
wood, it also requires yearly maintenance-free for 25 years. ent ways of putting vinyl up.
maintenance.” Krawchuk, lies in the process While Krawchuk says this We believe in doing 5-6 foot
Treated with a stain that of building the fence. problem can be easily treated centres [supporting posts in
resists termites, sunlight and “Every time you cut and with the purchase of a paint the ground], and we’d never
water damage, pressure- screw, you create a hole, or stain that can be applied to recommend anyone going as
treated wood does not re- where you are now display- all the cut areas, the fence you far as an 8 foot centre. It may
quire finishing, and can last ing the non-treated material build yourself will never be as save a bit of money in the be-
maintenance-free anywhere that can become weathered resistant as it is when it comes ginning, with less posts in the
from 20-25 years, if not lon- and rot where the screw holes pre-made from the factory. ground,” cautions Friesen.
ger. The problem with it, says are or where the cut ends are.” “but in the long run, you’re
Saskatoon HOME Summer 2010 19going to have trouble with Made from maintenance-
your fence, and its ability to free, powder-coated alumi-
stand up to high winds will be num that can be found in a
compromised.” wide variety of colours, to-
day’s deck railings can be
Fencing the Deck combined with added glass
inserts which can effectively
For those with smaller yards, block wind and sun.
1 we measure the best fencing solution to “Many glass inserts are
ensure aesthetics, privacy and available with reflective coat-
wind blockage may not lie ings that allow you to look
in how you surround your out, but prevents others from
yard, but in how you surround looking in,” says Hanneson.
your deck. While each type of fencing
“Many of these new sub- available ranges in price, the
divisions have houses that one thing all three of the lat-
2 we install are so close together, half the
time you can share a ketchup
est fencing materials have in
common is their ability to ex-
bottle with your neighbour ist maintenance free.
off his deck,” laughs Derek “I think society has gotten
Hanneson, of Hanneson Con- to a zero maintenance toler-
struction, exterior specialists. ance for fences,” says Hanne-
“That’s why going with the son. “And I see a lot more of
option of customized deck that coming ahead, because
railings can give you a lot of people just don’t want to have
3 you enjoy privacy and the illusion that to work on it or to replace it.
you’re by yourself.” They just want to enjoy it.”
GAIL JANSEN
20 Saskatoon HOME Summer 2010Sustainable Saskatoon:
Are We
There Yet?
Saskatoon is starting to show an innovative spirit,
when it comes to embracing sustainability. In February,
the city published a Sustainable Development Guiding
Principles Workbook to guide developers creating new
neighbourhoods. The workbook distills a vision to reduce
the sprawling, low-density suburban development
common to North America, promoting “Smart Growth”
principles such as mixed land use, compact
building design, walkable communities
and transportation choice.
by DARRELL NOAKES
Saskatoon HOME Summer 2010 21The idea behind
the workbook,
says Saskatoon neighbourhood planning manager Alan
Wallace, is to get developers to consider sustainability
options when they develop new neighbourhoods. Those
options include, for example, orienting the lots, and doing something different because you don’t know if it’s going
subsequent buildings, so that they respond to sun and to be successful, whereas we’ve done it.”
shade patterns, reduce fossil fuel use through shielding
from prevailing winds, or capture rainwater run-off to minimize It’s about having an “innovative drive” to create more sustainable
the impact of storms. communities, he says.
The city hopes to raise awareness of the principles and design Yet, even as developers approach sustainability with some
features of new, sustainable neighbourhoods in Saskatoon and reticence, there’s a strong trend moving in that direction. If
the surrounding region. Those principles can as effectively be that trend isn’t being pushed by developers, it’s certainly being
applied to established neighbourhoods when builders consider pulled by consumers.
their in-fill practices, as to new subdivision developments.
There’s a global movement toward being greener, the consultant
It’s a bit of a compromise. The city didn’t think compelling points out. All cities have to get in line with that, he says.
developers to implement green building practices would
gain much traction. Besides, the LEED standard for the Vancouver and Calgary are showing that it’s possible to build
neighbourhood development rating is still evolving, expected more sustainable neighbourhoods, with significantly higher
to be introduced later this year. It could still be some time before densities that facilitate walking and reduce reliance on driving,
there are standards capable of being enforced. The city hopes making use of natural drainage patterns and reducing water
that a more collaborative approach will guide applicants toward consumption, or zoning that limits sprawl for example. At the
implementing projects that are a benefit to the community. moment, Saskatoon lags behind these cities.
But there’s always the riddle of acceptance. Developers invest “I know they’re trying to go for ‘sustainable’,” says the consultant,
a lot of time and money into their projects. Mistakes can ruin “but they’ve really got a long ways to go. We can only do so
them, so they tend to be cautious. Even if a developer were much, given the zoning that we currently have.”
to take a chance on implementing a “green” neighbourhood,
it might not fly, with a public accustomed to the way things Partly, provincial and municipal regulations stand in the way
have always been. Just look at the controversy brewing over of the innovations needed to try new methods of creating
Saskatoon’s discussion of a tall wind turbine, a submerged communities that limit sprawl and promote sustainable
hydropower station and redevelopment of the weir. development.
“Realistically, I don’t know that it is that difficult,” says Saskatoon’s been taking steps to move in the right direction
one consultant working on a development in a new with neighbourhoods such as Evergreen and Rosewood.
neighbourhood. “I think the planners and the city are pretty
good. (They) have been very accommodating and open to Unfortunately, Rosewood is a little less dense than the kind of
new ideas. It’s really just a commitment from the develo sustainable community that the city should be aiming for, but
pers to move in that direction.” it’s still looking to be a very good community, the consultant
says.
“We’re not afraid of it because we’ve seen it,” he says. “I think
typically what happens is, if you’ve never done it there’s a fear of What’s really needed, he says, is a “new brand of community.”
22 Saskatoon HOME Summer 2010A Tale of Two Homes
How In-fill and Reno Created Ideal Abodes
Part One of a Three-Part Series
For two couples, each looking to find their dream home, the call of living in their
favourite old neighborhoods was one that couldn’t be ignored. Each couple
looked for and found unique solutions to their housing quests in a way that best
suited their personal tastes, budgets and personalities.
In this three-part series, we’ll meet these two couples and follow them on their
dream house journeys as they begin by taking their first tentative searching steps,
right on up to their final reveal, in this…a tale of two homes.
by Gail Jansen
Saskatoon HOME Summer 2010 23Photos: Courtesy Nina and Greg Moe
The Moes documented the progress of
their home being completely gutted and
now the renovation that is underway.
F or couples Nina and Greg Moe, and Darla Tenold and Fahmy Bekhit,
the decision to upgrade from their present homes was an easy one to
make, but the search for the perfect home was one that would prove
relentlessly elusive. While homes they looked at in new developments
lacked the space and the character both couples preferred, older
homes lacked the modern layouts and custom options they were
looking for.
With new developments reluctantly stricken from their potential
lists despite their modern amenities, both couples decided to look
at older homes in established neighborhoods, hoping they would
find their perfect houses. They wanted homes that would have
the character and space they desired, the modern efficiencies With little found in the way of suitable houses that met all of their
they hoped for, in the established neighborhoods they loved. needs, both couples decided they would need to think of alternate
ways they could have the homes they desired, in the neighbourhoods
What they found was a hunt that was akin to searching for a they wanted.
needle in a haystack.
24 Saskatoon HOME Summer 2010Nina and Greg Moe:
They Discover Reno is Their Way to Go
“We wanted our house to be a haven,” says Nina. “A place where we something we were looking for because we go away to our cabin a lot
enjoy coming home to relax, so we were also a little bit concerned in the summer.”
about the aspect of living in a construction zone for the next 10 years,
something we felt you pretty much sign up for if you’re going to live in “We pretty much walked up to it and fell in love with it immediately,”
one of the newer neighborhoods, or build on a newer lot.” adds Nina.
For Nina and Greg, who admittedly were “all over the place” when it Nina and Greg were hoping the inside would be as nice as the outside.
came to their search, they originally started out with a plan to build a They were pleasantly surprised when their expectations were met.
brand new home in a newer development, going so far as to place a
down payment on a lot. Still not fully happy with the idea, they even “When we walked in, the interior of the house was nice, and clean,
entertained the idea of purchasing a downtown condo, before finally and while the layout didn’t work for us, we immediately got a great
settling on the solution that both ultimately felt was the right one for feeling from the home. We could see the space there, and knew we
them, which was to buy an older home and completely gut it and could do something really special.”
renovate it to their own specifications.
Finding the Right Person for the Job
Finding the Right Property Purchasing windows for their summer cabin a few years back, Nina
Nina and Greg searched for a home whose exterior would require and Greg were given a recommendation for a contractor with whom
little to no maintenance, one that would have instant curb appeal, the supplier had done business with. He eventually completed
and an established yard. What they the renovations on their cabin. He would
weren’t looking for was also be their choice to make the
a home where they renovations on the new house.
would end up paying
for someone else’s “Quite frankly when we found
renovation. out that our offer on the house
was accepted,” laughs Nina,
“Sometimes people do “the very first phone call I made
things to sell a home,” after that wasn’t to my mom or
says Nina. “And we any of my friends, it was to our
thought, well, that’s nice contractor to let him know we
that you did that, but had found our house.”
we’re just going to tear it
out anyways. We wanted Nina and Greg collaborated to
to feel that we were create a design that was what
getting good value for they were both looking for as
whatever home we bought well as one that was physically
in that sense.” workable in the space they had
purchased.
They got that feeling they got
when they found a house that fit “Greg and I had some very specific
their criteria to a tee. ideas of what we knew we wanted and
we made a list. But the reality of it is that the
“When we walked up to this home, we contractors then have to say, ‘Is that a realistic
had a great feeling about it immediately,” possibility?’
says Nina. “The curb appeal was fabulous,
it had alleys on two sides, and the exterior After we had given them our specific ideas, they then had
was meticulous. The outside had just been to come back to us and say, ‘Okay, we’ve heard you and here
totally redone, with new decking and is what we can do to help you with that.’”
landscaping that was maintenance-free,
Saskatoon HOME Summer 2010 25Darla Tenold and Fahmy Bekhit:
They Decide In-fill Will Fit Their Bill
“The reason we didn’t want to go to a new development,” says Darla, Finding the Right Property
“is because we liked our central location, our mature neighborhood
and the fact that there are trees, back alleys, and different kinds of While Darla and Fahmy’s search for a solution to their housing
houses. For us, we find the new developments a little too sterile.” dilemma was over, the search for just the right property on which to
execute that solution was just beginning.
“Plus,” add Fahmy, speaking of the couple’s current neighbourhood,
“we fell in love with this area, and didn’t really want to leave it.” Their criteria was far different from that of Nina and Greg. The pair
were more concerned with the lot size than its landscaping, and
Darla and Fahmy also exhausted a myriad of potential solutions. unconcerned with the home’s layout, considering their plans to either
These ranged from pricing out the cost of an addition to their existing move it or demolish it. What was important to the pair was that the lot
home that would ultimately prove to be too expensive for the final came with a reasonable price tag and that the home would not prove
product, to searching fruitlessly for a home suitable to gut. too costly to demolish.
But it wasn’t until they saw an example of what could be done using “When we found this property,” says Fahmy, “it had a small house
an in-fill that they decided the solution for them was to build a brand of only 500 square feet on a big developed lot, but it also had a fairly
new home on an existing older lot. new garage that had been taken good care of.”
“We had looked at an in-fill that was newly built and up for sale in “It was one of the main things that helped us to make our decision,”
Varsity View,” said Darla. “And while we didn’t end up making an offer he adds, “because now we knew we wouldn’t have to build a garage
on that house, it’s what gave us the idea to build an in-fill of our own.” as well as a house. Considering at the time this house was the
cheapest that was listed, we figured it was a really good opportunity
Darla and Fahmy could see
and jumped on it.”
what their new house would
look like in the midst of Finding the Right Person for the Job
in-fill construction.
For Darla and Fahmy, the process of finding the right builder was not
quite so straightforward.
“When we bought the lot and the house, we had no idea about
building,” says Fahmy. “We went around to some show homes in
some of the newer areas, took some pamphlets, and based on those,
we phoned some builders.”
They met with four builders before narrowing it down to one, choosing
Sanoma Homes. They had seen the builders’ previous work, spoken
to the owners of a home they had built, and felt their excitement for
the project. It was also important that they would have the support
they would need as they went forward with their build.
“For me, personally,” says Darla, “I wasn’t so interested in any house
things and design things. I just wanted someone who would give us
a lot of personal service, so that we could be involved and get the
custom house that we wanted without having to do a lot of the work
ourselves.”
Read the fall issue of Saskatoon Home to follow these stories, or visit
www.saskatoon-home.ca for updates and photos between issues.
Photo: Courtesy Darla Tenold and Fahmy Bekhit
26 Saskatoon HOME Summer 2010PROFESSIONAL PANEL
THE EXPERTS
It’s not always easy being green. In Saskatoon,
that means moving towards sustainable
residential development. It’s a complex
paradigm involving city planners, visionary
developers and environmentally-conscious
homeowners and buyers. Saskatoon Home
SCOOP ON
weighed in with some experts: a green renovator,
a sustainable developer, a city planner and a
sustainable energy engineer to capture some
ECO-WISE
insight into how far Saskatoon has come on
many different levels towards achieving eco-
friendly home and neighbourhood development SASKATOON
goals. There are also some tips on what home
DEVELOPMENT
owners and buyers can do to become more
energy-efficient. And believe it: these are simple!
Saskatoon HOME Summer 2010 27PARTICIPANTS
Michael Leggett is the owner of Equinox Home Innovations,
a Saskatoon-based green home renovation and contracting
company. He has over 10 years of experience working in
various construction areas, and has degrees in community
development and environmental design from the University
of Guelph and York University.
Curtis Olson is obsessed with the challenge and beauty of
urban development. His company, Shift Development Inc.,
focuses on residential and commercial spaces in the city’s core
areas. His current project is the Two Twenty, an office + cafe +
studio project to house the city’s most forward thinking design
businesses on 20th Street West.
Alan G. Wallace, MCIP, is the manager of neighbourhood
planning, Planning and Development Branch, at the City of
Saskatoon. Over 25 years with the City of Saskatoon, he has
worked in nearly all areas of planning and development. He
manages the Neighbourhood Planning program which includes
affordable housing, local area planning, neighbourhood safety,
and neighbourhood and downtown revitalization.
Kelly Winder, M.Sc., P.Eng. has worked in the field of energy
efficiency since completing his international master’s degree
in sustainable energy engineering from the Royal Institute of
Technology in Stockholm, Sweden in 2003. Kelly works as
an engineer in the building performance business unit within
Saskatchewan Research Council, a group that specializes in
improving the energy efficiency of buildings in Saskatchewan
and beyond.
28 Saskatoon HOME Summer 2010Are Saskatoon homeowners, including and as part of an energy and greenhouse has, in our experience and over the past
those who wish to renovate, and gas initiative, the city seems to be now few years, been quite open-minded to
those who wish to buy new homes, exploring a wider implementation of looking seriously at,and supporting new
favouring sustainable features and sustainable initiatives. Whether this sustainable practices.
practices more than they did before? partnership will offer encouragement to
What are they looking for? homeowners in terms of reducing energy Olson: In the past, the largest challenge
consumption levels and shifting to more has been finding buyers who would
Leggett: I think the majority are doing sustainable energies like geothermal, justify the investment in energy
so largely as a result of a good return wind and solar, is yet to be seen. efficiency and sustainability. Our society
on investment, and as a result of various has evolved and now environmental
rebate programs (although that may Olson: Saskatoon is moving towards stewardship is right at the top of buyers
now change). A smaller percentage zoning revisions that allow and questions to ask builders. As a result,
seem to be driven more so by an ethic encourage more infill and high density the demand is making it much easier
of thinking about global/environmental development, which in my opinion, are for builders to justify higher efficiency
implications of our energy consumption some of the biggest moves to advance features in the homes they’re building.
patterns. I have found in my work sustainability. The city needs to make
with customers that the majority of it easier to build attached housing, like Wallace: The city is undertaking a review
customers, however, when I explain row houses, because they are some of standards related to the installation of
various green practices and products of the most energy-efficient forms wind turbines, solar panels, and so on. So
to them, are often quite supportive and of housing that we have. The idea of far, there have not been many proposals
inclined to opt for green options. permitting garage homes or granny to consider, but the enquiries into these
suites throughout the city is another types of energy generating items is
Olson: I see more home buyers looking very positive move that needs to be increasing. Geothermal installations
for fully-integrated green design supported. have been approved for many years
throughout the homes they are seeking. already, and straw bale housing can be
They’re not content with entry-level Wallace: Recently the city has begun to built anytime.
green products that have typically been add energy efficiency and sustainability
add -ons in the past. For example, they’re requirements in all Requests for Proposals Are developers considering
coming with questions about locally- (RFPs) we issue for new housing and alternative forms of neighbourhood
sourced finishing materials, solar water revitalization projects. For example, development to promote more
heating systems and even alternative the RFP evaluation for the Arthur Cook healthy lifestyles, active living and
building envelope systems. Today’s warehouse restoration provided 30% sustainable development practices?
buyer is very well-informed and has of a total 100 points towards projects Has the city made changes to
done their research beforehand. which demonstrated restoration encourage these kinds of practices?
techniques and materials which reduced
Wallace: The next generation of home energy consumption and considered Leggett: With the pioneering of model
buyers is more conscious of the need environmentally-friendly materials. In communities like Craik, Saskatchewan
to consider environmentally-friendly RFPs for affordable housing, a similar and others such as the green village
materials in their new home, and are amount of importance is assigned to starting by Mike Holmes near Okotoks,
looking for new features which reduce items which will reduce energy and water Alberta, and the Redwood Meadows
water and energy consumption. This consumption to increase affordability for Community near Cochrane, Alberta, I
expectation appears to be growing in the homeowner. think a lot of interest has certainly been
the marketplace. A new set of values are growing among many municipalities
being expressed around conservation, Are builders encountering fewer in the country. The city of Saskatoon
but cost is still a major factor to most restrictions when they try to has also been working on developing
consumers. incorporate more energy efficiency an environmentally-sustainable
and sustainability elements in the neighborhood called Evergreen, to be
What is the City of Saskatoon doing to homes they build? built near University Heights. Plans
encourage more energy efficiency and for the Evergreen neighborhood
sustainability elements in housing? Leggett: What used to be a big involve maintaining the majority of the
restriction for certain types of green indigenous trees on the site; streets are
Leggett: As far as I am aware, the city’s innovations was municipal code aligned to be south-facing to allow for
efforts have until recently been largely regulations. I think here in Saskatoon maximum solar energy potential; and
focussed on its own municipal buildings we are quite fortunate to have one of the parks and trails are woven throughout
in terms of bringing them to a point best building standards departments the community.
of greater energy efficiency. With the of any municipality I am familiar with.
recent partnership with Roadmap 2020, Saskatoon’s building standards branch
Saskatoon HOME Summer 2010 29You can also read
