Thank you to Denise Kenney and our friends at UBCO for furthering the discussion. Let’s help build the future.
Living Building- The Ethel Lane House from Denise Kenney on Vimeo.
NEWS RELEASE DECEMBER 16, 2014
Laneway house grand opening and solar panel fundraiser
Photo, video and interview ops for media of new green residential building
What: Open house and media tour of the Ethel Lane House, with photo/video/interview opportunities for a new green residential building project
When: 3:30pm, Wednesday December 17, 2014
Where: 1949 Ethel St., Kelowna (located off the alley behind 1951 Ethel St.)
KELOWNA, BC – The sustainable house of tomorrow is here today.
The first registered Living Building Challenge project in Kelowna will be move-in ready for its new tenant in time for Christmas.
The Ethel Lane House is a pilot project undertaken by the Thompson-Okanagan Collaborative of the Cascadia Green Building Council. Registered with the global Living Building Challenge, the Ethel Lane House meets the world’s most rigorous design and construction standard and certification program.
The 640-square foot laneway home includes water and energy saving features in its design and has been built to suit the needs of an assisted-living adult. In order to increase energy efficiency, the family has started an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign to raise funds to purchase photo-voltaic solar-panels to help the home meet its energy-saving targets. https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/energy-efficient-lane-home-for-adult-w-disability
Deren Sentesy, building contractor with EnCircle Design Build Inc., led the design and construction of the Ethel Lane House.
“It was such a wonderful experience building for Jordan and his family,” says Sentesy, who chairs the Thompson-Okanagan Collaborative of the Living Building Challenge.
“I look forward to seeing him move in and experience independent living in a home that is good for him and for the environment. I am excited to see how the building performs over the next year and obtain official Living Building certification. The photo-voltaic solar-panels are a crucial component of that certification process.”
The Ethel Lane House is hosting a move-in party for the occupant. An open house, including a tour of the sustainable home, takes place at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 17, at 1949 Ethel St. The laneway house is located off the alley behind 1951 Ethel St. Media organizations are invited to tour the Ethel Lane House and interview members of the Thompson-Okanagan Collaborative of the Cascadia Green Building Council, and invited guests.
The Living Building Challenge comprises seven standards of high-level building performance: site, water, energy, health, materials, equity, and beauty. Builders with registered projects must meet these rigorous standards to claim their project as one of the most sustainable and green buildings in the world.
More information:
www.ethellanehouse.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Thompson-Okanagan-Branch-Collaborative/114561941959300
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BACKGROUND:
CONTACT:
Deren Sentesy
Thompson-Okanagan Collaborative of the Cascadia Green Building Council
cascadiagbc.org
The project has been funded by the Vancouver Foundation. This is a hugs step in supporting the affordable housing efforts in our community. Funding like this will reduce the amount of borrowing from financial institutions, and allow us to increase the scope of the project to perhaps meet the Living Building Challenge.
Cities should be looking to fund projects like this in order to reduce the costs of health care. Providing affordable accommodations on infill pieces of land we believe will change the scope and feel of our cities. Having a challenged family member or aging parents living on the same property allows so many more opportunities for affordable housing in the Okanagan.
Affordable lane way housing will also result in a stronger more resilient community. In other cities infill lane way housing has resulted in increased community interaction, safer streets, and more beautiful walking spaces. It might be difficult for city planers and residents to see this but it will increase the happiness of the city.
Meeting with clients to discuss project house for his brother. The project is very compelling. Design and build a small house for his special needs brother. His brother has never lived alone before. The design and build of this project would allow him a home that he has never had. The location of the house, across the yard, is ideal for his family to look after him and help him with the various activities he is not so good at. Both my clients and their young children are excited to see this project underway.
To help fund this our clients are applying for funding from Giving in Action a program of the Vancouver Foundation. Funding from this foundation will go a long way to helping provide long term housing for their family member.
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