Environmental development: Green homes get start in Langley
A new "green" subdivision opened to plaudits from local, provincial, and federal politicians.
by Matthew Claxton
The houses at the south foot of the 208th St. overpass look almost identical to those built in a dozen other developments throughout Langley.
The differences are in their construction.
The first development in Canada constructed to the BuiltGreen environmental standards was officially opened in Willoughby on Friday.
Township Mayor Kurt Alberts, MLA Mary Polak, and members of the Canadian Home Builders' Association of B.C. (CHBABC) were on hand to help cut the ribbon into the Yorkson Village development.
Premier Gordon Campbell and federal and provincial politicians sent congratulations.
The 55-house project, just off the corner of 208th St. and 84th Ave., includes recycled materials, healthier plastics and glues, and energy efficient lighting, plumbing and appliances in every home.
"It takes more skill and more organization, are the big two factors," said Dale Barron, president of Morningstar Homes.
His firm built Yorkson Village, and plans two more housing developments along the same line, also in Willoughby.
The houses include recycled materials in laminates, are made with wood that does not come from old-growth forests, and have special coatings on the windows for better insulation.
Each home is individually rated after construction to make sure it doesn't leak air. Air circulation is mechanically controlled, Barron said.
The paints, carpets, underlays and adhesives are made with lower than normal levels of volatile organic chemicals.
Fluorescent lighting is built in, with bulbs that use seven to 12 watts, rather than 120, Barron said.
For someone building a single home for their family, it would be more expensive to construct a home to the standards of Yorkson Village, said Morningstar's marketing manager Deborah Calahan.
However, with a major firm building large numbers of units, the costs can come down considerably. While the houses will cost a bit more than average, they will pay for themselves with greater energy efficiency.
Alberts compared the project to the Township's own recently-passed plan to cut down its energy and greenhouse gas use.
"As a local government, we've tried to set an example of environmental stewardship," he said.
The resource savings from such efforts will benefit future generations, as well as the pocket books of those who take part, Alberts said.
Peter Simpson of the CHBABC talked about the impacts home construction has on Canada.
"Our industry uses vast quantities of this nation's resources, and we have an obligation to be mindful," Simpson said.
The mindset about energy efficiency and the use of recycled materials in construction has shifted from two decades ago, when people scorned recycled materials in houses, he said.
Now the "blue box generation" is looking for housing and eager for this kind of development, he said.
"This will become more the mainstream than the exception," Simpson said.
Barron doubted Morningstar's developments will be the last.
"I believe this day marks a turning point in the construction of single-family homes in British Columbia," Barron said.
Six of the homes have been finished, and they sold within hours of the opening of the showhome last week.
Between 129 and 150 similar houses will eventually be built at Yorkson Village and the future Lakewood and Creekside projects.
published on 06/27/2006