Prairies

I am a PH enthusiast living in Saskatoon.  I work in health care, but I am also a small scale residential property developer with a passion for energy conservation and building.  

My motives behind implementing PH building practices are two fold really.  Firstly, it makes economic sense over the long term, and environmental benefits are substantial due to the conservation principles at play.  On the prairies this adds up quickly due to our severe and often hostile weather conditions, especially when fluctuating energy prices are factored.  The majority of houses in Saskatchewan are 2x4 framed structures with little to no vapor barrier and are poorly insulated against -40 degree Celsius winters.  Thermal bridging, effects of wind on R value, air changes, solar gain, and detailed HVAC are not factors considered even by major developers banging up dozens of homes/yr.   

I reduced my annual energy bill in my 60 yr old farm house from approx $3500/yr to $900/yr three years ago by implementing basic PH principles during its retrofit. Now, I am planning to develop two more properties in 2011 to the PH standard, and possibly retrofitting a rental property to near PH standards as well.  I believe this science will launch once an effective platform for it is established (to which this website & organization is!).

Secondly, and more altruistically, I see PH science inextricably linked to environmental and human health.  As a professional experienced in research and health policy development I see the development of long standing, healthy and environmentally friendly buildings attractive to governments and industry stakeholders.  Subsided PH housing for low income families would mean more $$ avail at the end of each month due to decreased utility costs.  These savings may appear insignificant to most, but can significantly raise a low income families standard of living, and thereby their health. Poverty levels are directly linked to health outcomes. 

Now consider that improved air quality, climate control, sound proofing and natural lighting (to name a few) are all factors that benefit virtually every chronic health condition.  Forty percent of government spending in Saskatchewan is  dedicated to health care.  Subsidized PH construction initiatives would strengthen the economy/building sector, reduce C02 emissions, and lower health spending over the long term.  This is where I think stakeholders in the building, environment and health industries need to collaborate for society to reap the full benefits of PH science; and leapfrog its implementation rather than see it phased in incrementally over the span of decades in one sector.

I hope to collaborate with all PBC members interested in developing bottom-up strategies aimed at marketing PH science to government and non-government organizations; and establish a foothold for it our coldest province!