By Toby Gorman - Nanaimo News Bulletin - January 26, 2008

On an overcast, drizzly morning, the repeated percussion of a hammer on a nail echoes through the quiet neophyte neighbourhood of Benson Meadows.

From somewhere in the treetops, the cadenced cry of a crow responds, but otherwise all is still.

“I love nature, that’s why my family and I chose to live here,” said Markus Saufferer. “But when we decided to live here we wanted to be as environment-conscious as possible.”

Some might say simply living in Benson Meadows goes against environmental thinking. With more than 70 five-acre lots and homes that border on ‘monster,’ pure urban sprawl springs to mind more than environmental consciousness.

But Saufferer, along with his wife and two children, found a way to give back to nature while creating an opportunity for their house to give back to them.

By building an ultra-efficient house, one that far surpasses any standard issued by BuiltGreen, Saufferer expects to reduce energy use by as much as 30 per cent over an R2000 certified home, which already exceeds current BuiltGreen standards.

A prosthetics technician by day, Saufferer has spent his free time hammering away since September with hopes of having one of the most efficient homes in B.C. by April. Using a new technology called Structural Insulated Panel Building Systems (SIP), Saufferer admits he “took the plunge” deciding to build his home with a relatively new building technology.

Uncertain were considerations like up-front costs for rented equipment, an engineer’s stamp required for SIP homes in Canada (SIP fits general standards in the U.S.) and problems that might not be encountered by conventional homebuilding methods.

“Initially, Markus chose to use SIPs for the cost effective insulation and sealing performance,” said Larry Croome of SIP Building Systems, who has worked closely with Saufferer on the project. “But since starting construction, he has really come to appreciate how simplified the building process is for a complicated structure. Features like the high-raked walls that reach the vaulted roof are half the weight of conventional frames and much more stable.”

Saufferer is acting as his own contractor on the project.

The insulated polystyrene panels, which replace traditional heat-sucking stud frames, blend laminating technology for strength and insulation. The same technology is used for the foundation and roof, all in an effort to seal out weather and seal in thermal heat and good air quality.

Combined with EnergyStar windows and appliances, energy use can be kept at a minimum and the SIP system is 15 times more airtight than conventional homes. Ultra-efficient air exchange fans keep air quality inside high.

The foundation, says Croome, is the first and most important place to warm up after the main living areas are done.

“Cold and damp under foot makes for sick and uncomfortable buildings, and can also cut the life of the building down,” he said. “A dry, warm and stable foundation free of condensation and leakage should last centuries, not the 45-year average currently seen.”

Despite additional costs up front, Saufferer expects he’ll be repaid by his 2,500-square-foot home over the years.

“We hope to live here for 20 or 25 years, so down the road, because of energy savings, I expect that the house will provide some financial payback. And who knows if the house will be worth more because of its energy efficiency later.”

After an energy audit that approached 90 on the Energuide rating system, Saufferer’s SIP house virtually guarantees a 25 to 33 per cent return on investment. If energy savings are put directly back into the mortgage, $50,000 over 25 years can be saved.

“He can be greedy and green at the same time,” said Croome.

For Saufferer, this unique and energy conscious house will soon be a comfortable home to raise his family.

“We hope to be here for a long time,” he said. “And we hope to enjoy the nature that surrounds us here in the future. It’s worth giving back to.”

reporter2@nanaimobulletin.com