German Bundesrat President launches new net-zero energy
German International School Toronto / EcoPlusHome
supports school project
EcoPlusHome as part of the Canadian-German business
community steps up to support the growth of the German International School
Toronto (GIST) and to help creating a unique international learning perspective
in Canada. On Sep 7 Mrs. Hannelore Kraft, President of the Bundesrat of the Federal
Republic of Germany and Minister-President of the State of North-Rhine-Westphalia
was present at the
Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new school located in North
York.
Minister-President
Kraft underlined in her speech that the new net-zero energy school will be a
center for the German speaking community and become a wonderful part of
Toronto's multicultural mosaic. She particularly thanked Canadian-German
business leaders gathered at the school's new site for their generous and
active support of this project.
Mrs. Kraft and
kindergarten students planted a sturdy German oak tree at the new site of the
school as shown on the image. To their
right is a Bosch solar thermal panel signifying the new school will incorporate
state-of-the-art, energy-efficient materials and renewable-energy technologies
with the potential to generate at least as much energy as it consumes, making
the school a "net zero" energy consumer with a significantly reduced carbon
footprint.
"With the help of our colleagues in the
Canadian-German business community, the building is being enlarged and will
incorporate state-of-the-art, energy-efficient materials and renewable-energy
technologies with the potential to generate at least as much energy as it
consumes, making
the school a "net zero" energy consumer with a significantly
reduced carbon footprint," said Michael Langstaff, Vice President, Robert Bosch
Inc. Canada.
Bosch and its New Brunswick-based partner,
EcoPlusHome, are providing and installing the school's renewable energy
technology system. Other companies as BASF, Miele, Dr. Oetker among others and
the German General Consulate are also supporting the GIST development.
Within
the State visit of Premier Mrs. Kraft in Canada, the EcoPlusHome management was
invited to a reception with other German-Canadian business leaders at Toronto's
York
Club. In a conversation with Mrs. Kraft, Michael Langstaff, of Bosch Canada and Axel Lerche, EcoPlusHome,
explained the growing interest in renewable technologies in North America and
the fact that Germany is a world leader in the development of sustainable
solutions in the important energy sector. Premier Mrs. Kraft and German General
Consul Mrs. Sabine Sparwasser thanked Bosch and EcoPlusHome for their support
of the German International School Toronto.
EcoPlusHome is Nova
Scotia's most energy efficient house
EcoPlusHome
is proud to be a leader in energy efficiency also in Nova Scotia. The
EcoPlusHome in Dartmouth, in the Greater Halifax area, was built in a
partnership with modular home builder Maple Leaf Homes and regional retailer
Patterson Sales and received an EnerGuide rating of 94, the highest rating ever
in this Canadian Province. The Honourable Charlie Parker, Nova Scotia's
Minister of Energy, opened the province's first EcoPlusHome on Aug 17 together
with several guests from Efficiency Nova
Scotia, Nova Scotia
Power, the City of Dartmouth among others. Minister Parker said in a short speech: "The EcoPlusHome is a tangible example of how renewable
energy technology and energy efficiency can save consumers money and help us
reduce green-house gas emissions. This building is the poster home for energy
savings in Nova Scotia."
Local partner
Patterson Sales did a fantastic job in building the first EcoPlusHome in Nova
Scotia in less than 3 months. "We brought the first EcoPlusHome to Nova Scotia
because we know Nova Scotian's are tired of rising energy prices and of feeling
helplessness about global warming," said Duncan Cann, General Manager of
Patterson Sales. "It's a no-brainer that Nova Scotian's in the market for a new
home will consider how an EcoPlusHome can save them money and reduce their
carbon footprint."
The
home's high EnerGuide score and renewable-energy technologies are expected to
earn it a combined $13,265 in energy efficiency incentive rebates, the maximum
available from Efficiency Nova Scotia for new home construction.
Please read the CBC report
online and send us an
Email if you like to visit the EcoPlusHome in Dartmouth.
More EcoPlusHomes in New Brunswick
Two more EcoPlusHomes were finished in Moncton, New
Brunswick. The two homes are the first official 'Net Zero' Homes of the new
program of Efficiency New Brunswick with an EnerGuide of 93."The
future of residential eco-developments has arrived and we want everyone in
south-east New Brunswick to come 
see how these comfortable, affordable,
planet-saving EcoPlusHomes can save their owners $3,500 in energy costs and
reduce green house gases by more than 80% each year," said Pierre Martell of
Martell Home Builders, the project's general contractor during an open house
event on Aug 21. Both EcoPlusHomes are part of the new ECOmunity
at Sterling Meadows in Moncton. Each bungalow is built using two airtight
modularly constructed sections from Fredericton-based Maple Leaf Homes, and is
powered by the EcoPlusHome system of integrated energy systems from German
renewable-energy technology leader Bosch. Please contact us for an individual
tour by Email.
In
Fredericton EcoPlusHome partner MartinDavis EcoHousing has constructed the
first 6 EcoPlusHome Townhouses at 'Meadows at Neil's Farm in north Fredericton.
The installation of the turn key EcoPlusHome solution, powered by Bosch,
will
be finished by the end of September with an Open House event later in October. "We
want to build something that is affordable, that takes your reliance on fossil
fuels offline and that is why we are utilizing the EcoPlusHome technology in
the development," said Jim Martin, builder of the EcoPlusHome development in
Fredericton." It is the first townhouse development built on this high level of
energy efficiency, at an affordable price, in North America.
All
homes in Dartmouth, Moncton and Fredericton are prefabricated by our
cooperation partner Maple Leaf Homes. The EcoPlusHome would like to thank our
partner Maple Leaf Homes, Patterson Sales, Martell Homebuilder, MartinDavis
EcoHousing, our installation partner AGSS and others for their ongoing support
!
Bosch summary of
EcoPlusHome Testhouse
In a
press release for North America, EcoPlusHome technology partner Bosch is
summarizing the energy performance of the EcoPlusHome Testhouse. With the
support of Bosch technologies, the New Brunswick home withstood extreme
temperatures ranging from -31 degrees Fahrenheit (-35 degrees Celsius) in
winter, and up to 95 degrees Fahrenheit (+35 degrees Celsius) in summer. The
overall reduced dependence on fossil fuel makes EcoPlusHomes virtually immune
to fluctuating fuel prices that can increase during peak demand seasons,
allowing a more accurate forecast of the homeowner's budget, says the Bosch
press release.
"By providing a
highly efficient geothermal heat pump, solar thermal system, photovoltaic
panels and home appliances for the EcoPlusHome, we have demonstrated that
climate
protection pays off and that net zero living can be achieved
comfortably and affordably," said Peter Marks, chairman, president and CEO,
Robert Bosch LLC and member of the Bosch Board of Management. "As a leading
technology company, Bosch is committed to supplying innovative solutions that
help conserve resources and protect the environment."
The EcoPlusHome Test house has currently a positive
energy balance and is producing a surplus of up to 1,000 kwh per month. For
Bosch, the EcoPlusHome project is one of the first cross selling joint ventures
including Bosch products from 4 different Bosch departments.
New markets for EcoPlusHome
The business development team of EcoPlusHome is
exploring many new business opportunities in Canada and the USA. In partnership
with Bosch, EcoPlusHome is developing alternative technology solutions in
different areas. In British Columbia the construction of the first EcoPlusHomes
is in preparation. Also the realization of a first solar project as part of an
E-Mobility project is in development. Other EcoPlusHome projects in Ontario,
Quebec and Newfoundland are in development. In the US
the first EcoPlusHomes
will be built as part of the Serenbe development in the Greater Atlanta area.
Serenbe is a one of a kind example of a sustainable community development in
North America and a great platform to introduce EcoPlusHome and the advantages of the first one
stop solution for the most energy efficient homes with an attractive return of
investment to the US market. The EcoPlusHome team and Bosch will have
consultations in the State of Georgia to discuss business opportunities with
key stakeholder from the Government and private business in the energy sector.
EcoPlusHome manager Axel Lerche said: "We have
projected the growing demand on integrated solutions in energy efficiency in
North America. We believe in our technology partner Bosch and are proud to
develop so many different business opportunities for Bosch and EcoPlusHome".
German media students on
apprenticeship at EcoPlusHome
Florian Hach from Frankfurt and Adrian Schneiders from Leipzig
have finished an eight weeks trainee program with 
EcoPlusHome. Both students
were responsible for the production of several short videos of the different
EcoPlusHome projects. Using a new HD action camera Florian and Adrian have
realized the videos in a very creative style. The new EcoPlusHome websiteis
integrating all project updates and the new projects videos. We would like to
thank Florian and Adrian for their great work and support!
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