| After the recent meeting between President | | | | "green" construction techniques which reduce the |
| Obama and Prime Minister Harper it became | | | | environmental impact of buildings. These |
| apparent that the environment is now a high | | | | prestigious ratings are achieved by Kanas through |
| priority for the governments of both Canada and | | | | the ICFC construction method, the use of |
| the United States. This probably means that | | | | recycled steel, the acrylic stucco exterior, hot |
| suddenly everyone has to start thinking 'green' | | | | water solar panel heating systems, triple-glazed |
| both at the office and in their homes. Energy | | | | Low-E windows, low-VOC paints, concrete |
| conservation, renewable energy, recycling and | | | | counter tops, low-flow fixtures and toilets, plus |
| many other environmental issues will be front and | | | | smart technology applications. |
| center in the very near future. | | | | "Our buildings are greater than 50% more |
| However, for the past decade one company in | | | | efficient relative to traditional construction |
| Calgary---Kanas Corporation---has been developing | | | | methods. Plus the triple-glazed windows ensure no |
| energy efficient and smart technology for Green | | | | cold drafts or heat loss in winter and year-round |
| Buildings and at the same time providing | | | | noise reduction for a noticeably improved comfort |
| affordable housing. Their experiences to date, plus | | | | level for the residents," says Sipka. |
| their research into new technology, ensures that | | | | The new Lomond development is located at |
| we have a leader for the greening of our | | | | Centre Street and 32nd Avenue N.W. with two |
| lifestyles right here in our own backyard. | | | | bedroom apartments anticipated to be ready for |
| Kanas Corporation began in 1997 with the | | | | occupancy late this year or early in 2010. Lomond |
| concept of developing buildings with Insulated | | | | is located close to public transit routes, giving |
| Concrete Form Construction (ICFC) and locally | | | | residents a practical alternative to driving which |
| produced recycled steel joists and interior wall | | | | results in financial savings and a reduction in |
| studs to create a superior building envelope to | | | | greenhouse gas emissions. These homes will |
| which smart technology could easily be | | | | encompass some of the latest smart technologies |
| incorporated. "We had a passion to develop a | | | | recently discovered and tested by Kanas. |
| better building with a green emphasis but to really | | | | Wherever possible Kanas chooses Canadian made |
| focus on efficiency with affordability," says | | | | products and materials to reduce shipping costs, |
| Robert Sipka, President of Kanas Corporation. | | | | lower transportation greenhouse gas emissions |
| "Our pilot project, now completed, was Parkhill | | | | and support the Canadian economy. |
| Manor with nine rental apartments and currently | | | | Kanas has worked in conjunction with Alberta |
| under construction is our prototype Lomond | | | | Government grants for affordable housing and |
| apartment building with fifteen rental units. This fall | | | | the Lumino development is in partnership with the |
| we will break-ground and commence construction | | | | City of Calgary affordable housing program. This |
| on our major performance project the Lumino | | | | is an important part of the company's philosophy |
| with 318 units in the Manchester community." | | | | to provide an environmentally friendly hand-up but |
| Defining a green project encompasses the building | | | | not a hand-out. |
| construction, the energy efficiency of the | | | | " Our buildings are affordable by design and |
| structure, the use of smart technology for | | | | efficiency but the core is a really good building |
| energy conservation plus the surrounding | | | | envelope to start with," says Sipka. " Although the |
| neighborhood in terms of close proximity to public | | | | cost savings may not be realized until several |
| transit and amenities to include a reduction in the | | | | years after the tenants first move in, as the |
| resident's carbon footprint. A typical Kanas building | | | | landlord we can afford to wait for these cost |
| meets R-2000 criteria and a Platinum Rating by | | | | efficiencies to be realized. |
| Enervision's Built Green program that evaluates | | | | |