Cohousing Complex Aiming for Passive House Certification

Published on November 22, 2018

Radiance Cohousing, a collaborative housing project in Saskatoon, has finished construction to meet Passive House standards, and is hoping to become the first co-housing complex to achieve Passive House certification.

Over the next few months the project will be undertaking the certification process and is set to become the second Passive House in Saskatoon once certification is attained.

Shannon Dyck, co-founder Radiance Cohousing, has said that the project is both managed and led by its future homeowners.

“They have a lot of input into the design of their own homes and the design of the shared spaces,” said Dyck.

She also added that to achieve Passive House certification, the homes have to be able to be heated while using less than 90 percent of the energy the typical Canadian home uses for heat.

The homes do not have a furnace, and Dyck notes that they mostly heat using the sun, a bit of electric heat, as well as the heat that comes off their appliances and their bodies.

Within the complex are nine residential units that have more than the typical housing complex’s amount of shared space, including what is called a common house - usable for entertainment or as a guest room.

Each homeowner also has their own spot to grow a garden, as well as a shared garden they can all participate in.

Michael Nemeth, cofounder of Radiance Cohousing, believes that co-housing is beneficial in bringing people together, as these types of projects get people to collaborate make decisions as a group.

“Co-housing could really enable a lot more sustainable, mindful social development,” said Nemeth.

Low Emissions Housing in Ontario

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