Aside from its superb contemporary layout and comfortable living arrangements, the Midori Uchi home in North Vancouver, Canada also distinguishes itself thanks to its incredible energy efficiency. Designed by Naikoon Contracting and Kerschbaumer Design, this outstanding residence features 3 prestigious degrees of green certification: Built Green Canada Platinum, R-2000 Certification and LEED Canada for Homes Platinum rating.
Even the name of this place means “green home” in Japanese, but what is even more impressive is the fact that this home is actually the very first of its kind in the Lower Mainland, and that’s because it is actually completely net-zero. What this means is that Midori Uchi is capable of producing more energy than it is able to consume, all thanks to a series of special facilities that include a grey water filtration system.
The residence was built using locally sourced and reclaimed materials, and it represents a functional symbol and an example that we can definitely build and live in homes that are energy-friendly and environmentally conscious without having to spend a fortune on their creation.
Photos by Ema Peter Photography
The triple platinum certifications are impressive, but how exactly does the grey water filtration system contribute to the net-zero status? I’d love to know more about the specific technologies that make this home so remarkably efficient.
The grey water system reuses sink and shower water for irrigation and toilet flushing, significantly reducing fresh water demand. Combined with solar panels and superior insulation, this efficient resource management is key to achieving the net-zero energy balance and triple platinum certifications.