Building energy efficient homes on a low budget in a context of inflation.

Although the province of Quebec has experienced its two best years for the number of housing projects, the transition to the post-pandemic era risks heralding a completely different reality for our customers: a housing stock in disuse, access to property more difficult and sustained indebtedness.

Despite the enthusiasm of Quebecers for more sustainable projects - the intermittent increase in construction materials, the incessant increase in the price of labor (and the shortage), a dislocated supply chain - these so-called high-performance projects and sustainable can they really see the light of day? New “code” buildings are 30% more expensive in March 2022 than at the end of 2019.

So in this somewhat crazy context, how can you properly plan your new energy-efficient construction project?

Here is what we offer our customers to face this reality and make the right choices when leaving:

1. Make an exhaustive exercise of your capacity and your financial levers while determining upstream your involvement in the project; Do you just want a shell or a turnkey? ;
2. Present this financial exercise to an industry expert long before you select your land. Why? Site selection is of paramount importance. What is the point of acquiring a lot of several acres without services or access roads if you have a budget of $500,000 taxes included. You will have nothing left for the built framework after preparing your lot, the costs of surveyors, soil tests, botanists and designers. If your budget is limited, do not invest in land on the mountainside. Add more value to a 2-acre lot with potential for implantation, close to the street and therefore to services. Less wild certainly but more financially viable;
3. Estimate future costs with your design partner. The appraisal must include: land cost, fees for professional services (surveyors, designers, engineers, botanists, soil technicians - count 10% of the total budget) pre-construction and site preparation, construction and finishing costs and landscaping as needed and add a 20% contingency;
4. And determine together a realistic program; more than often with tight budgets you have to turn the page on your “dream house”. And stay open to ideas and suggestions it is a collaborative exchange that will bear fruit;
5. If you have a tight budget and still want a passive house type house, opt for a “conservative” design by adopting the Simple Box House approach in a square or rectangular shape which optimizes the use of square footage. Avoid basements and stalls, enhance the slab on ground if your municipality allows it;
6. If the "tailor-made" approach is too anxiety-provoking, the energy-efficient pre-engineered modular home approach might just be for you. A few models exist with higher R-values ​​than those required by the Code;

As designers and builders, our role is to keep an eye on all aspects: customer requirements, requirements imposed by the land, budget, architectural vision, targeted performance and supply challenges. To strike a good balance and not distort “build it better”, concessions and optimizations are to be expected and are part of a normal design process. So eco budget for eco house, it is possible but by being realistic and open to change.