Net zero performance can only result from approaching the house as a system. The Discovery 3 House features three major interdependent parts, each impacting its over all performance – the building envelope, which is the exterior shell of the house including the floor, the mechanical systems and the renewable energy systems. All are optimized to end up with a durable, comfortable, and energy efficient environment.

When all the parts work together in an optimal way the reward is a durable, comfortable, healthy and energy-efficient home environment that people love to live in. Avalon's Discovery 3 House delivers on the key benefits of better homes: resource conservation, energy efficiency, comfort and affordability.

A net-zero house needs a wall, roof and foundation system that increases the effectiveness of the other systems. The Discovery 3 House building envelope is optimized for both insulation and air tightness.

Exterior walls are composed of 2 layers of factory manufactured insulated panels; one 6 inch structural layer, and one 3 inch non-structural layer. With this system, the amount of on site construction waste is substantially reduced. Most important for our net – zero house is the thermal rating of R=72, that's more than 3 and one-half times a standard code built exterior wall, and the panels virtually eliminate energy draining leaks and moisture build up.

Starting from the ground up, since basements are a major source of energy loss, Discovery 3 eliminates the basement. Instead, Discovery 3 is built on a grade level concrete slab poured over 12” of rigid poly styrene insulation.

Significant heat loss through the roof and particularly at the roof-wall connection, is prevented with a combination of blown in fibre insulation and sprayed in polyurethane insulation increasing the ceiling insulation from a building code standard of R-36 to an R-85 rating.

As with all Avalon homes, all exterior penetrations are sealed with low expanding foam insulation, delivering air barrier continuity.

Windows are typically the biggest source of heat loss in a home. Industry standard double glazed windows are replaced with triple glazed windows with 2 layers of low emissivity coating and 2 layers of argon filling complete with exterior roll down insulated shutters increasing thermal resistance. Together, this significantly increases thermal resistance in winter and reduces solar radiation penetration during summer.

Such a tight building envelope needs good ventilation to remove unwanted moisture, pollutants and allergens. Since Canadians spend up to 90 per cent of our time indoors, a home with poor indoor air quality can contribute to the development of asthma, headaches, congestion and nausea. A high performance insulated and sealed building envelope combined with a right sized heating/cooling system creates a healthier, more comfortable, energy efficient home.

The Discovery 3 House heat recovery and ventilation system (HRV) improves indoor air quality by continually exchanging air throughout the entire house removing unwanted moisture, pollutants and allergens.

Discovery 3's primary heating system is a radiant in-floor heating system installed in the main concrete floor, which acts as a heat sink, with the circulating water heated by the thermal solar collection system. An electric tankless water heater brings the water up to final temperature if required. Domestic hot water is also withdrawn from this system.

Rough-ins for thermostatically controlled electric baseboard heaters for auxiliary back-up heat if required are located on the upper floor.

Solar energy is renewable energy with zero GHG emissions and unlike fossil fuels, solar energy is available just about everywhere on earth. The best part is that this source of energy is free and immune to rising energy prices. Solar energy can be used in many ways - to provide heat, lighting, mechanical power and electricity.

Renewable solar power provides all the energy required by Discovery 3's heating and electrical systems. Solar power for the heating system is captured by thermal solar panels located on the exterior south side of Discovery 3. Heated circulating glycol heats the water for both the radiant in floor heating and domestic water needs.

The roof top solar Photovoltaic system designed to generate 9569 Kwh/year includes two inverters. The electricity is converted into useable 120v and distributed to the power grid of the home through a standard electrical panel. A bi-directional meter sends any excess power to the grid and draws power from the grid when necessary. To reduce power requirements, Discovery 3 House is equipped with only low compact fluorescents and energy efficient appliances throughout the house.