This 110 m2 (1200 sq. ft.), 2-bedroom home was built with energy efficiency in mind. The owner constructed the home within the specifications of R-2000, which was difficult because local contractors were unfamiliar with this at the time of construction (1984). The home was very air tight and well insulated. It was built 1.2 m (4′) into the ground, so as to keep cool in the summer and warm in the winter (though it has higher humidity as a result) — the owners find it very comfortable to live in.
The masonry heater, a design sourced from Vermont, was chosen because it is highly efficient in its use of wood for providing space heating. The heater provides all of the space heating for the home (electric baseboard is back-up, but rarely needed). There is roughly 12 t (13 tons) of brick in the heater, providing lots of thermal storage. A variable speed fan system is also built into the masonry heater, which circulates the trapped heat in an efficient way because the brick has a high thermal capacity, and reduces hot air stratification in the tall, cathedral ceiling.
Softwood is used because it has less sap and does not burn at as high a temperature — hardwood was used at first, but often it got too hot in the house. The heater uses about 1-2 cords of wood, depending on the winter. Often only a small fire is needed, except on the coldest days, because the heat is so well retained by the masonry. All of the wood is sourced from the property for the heater.
