DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY (Hansard), April 10, 2008 - Two Minute Statement
J. Horgan: When it comes to green building technologies and low-environmental-impact housing alternatives, many builders are simply talking the talk, but in my constituency of Malahat-Juan de Fuca one family is truly walking the walk. Just 30 minutes from this Legislature, in the district of Highlands, live trend-setting natural building innovators Ann and Gord Baird.
Known simply as Eco-Sense, Ann and Gord have transcended the commercial green movement and embarked on an amazing journey toward real sustainability and created a multigenerational home that combines green lifestyle and modern building standards. Eco-Sense believes that a home in its system should mimic the beauty and natural functions of the world. This approach creates safe and sustainable living solutions while not taking precious resources away from future generations.
Eco-Sense is North America's first code-approved, seismically engineered, load-bearing, insulated cob house and features solar, PV and wind power, grid inter-tie, solar thermal heating, rainwater harvesting from a living roof, composting toilets, grey water reuse and passive solar design. Constructed from straw, clay, sand and pumice, Eco-Sense is writing the book on how to create housing from the ground up with the most minimal impact on the environment.
One of the challenges for the Bairds has been an inflexible building code that is reluctant to embrace alternative design concepts. To meet the environmental challenges of our age, the new building codes must include these techniques.
Sustainable from conception to completion, grandparents, children and grandchildren are living in my community with virtually no environmental impact. Encroached on by urban sprawl, blacktop and thousand-unit developments, the Bairds have made a home and lifestyle that uses little and returns much.
For the whole story on an incredible family and an amazing adventure in creativity and innovation, I invite all those listening to tune into the Knowledge Network at 7 p.m. on April 14 to watch the documentary A Sustainable Home, or google them at eco-sense.ca and see what ecologically sensible living can truly be.
