Hello fellow enthusiasts,
I was given a design project and have decided to build a custom split level earthship. I am just wondering if there are any people in Ontario, Canada that have encountered the OBC and how they circumvented it. The new SB12 code includes ENERGUIDE 80 but earthship building methods are still missing ( earth rammed tires, can walls ect.) Any guidance would be a great help as I am looking for some building precedents for annotations on my drawings. Thank you Nick

P.s I am considering submitting my drawings on this forum if there is any interest in input/comments...

I don't know about the Ontario Building Code, but check out www.greenpowertalk.org. Most of those guys are in Ontario and can probably answer your questions specifically.

Now, as for Energuide, you are stuck in a bit of a dillemma. The Energuide does not list things like rammed earth's insulation power, so your designs will not be able to take that into account. On the other hand, an Earthship SHOULD, by definition, qualify as an Energuide 100 because it is off-grid and therefore should cost nothing to operate. (assuming, of course, you also do not use gas or heating oil, which are also accounted for in the Gj calculation)