The Canadian government says fresh research shows that a Super E timber frame home is capable of maintaining a consistent indoor temperature without heating for more than 15 hours in freezing weather.
The tests were conducted by the Canadian government in northern Japan, where outdoor temperatures often plummet to below -4oC.
A Super E test house’s heating system was turned off at 4pm and temperature readings taken at 7am the next day.
Results show that a Super E home is capable of retaining 97-100% of its internal heat for more more than 15 hours, even during freezing weather.
Osamu Wakabayahsi, of Natural Resources Canada, said: “Normal houses lose heat through poor insulation and air leakage, then waste power trying to replace it. In contrast, a Super E home loses very little heat and requires minimal additional energy to replace it.”
He said the research demonstrates that forward-thinking Super E builders in the UK will be well placed to deal with residential air tightness testing, which he believes could be made mandatory in the near future.
