Toronto-based Nexterra Green Homes has named five partners whose products match the LivingHome project goals of sustainability, environmentally sound materials, modern design and energy efficiency. An announcement was made in Toronto at IDS11, followed by a five-booth tour that included Euro-Line Appliances, WETSTYLE, aquabrass, Benjamin Moore and CaesarStone,
The first home being installed in North Toronto was designed by architect Ray Kappe, FAIA, for LivingHomes, a pre-fab design/build company from Santa Monica led by Steve Glenn. To ensure the products and finishings of the LivingHome are as healthy and efficient as its structural design principles, Nexterra management Gary Lands and Barry Campbell are working with Laura Felstiner, a green building consultant and LEED AP to select partners that would help meet LEED priorities.
“We are thrilled that these companies – ranging from appliances to bath furnishings to countertops to paint – are able to participate in the Nexterra LivingHome. The person who buys the first home is guaranteed to be surrounded by beautiful, sustainable choices in every room,” states Gary Lands.
KITCHEN Euro-Line Appliances – As the distributor of fine European appliances, Euro-Line has contributed products from German brands, AEG and Liebherr, Swiss brand Franke, and Italian brand Faber. The basement will receive a compact Lavamat & Lavatherm laundry set.
CaesarStone – The quartz surface manufacturer is contributing recycled quartz product for the kitchen island, side gables and countertops. The chosen colour, Quartz Reflections is made of remnants from CaesarStone’s fabrication process. Even glass and mirror remnants from car window manufacturers are collected and re-used for this product. This recycling program was established in 2007 and has already prevented over 2400 quartz surfaces from reaching landfill.
BATHROOMS WETSTYLE – Bath furnishings from the Cube Collection, Be Collection and M Collection by WETSTYLE were contributed to LivingHome. Wood used in the furniture collections is harvested from renewable forests and tubs and lavoratories use a proprietary eco-friendly natural stone composite called WETMAR.
Aquabrass -To the LivingHome, aquabrass has contributed a sleek, low-flow faucet and accessories for the powder room and low-flow faucets and shower system from the Bridge Collection in the second floor main bathroom. In the master bath, aquabrass will provide a stand-alone tub filler and shower system from the “Hey Joe” collection, inspired by the Jimi Hendrix guitar solo of the same name. Low-flow faucets and showerhead from the c-blu Collection are being installed in the basement.
WHOLE HOME Benjamin Moore – The Nexterra LivingHome will be primed and painted with colours from Benjamin Moore’s Natura product line of washable and fade resistant 100 per cent acrylic interior latex paint with low odour, and zero VOCs in both base materials and colorants.
“We truly thank our current partners for coming on board for this exciting venture, and we will be announcing other partners over the next few months,” adds Barry Campbell. Nexterra is seeking the highest LEED Canada for Homes certifications available for the houses in this project, and the selection of the sustainable materials and products from their partners will play a large factor in achieving this goal. Other LivingHomes have achieved at least Gold LEED certification and some have achieved Platinum, the highest possible designation awarded by the United States Green Building Council and also available here in Canada from the Canada Green Building Council.