- KitsunSolarTownhouse "Design, Construction and Initial Operating Experience with a Passively Solar Heated Townhouse," by Christopher Mattock, Roger Bryento~, and Ken Cooper (Solar Applications'and Research, Ltd.), pp. 9-12 of Proceedings of Solar '79 Northwest (CONF 79 084~), $13.95 from: , \ U.S. Dept. of Commerce NTIS 5285 Port Royal Road Springfield, VA 22161. Kitsilano Solar House, camera and editing by Chris Gailagher, produced by Jacques Khouri; 16mm color & sound, 20 min., $385 sale, $33 rental from: Canadi'an Filmmakers Distribution Centre 2265 Fir Streef Vancouver, BC V6J 3B6 604/732-9396 For additional info, contact-Khouri & Associates~ 1952 West 6th Ave., Vancouver, BC V6J 1R7, 604/732-3470 April was the first anniversary of the Kitsun Townhouse, a cooperatively owned, passively heated solar housing project in Vancouver, British Columbja.' And it rep- _resents a real breakthrough for B.C.-not only as a living/working example of.solar multi-family housing, but also because it is the successful result of the efforts of local housing activists to prove that urban redevelopment, low income people and energy conservation can come together in a good .way. \ , . Kitsilano Solar House , CONCRETE BLOCK PARTY WALLS , I Located on the north side of a major eastwest thoroughfare in Vancouver's Kitsilano district, the Kitsun Co-op incorporates eight units of varying size in an "infill" ,project, built adjacent to an older existing housing co-op and forming a courtyard between the two. As a result, the pro1ect ts· a distinct hybrid design-specifically tailored to lot requirements and occupant lifestyles. Among the major design concerns it incorporates are maximizing solar gain potential in an urban setting, minimizing noise in~rusion from the street, and creating safe open space for children to play. • • Two types of passive space heating systems a,re used at Kitsun: 16 foot trombe walls that utilize large automatic insulating shades, and.second floor direct gain sys-· _terns that incorporate 60° south facing.skylights with insulating shutters and concre~e floors and walls. Seven of the units account for 85 percent of their space heating on an a1:mual basis this way. In addition, solar domestic hot water 1s provided-to all units •through separate thermosyphon collectors, supplying about 70 percent of hot water needs on an annual basis. A host of other detaiis, like entry air locks and reflective • surfaces, add to overall energy efficiency. The above-mentioned descriptive pap~r was prepared by the solar consultants to the project; it's brief and very informative. More technical specifications on the systems use can be found in the July '79 issue of Solwes't, the western chapter newsletter .of the Solar Energy Society of Canada, 504 Davie St., Vancouver, BC V6B 2G4. But the Kitsun Solar Co-op can trace its roots back father than its solar collectors- • in a way that reveals the broader scope of the project. The Kitsilano Housing Society, a non-profit organization that promotes affordable housing and sponsor of.the proj- _ect,..initially grew ·out of citizen action ef- ,forts.in the·early '70s to block th~ development of ultra density hi-rises that were beginning to blotch the area. By 1975; after considerable success, the Society consciously bfgan to switch its emphasis to purchasing and rehabing existing old structures-," Buy Back Kits" w~s their motto. , In fa~t, when they acquired the present site .of the Kitsun Solar,Co-op in 1976, the effort was primarily seen as conservation of houses-not energy. But as energy concerns escalated, particularly for low-income households, the con-. • servation/ solar connection was made with the help of people like ~olar architect_Chris Mattock. A _team of architects, solar specialists and activists, assisted by the input of potential tenants, came up with.the unique passive solar Kitsun proposal. , Funding for the project was sought qf necessity from two tederal Canadian agencies. The going was tough at the time, .since conservation was not high priori_ty to the feds, and passive solar was considered something akin to fantasy. But unde~the skilled guidance of housing activist J~tqµes Khouri, persistent lobbying paid off. The secontl hurdle came in actually getting local financial institutions to loan the money, but that too was overcome. In all, fil)-ancing added.one. full year to the project, and at times the outlook was'not good. G~ound was finally broken in July 1978 and the units were completed earJy the next year. Actual unit cost: an average of ,$50,000-cheap by Vancouver standards-and subsidized by the lower interest rates the Society can offer members. Khouri str~sses that the effort was 90 percent"sweat and a matter of creating credibil- - ity-as is amply documented in the abovem~ntioned film. But that credibility has arrived and all Vancouver is looking to Kitsun, including the press, planners and developers. Best of all, the tena11ts have become first-rate sola'r advocates! -,-Steven Ames
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