custom design labour sale OFFER EXPIRES FEB. 24/87 *COM. ORDERS DO NOT APPLY The Ultenate in Q Svsion Design | Dimenviony INTERIORS North Vancouver 1099 Marine Drive Phone: 985-6148 V ‘Vancouver 3004 W. 41st Avenue Phone: 261-2278 } 17 - Friday, January 16, 1987 - North Shore News SANDRA HICKE first became interested in energy-efficient housing when she saw the Saskatchewan Conservation House in Regina, in 1978. She and her husband Kelvin were impressed by the low air leakege and the thick, heavily in- sulated «yall construction. This ex- perimental house influenced the design of their present home when it was built in Saanich. Sandra had always wanted to buy an old character home and renovate it — but she knew it would never be energy efficient. After looking at ready-built houses, the Hickes decided that they wanted more say in the con- struction of their home. In the Victoria area most houses are not insulated io high levels. Being from Saskatchewan, and used to higher standards of energy efficiency in house construction, the Hickes finally settled on an R-2000 home. The Hickes’ house has 204 sq. m. of finished living area. They included all the features they wanted, such as a large stone fireplace separating the living and dining rooms, and a large window on the northern exposure of the living room, ATTRACTIVE GEA It still meets the R-2°U0 standard of energy efficiency. Kelvin says there are several reasons why the R-2C00 home con- cept is attractive. ‘Of most impor- tance is the R-2000 home’s lower heating costs. But another aspect is the comfort that the home pro- vides; it is very quiet and provides good air quality.” Kelvin also likes the fact that his investment in energy efficiency won't depreciate the way a heat pump or furnace would. Now that they are living in their R-2000 home, the Hickes have found that they are enjoying specific differences between it and their previous, conventional home. “There is less worry than with our last house — there is no furnace to clean or adjust and no ductwork to check, so there is less chance that something will go wrong.’’ Sandra noticed how quickly the heat circulates. Their house has three electric baseboard heaters and circulation is provided by an air-to-air heat exchanger. ‘*When I get home from work in the winter and turn the heat up, I notice the warmth almost im- mediately.’’ She says some of their neighbors who have baseboard heaters complain that the heat doesn’t circulate well. Sandra feels that the open design of their house, as well as the ven- tilation system, makes the house easy to heat. . With the fireplace situated be- tween the living and dining rooms, heat from it circulates so quickly © that ‘you have to be very careful that the house doesn’t get too hot,’’ Sandra says. WINDOWS BETTER The windows in their R-2000 home are a big improvement over those in their previous house. ‘“‘In our last house, the front window was just a single pane of glass, and the windows steamed up all winter See Homes Buy one frame or print for the regular price and get a second similar or lower priced frame or print for...just $1.00 more. MOST STOCK FRAMES, PRECUT PRINTS AND POSTERS. ci 4 CUSTOM FRAMES - All our most popular wood & metal frames on sale. Offer applies to frames only mats and glass at our regular low prices. GLASS, MATS, UNFRAMED | OUR ENTIRE STOCK OF FRAMED PRINTS AND POSTERS. WEST VAN NORTH VAN* DOWNTOWN’ 1432 Marine Dr. 922-3513 *Open ’til 9 Fridays 1320 Marine Dr. 984-8469 Across from Can. Tire 669-5721 1168 Robson St.