Citizen politics, unlike party politics, does not seek to change government, but to improve it by watchfulness, oversight and advice
- Ursula Franklin
The Huron-Sussex Residents Organization and the University of Toronto are collaborating to create a Living Lane along the laneway just west of Huron running three blocks from Harbord to north of Washington.
We want to hear from community members.
What are your ideas to make our lanes a true community amenity now and in future?
To complete the online survey, click here.
Posted on September 24th, 2022 by David W
Filed under: HSRO News | Comments Off on 2022 Survey: Love Our Lanes
The latest edition of the HSRO Herald has just been published. Residents in Huron Sussex should check their mailbox for the November 2020 print edition, or get it here in PDF.
Posted on November 27th, 2020 by David W
Filed under: HSRO News | Comments Off on HSRO Herald – Nov 2020 Newsletter
Huron Sussex Laneway Houses Facts Sheet & Links to Virtual 3D Tours
There are three houses:
– 3 storey laneway house – approximately 900 sf
– 2 storey laneway house – approximately 800 sf
– and an infill house on Huron – approximately 1600 sf
The houses are designed to be net-zero energy and net-zero carbon, using ‘Passive House’ principles utilizing:
– super-insulated prefabricated wall panels,
– triple-glazed windows,
– and foundation insulation systems,
– with on-site renewable energy generation.
During construction, each house was tested to confirm they meet/exceeded the Passive House standard for air tightness, which is three times better than a typical new house.
The use of wood and engineered wood products forms part of a sustainability approach based upon the utilization of renewable, carbon sequestering building materials. The houses are clad in thermally treated ash – a product that has become readily available due to the environmental impacts caused by the Emerald Ash Borer, an insect that feeds on ash trees. The ash siding has been treated to remove naturally occurring sugars from the wood, to improve resistance to rot and insect damage. The houses are constructed upon a super insulated foam foundation system that utilizes engineered fill and avoids the need for deep concrete foundations. Photovoltaic panels are installed on the roof and feed into the grid.
An earth tube system was installed within the remaining foundations of a demolished house. This system uses the constant temperature of the ground to modify the temperature of outdoor air that is needed by the building’s ventilation system. Ventilation air is drawing through a network of tubes buried in the ground, which increases the temperature of ventilation air in the winter, and decreases temperature in the summer, resulting in a direct reduction in the energy demands of the building’s heating and cooling system. The laneway houses use the air as conditioned by the earth; air being provided to the infill house is additionally conditioned by a unit within that house.
The use of on-site renewable energy in the form of rooftop photovoltaic panels, ground source (earth tube) heating, and the avoidance of the on-site fossil fuel use are all critical to project’s sustainability approach and general ‘greening’ of the electrical grid. This extends to the use of water conserving plumbing fixtures and in-line heating systems and heat recovery systems on shower drains.
Please see below for the 3D tours of each home:
366 Huron St – https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=qnzfnCGmDrG
368b Huron St https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=oJ8wUMhGweZ
368a Huron St https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=sUDXkYJnmgA
Posted on October 29th, 2020 by David W
Filed under: HSRO News | Comments Off on Update: New Laneway Houses on Huron
If you live in Huron-Sussex and have had a recent conflict experience with eastern grey squirrels, you may be eligible to participate in a doctoral study on eastern grey squirrels! Please note that eastern grey squirrels have a few colour variations: black, grey, brindle or even white (although rare in Huron-Sussex).
Tracy Timmins is a doctoral candidate at the Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University, investigating Torontonians’ encounters with eastern grey squirrels with the aims of supporting coexistence and identifying strategies to prevent, mitigate, or resolve conflicts effectively.
Tracy would like to interview people who have had conflict with squirrels about their experiences. Interviews will be approximately 45 minutes to one hour. Participants will receive a $10 Starbucks gift card.
If you are interested in participating in this study, or would like more information, please contact Tracy at squirrelresearch@gmail.com.
Posted on December 9th, 2019 by David W
Filed under: HSRO News | Comments Off on Interview Participants Needed for Doctoral Study on Eastern Grey Squirrels