Able to assess building worth and potential accurately, Jan Luistermans has developed a solid professional resume through valuation consulting. Luistermans ensures that the projects he offers funding professionals are based on equitable value, and he constantly assesses the changing market so his customers receive the most accurate information about their properties.

Luistermans began his formal studies in analysis and evaluations at the University of Western Ontario. The University of Western Ontario is a leading research-intensive college that admits the best and brightest students looking for a deep education for application in entrepreneurial endeavors. To support himself while attending school, Jan Luistermans worked nights. Luistermans graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and started work as an analyst.

Working for Pullman-Kellogg, Luistermans earned the title of Contract Analyst. In this position, Luistermans determined the financial operations model for the company. Jan Luistermans began conducting property evaluations, so that Pullman-Kellogg would find the best sites on which to build its petrochemical plants around the world. After being a Contract Analyst, Luistermans joined 3M Canada to work as a Production Analyst for the company’s tape division. At the manufacturing plant, Jan Luistermans led the research for production analysis, establishing the most efficient amounts of materials used, hours spent, and costs incurred.

Luistermans entered the world of real estate brokerage as a Manager for Realty1. As a manager, Luistermans oversees much of the business operations, including property inspections and valuations. Because of his keen sense of property and development worth, Luistermans quickly rose to become a leading consultant in the field. Luistermans has provided many people with their dream homes by accurately assessing his projects.

In addition to his financial work with the community, Luistermans has helped various local charities. Jan Luistermans has supported Jewish Alcoholics, Chemically Dependent Persons, and Significant Others (JACS) for a number of years. A dog lover who adopted two dogs, Jan Luistermans has worked with the Animal Love Foundation, a pet adoption agency, and the Humane Society.

Jan Luistermans notes that Ketchum House 1998 is an example of low impact housing. Designed in response to the client’s desire for an ecologically responsible house in a rural setting, this off-grid home is earth- sheltered, heated by passive solar and a wood-fired masonry stove. Without heating, the temperature in this house never falls below 10°C (50˚F) and is often above 18°C (64˚F). Taking the dry site conditions into account, extensive water management measures were taken – the flat roofs feed a cistern which supplies water for laundry and bathing, while a well supplies potable water. There are two composting toilets in the house, and greywater is fed to an indoor planter and out to a small subsurface, wetland system. A small hybrid PV/wind system supplies power.

Energy Use Comparison to Conventional House

A house of similar size, shape and age was modelled in Hot2000 using typical Canadian building practices in Toronto.

This house is built on a slab with only the south and west walls exposed to the elements, most houses of this type and age in Canada are built with an uninsulated, or partially insulated, basement. The comparison house has a full basement with insulated walls.

Natural gas, forced-air furnaces, not electricity, account for most space heating systems in Ontario. The comparison house requires 3,150 m3 (111,241 cu.ft.) natural gas for space heating. The Ketchum house requires five cords of wood per year for space heating and cooking in winter, 150 lbs. of propane for cooking in summer, and 55 L of gasoline for the back-up electricity generator. In the table below, this has been converted to kWh-equivalents (kWh-e). Typically, an electric water heater supplies hot water. The total electrical load for a conventional house of this size and age (including hot water production) is about 15,825 kWh/year. The Ketchum house runs on about 500 kWh/year.

Jan Luistermans reviewed Electrical Load

The electrical load in this house was reduced significantly from a conventional, grid- connected house to optimize the stand- alone generation system. Refrigeration, one of the major electrical loads, was decreased using two strategies. A highly efficient, DC fridge was installed and a “cold cupboard” or larder was designed into the kitchen.

The fridge runs on direct current, using as much energy as a 60W lightbulb. The cold cupboard is open at the back to the unheated utility room, keeping butter and condiments cool.

Heating and Cooling

The masonry heater acts as a space heater, a bake oven, a water heater and thermal mass for passive solar gain. A small, separate, wood-fired cook stove is used for cooking from fall to spring (propane is used in summer). Heating and cooling are both reduced as the ambient temperature in the house is regulated by the earth-sheltered design and the thermal mass provided by the building assemblies, the masonry heater and the finish details, such as brick dividing walls.

A pergola planted with grapevines and kiwi wraps around the south and west sides, providing shade to the house throughout the summer, yet allowing passive solar gain during the winter.