Harold Orr

Harold Orr was born April 30, 1931 in Minton, Saskatchewan. His parents were founding members of what later became Western Christian College (WCC).[3] His father was a preacher and a carpenter. He grew up with his siblings Lois Olson (Orr), Alice Williams (Orr), Raymond Orr, P.Eng., and Verna Bastian (Orr).

When Harold was less than a year old, his parents moved out of their home, donating it to the predecessor of the Western Christian College for summer bible schools. This act was a trend that continued throughout Harold's early life, as his parents once again donated a property—an 8-room house they bought for $550 in Radville—to the same cause in 1940. In 1944, they offered a site on their property on the east bank of the Souris River for the establishment of a new school site. The impact of his parents' dedication to community service had a profound effect on Harold and his siblings, shaping his values and beliefs as he grew up.[3]

Harold Orr's lineage also traces back to notable historical figures. He is a descendant of William Brewster, a Pilgrim leader on the Mayflower, eleven generations prior, and of John Hayden Williams UEL, a United Empire Loyalist, six generations prior.

From 1936 to 1940, Harold spent four years in Vancouver before moving back to Saskatchewan. He completed his high school education at the Radville Christian College, where his father and mother had been engaged in service work.[4]

Harold married Mary Ruth Lidbury in 1953[5] and is a father to eight children: Ruth, Nancy, Walter, May, John, Randy, Robert, and Glenda, two of whom are adopted; to 22 Grandchildren and 28 Great Grandchildren. Over the years, he and his wife have fostered four children.

Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, Orr initially trained as a carpenter by beginning work on building sites at the age of 12. He received journeyman status.

Orr pursued a degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) in Saskatoon, but he returned to carpentry after meeting his future wife, Mary Lidbury.[6] He briefly explored a career in architecture, before returning to Saskatoon to complete Bachelor's and Master's degrees in mechanical engineering.[6] Orr was the first president of the U of S Greystone singers from 1958 to 1960.[7]

Orr's research career began with his Master's thesis, where he investigated air leakage in houses. He developed a method to measure air leakage using helium as a tracer gas, and later improved this method by switching to sulphur hexafluoride. Orr took employment with the National Research Council (NRC) of Canada, where he continued his work on the problem of calculating air leakage in houses. His work led to the development of the blower door in the late 1970s, an instrument still used for tightness testing in houses.

During the energy crisis of the 1970s, Orr served on a committee convened by the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) to design a passive solar house.[8][9] As part of this committee, Orr applied his carpentry background and his knowledge of heat loss to suggest a radical increase in insulation and the use of airtight construction techniques. This project resulted in the Saskatchewan Conservation House (1977), which was the most airtight house in the world at the time.[10] It served as a model for low-energy house design. Specifically, it served as a model for the Natural Resources Canada R2000 Program and the current Energuide Energy efficiency building codes in Canada.[11] It was also a model for the international Passive House (Passivhaus) building energy efficiency standard.[12]

The SCH project faced challenges, such as a government-mandated solar hot water system that proved to be expensive and inefficient. However, the conservation measures, such as insulation, airtightness, and the ventilation system, were effective. These elements of the project paved the way for the construction of 14 similar houses in Saskatoon in the mid 1980s and the development of the R2000 program and led to the establishment of new national energy conservation protocols for Canadian buildings.[13]

In the 1970s, while still working for the National Research Council, Harold co-founded OrrLock Canoes with Elwin (Bud) Lock. The company specialized in making redwood strip canoes, an endeavor that combined Harold's engineering background with his love for carpentry and the outdoors.

Orr worked with Robert Dumont to develop the energy analysis program HotCan, which remains in use four decades later as Hot2000.[14] Orr retired from the NRC in 1986 after 25 years of service.

From 1989 to 1992, Orr was a charter Engineering faculty member at Oklahoma Christian University and was recognized for his work in the accreditation of the college in 1991.

Orr has received recognition for his contributions to energy-efficient construction and for his work in the community.

• In 1980, he was named Alumnus of the Year at Western Christian College.[15]
• In 1989, he received a Professional Service Award from the EEBA as the first president of the Energy Efficient Buildings Association (EEBA).[16]
• In 1999, Orr and his wife Mary Ruth Orr (née Lidbury) were awarded the Distinguished Service Award from the Western Canadian Christian Convention.
• In 2003, the Association of Engineers of Saskatchewan granted Orr life membership.[17]
• In 2013, Orr received two awards: "The Golden Blower Door" from Passive House North and a
• In 2013, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Sustainable Buildings Canada.[18]
• In 2015, he accepted the Pioneer Award from the Passive House Institute for the team who worked on the SCH, an international award given to trailblazers in energy-efficient construction.[19]
• In 2017, Orr was awarded the Order of Canada for his significant contributions to energy efficiency in Canadian homes.[20][21]
• In 2017, Orr received The Rob Dumont Energy Management Awards "Lifetime Achievement Award".[22]
• In 2018, he was recognized as an "EEBA Legend" by the same organization.[23]
• In 2019, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Home Builders' Association.
• In 2022, Orr received The Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal.[24][25]
• Passive House Canada has an annual award named after Orr meant to recognize an individual’s contributions to increasing awareness of both passive house and net zero standards with government and business.[26]

Orr has contributed to the field of energy-efficient construction through numerous technical publications, including: