Building Green White residential home

Green building in residential construction, also known as green construction or sustainable building, is the practice of constructing houses that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient from siting to design to construction to operation and maintenance. Green building expands and complements the traditional home building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort.

Although new technologies are constantly being developed to complement current practices in creating greener houses, the common objective is that green houses are designed to reduce the overall impact on human health and the natural environment by:

  • Efficiently using energy, water, and other resources
  • Protecting health
  • Reducing waste, pollution and environmental decomposition

With ever more options for technological solutions both for the environment and/or for the individual there are many options available including:

Sustainable Power

  • Solar energy
  • Geothermal

Air Quality

  • Low or Non-VOC products
  • Water-based stains
  • HVAC (Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning)

Energy Efficiency

  • High efficiency furnaces/air conditioners
  • Spray foam insulation
  • High performance windows
  • Lighting
  • Air tight construction and ducts
  • Energy efficient appliances
  • Drain Water Heat Recovery

Renewable products

  • Cork
  • Bamboo
  • Wool
  • Natural linoleum
  • Recyled materials

 

Certifications

ENERGY STAR® for New Homes

ENERGY STAR® for New Homes promotes energy efficiency guidelines that enable new homes to be approximately 25 percent more energy efficient than those built to minimum provincial building codes. The increased efficiency of these homes translates into reduced energy costs for homeowners.
http://www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/residential/energystar-housing.cfm?attr=4

EnerGuide Rating System

Natural Resources Canada developed the EnerGuide Rating System to help home builders evaluate their house plans for energy efficiency and provide energy efficient upgrade options. After building is complete, the energy advisor will verify that the energy upgrades recommended and the plans have been incorporated into the built house. The advisor will also perform a blower door test. After this data has been collected, you will receive an EnerGuide rating label and report.
http://www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/residential/personal/new-homes/upgrade-packages/energuide-service.cfm?attr=4

LEED

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) rating system promotes an integrated building design approach grounded in five key LEED® categories: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality. Initially created by the US Green Building Council (USGBC), the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) has since modified the rating system to suit the specific concerns and requirements of buildings in Canada.

R-2000

Developed in partnership with Canada's residential construction industry, R-2000 is an initiative of NRCan's Office of Energy Efficiency. Its aim: to promote the use of cost-effective energy-efficient building practices and technologies.
Since being introduced over 20 years ago, the R-2000 Standard has set the benchmark for home building in Canada. The Standard is continually upgraded to include new technologies as they become established in the marketplace. And it is flexible enough to apply to the design of any type of new home.
http://www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/residential/personal/new-homes/r-2000/About-r-2000.cfm?attr=4

We would be happy to pursue these and other green building options with you.

 

The ENERGY STAR® mark is administered and promoted in Canada by Natural Resources Canada. Used with permission.
EnerGuide and R-2000 are official marks of Natural Resources Canada