An ecological renovation to achieve a ‘green’ home

Lessen your impact on earth with these green renovation choices

'Going green' is a popular catchphrase but what does a green renovation really mean? Going green when refurbishing your home is all about making choices that do more good than harm — from renovating instead of razing your house to choosing locally sourced building supplies.

• Change to more energy-efficient windows to save on energy costs and, in turn, lessen your carbon footprint
• Improve the insulation and heating system efficiency in your home
• Install systems that reduce the use of electricity and water (like an on-demand unit that heats water only when it’s needed)
• Select locally sourced building supplies that don’t contribute as much to carbon emissions created by transportation
• Use materials that don’t harm a person’s health, like environmentally friendly paint that emits no to low volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
• Use ecological and durable materials
• Reduce the need for electric lighting by installing light tubes, skylights or LEDs
• Reuse or give away some of the old material to make new use of it instead of sending it to the landfill

Eco-friendly windows

There are several benefits related to a change to more eco-responsible windows, including:

• First of all, your annual consumption of heating and air conditioning will be reduced as this type of window and framing tends to better insulate against the elements and maintain the house's indoor temperature. This will save you money in the medium and long-term, providing a partial or totally return on the cost of the windows.
• With initiatives like Reno-Vert, the government offers tax credits of up to 20% on all expenses over the first $2,500. It's a fantastic incentive to become more ecologically conscious, especially if you intend to change all of your windows!
• The style! Update your windows for a fresh modern look with beautiful new frames in PVC, aluminum, wood or hybrids!

Changing to a low energy heating and cooling system

Do you still have one of those old, obsolete heating or air conditioning systems that make noise, don’t heat properly, and pollute the environment? If so, consider upgrading to a new green solution that will consume far less energy. Whether it is a central system or a floor system, several renewable energy options are available. Click here to learn more about heating and cooling systems.

Renovation with materials that have a smaller impact on the environment

Green renovations are not just about green products, but also about the materials used and how your contractors execute the work. Some materials leave less impact on nature, so it’s important to take care in choosing your materials. Your contractor referred by Reno-Assistance can be of great help to you in this way!

Other tips for making your house green

• There are many other changes you can implement to make your home more energy efficient:
• Change to higher-quality green insulation to improve your home’s ability to retain its temperature
• Install systems that reduce electricity and water consumption (such as a device that heats water on demand only when needed)
• Choose locally-made construction materials that help reduce carbon emissions from transportation
• Use materials that don’t harm people's health, such as environmentally friendly paints that emit very little or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
• Use environmentally friendly and durable materials
• Reduce the amount of electrical lighting needed by installing fluorescent tubes, skylights or LEDs
• Reuse or donate some of the old materials to recycle them rather than send them to the landfill
• Opt for shielded power cables and choose energy-efficient fixtures (such as LEDs)
• Install solar panels to reduce reliance on unsustainable energy sources

Get quotes from the best green renovation contractors

Get access to contractors who can take charge of your green renovation project today. Our role is to find you up to 3 contractors to provide competing quotes for your project in order to get you the right price with the contractor with whom you feel confident. Our contractors have all been verified from 360° and obtained our verification seal to mitigate your risk of entrusting your project to a dishonest, unreliable or underqualified contractor.

Talk to a renovation advisor now! 1-888-670-9742