Adding a bit of Green to your home

April 20, 2011

When I first started working in this industry, Greening your home meant little more than setting back your thermostat at night and turning off the lights when you left the room. Today, as we enter the second decade of the new millennium, Green is cool again and with the technological advancements that were made over the years, Green products have become more affordable, available and attractive for any homeowner.

Some people believe that they have to buy a new home in order to significantly reduce their carbon footprint, and that’s certainly a great solution, but it’s not the only way. Green renovations are becoming increasingly popular with time, as homeowners realize that the positive impact goes beyond the environment – it can help add some stock to your pocketbook as well.

Green upgrades have proven to pay for themselves over the years as they reduce your monthly operating costs while providing you with a comfortable, healthy living space. These monthly savings generate further return on your investment when you decide to sell.

If you’ve decided to Green up your home, the best place to start is with an energy assessment from a licensed energy advisor. While it may seem like an unnecessary expense, the assessment can potentially knock off thousands of dollars from the cost of your renovation through rebates by either the federal, provincial or municipal government, depending on where in the country you live.

These financial incentives vary from province to province but at the end of the day, the government is supporting you for taking the initiative to Green up your home, so you might as well embrace it.

Use a pro
Those who follow my columns already know that I’m a huge supporter of using professional contractors to carry out most major renovations, and that goes double for Green renos.
There are literally hundreds of products currently on the market that claim to be “Green,” but only a true professional – someone who researches, buys and works with these products on a daily basis – can distinguish the real thing from something with a fancy name and packaging.

Professional renovators know how to put it all together, how to match old and new, and how to integrate ground-breaking Green technology with the existing structure of your home. Take advantage of their expertise to make sure you get the most out of your home. Those beautiful new windows might be energy efficient, but they need a proper installation to put them to work.

A good place to look for a professional renovator is RenoMark.ca – home to the national RenoMark program, which is administered by 32 (and growing) Home Builders’ Associations (HBAs) in eight provinces.

The RenoMark membership consists of professionals, renovators and custom home builders who have agreed to follow the Canadian Home Builders’ Association’s Code of Ethics and the renovation-specific RenoMark Code of Conduct, focusing on things such as providing written contracts, warranties and liability insurance. The website also features a trade-specific search feature, allowing homeowners to quickly and efficiently locate a specific renovator in their province or city.

Finding a renovator is no small task, so be sure to ask plenty of questions to make sure your contractor is an expert in Green renovations. Don’t be afraid to ask for references or examples of previous work.

Good luck!

Stephen Dupuis is president and CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD). He can be reached at
president@bildgta.ca You can read more from Stephen and RenoMark on Twitter by visiting twitter.com/renomark_ca, or Facebook by visiting facebook.com/renomark  renomark.ca

Filed under: RENOVATIONS