Building Conservation
“The ‘greenest’ thing to do, in terms of construction, is not to build at all and to use no resources whatsoever,” Jennifer Corson, cofounder of Halifax-based Solterre Design.
Archive
November 2016
Sustainability & Green Renovation Choices
The impacts of construction and renovation choices continue after the building reaches its full life. The best way forward can be difficult to determine. And what are the costs of those choices for our environment and our finances?
4 Easy Steps for a Seller to Dive into the Sustainable Housing Market
A study in The Appraisal Journal found that some sustainable features can increase the sales price by 7.7%. The majority of buyers want houses with sustainable features, according to GenWorth, 72% of First Time Buyers in Canada seek houses with sustainable attributes.
Tips from an EnerGuide home evaluation
“The home evaluation is a great investment. It’s as simple as that.” “Since we were going to basically gut the house and start over anyway, it seemed like a good idea to see how we could make it more energy- efficient at the same time”
EnerGuide evaluation points Nova Scotia homeowner to big savings on energy
When the energy advisor submitted the results of the energy evaluation of the house, the Pelkeys were convinced that energy efficiency had to be one of their renovation priorities. “The evaluation gave the house an EnerGuide rating of 37,” says Pauline. “That’s really not very good, even for a 60-year old house.”
EnerGuide Rating for 70-Year-Old House Goes Way Up
“. . . our total heating bill for the year was $960 – a long way from the $3,000 we paid the year before.”
Reducing Emissions is Good
The results of the evaluation came as something of a surprise. “I knew a high- e ciency furnace was a good idea,” says Wayne. “What I didn’t realize was how much heat – and money – was disappearing through the oor of our house.”
Passive House Explained
The concept behind passive housing is quite simple. It’s basically a house (or building) that is able to maintain a comfortable temperature year round with little to no interference from an active source such as a heater or an air conditioner. In other words, a passive house maintains it’s internal temperature with the use of proper insulation, air tight seals and sunlight.
Selling the Green Home.
When the National Association of Realtors offers a “Green Designation”, you know the Green Home market is HOT. Earning such a designation, after passing a series of tests, gives an agent access to resources and tips for selling environmentally-friendly homes. Savvy agents are using the sustainable features of a home as a major selling point and should be aware of how to properly position such homes to potential buyers.