What to look for in your purchase
Building an energy-efficient new home – Video
Learn how to build an energy-efficient new home. From design to construction to the types of appliances you install, your decisions will affect how much energy your house uses.
Transcript
Narrator:
Energy efficiency. This buzz word is everywhere these days, but what does being energy efficient really mean?
One field that has been a leader in defining energy efficiency is the designing and building of environmentally friendly houses.
We consume tons of energy heating our homes in the winter, and cooling them in the summer.
And, don’t forget about the large amounts of water we use for bathing, washing, and keeping our garden’s green.
In the past, building an energy-efficient home could be costly – most had to be custom built.
Today, thanks to programs that Natural Resources Canada manages like the EnerGuide Rating System, R-2000 Standard, and ENERGY STAR for New Homes.
New homebuyers looking to upgrade their building plans have a wide array of options to choose from when it comes to making their home energy efficient.
Natural Resources Canada developed the EnerGuide Rating System to determine a home’s level of energy efficiency.
The more energy efficient the home, the higher the ranking on the 0-100 scale.
Homes built to the R-2000 standard achieve a minimum energy efficiency rating of 80 on the EnerGuide rating scale.
This translates to a home that uses approximately 30 percent less energy than a similar non-R-2000 home that was built to minimum building code requirements.
ENERGY STAR for New Homes is available in some areas; ENERGY STAR qualified new homes are designed to be significantly more energy efficient than those built to regular construction standards.
But, what does all this mean? What actually makes a home more energy efficient?
From the design, to the construction, to the types of appliances you install – including energy efficiency upgrades during the construction process helps to increase your homes energy performance and comfort.
For example, windows were traditionally a weak point.
But, due to advancements in technology, you can get better installation practices, and great energy efficiency without sacrificing on aesthetics.
Typically, you will find energy efficient windows in R-2000 or ENERGY STAR qualified new homes.
A home’s ventilation system is another place to consider watching for possible energy efficiency improvements.
For example, R-2000 homes require the use of a whole-house mechanical ventilation system called a heat recovery ventilator, or (HRV).
Installed by certified contractors, it will not only remove stale air and humidity, but also bring fresh air into the house.
In winter, the HRV saves energy by capturing the heat from the outgoing air.
An HRV can also help you breath easier.
Properly ventilated homes have better indoor air quality.
Homes built to R-2000 standards are also constructed using healthier building components such as low VOC paints, ceramic tile, and hardwood flooring.
All of which bring less chemicals into your home, further improving your home’s indoor air quality.
Using energy efficient light bulbs, low-flow showerheads, and water-conserving toilets are some easy solutions to improving the energy efficiency of your home.
Also, consider choosing building materials such as insulation, drywall, or wood trim that were manufactured using recycled materials.
Choosing ENERGY STAR qualified appliances and electronics will also make your home more energy efficient.
You might also like to consider including renewable energy sources in your new home or plan to install them later on.
When you choose the Solar Ready option, your builder will design cost-effective adjustments for your home so you can install solar equipment in the future.
When thinking of buying a new home, it’s a good idea to discuss these options with your builder in advance.
It’s often less expensive to build energy efficiency features into a home during construction than to make modifications later on.
You can find a list of builders that are involved in these programs on NRCan’s website.
Opting to buy or build an energy efficient home, will save you money on your energy bills.
And, because most of the energy we consume in Canada comes from fossil fuels, the energy you save heating and cooling your home will help decrease the impact of your home on the environment.
Visit www.newhomes.nrcan.gc.ca to find more about newly-built, energy-efficient homes.
Making your home more energy efficient – Video
The energy we use to run our homes creates 15 percent of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions. Find out how to make your home as energy efficient as possible.
Transcript
Narrator:
Earth – it gives us life, land, sustenance; it’s our home. And as such, we need to take care of it.
Super graphic:
[Greenhouse gases: their accumulation in the atmosphere is believed to cause a "greenhouse effect" on the earth's climate.]
Greenhouse gases are causing our climate to change; this is evident in increasing average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice and rising average sea level.
What many of us don’t realize, though, is that our homes are a considerable contributor to Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Today, 17 per cent of all energy used in Canada goes towards running our homes, generating 15 per cent of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions; which makes your home a great place to start reducing your ecological footprint. Since most of the energy we consume comes from fossil fuels, energy we can save heating and cooling our homes will help decrease our impact on the environment.
Super graphic:
[Ecological footprint:]
[A measurement of how much land, water and other natural resources are required for the products we consume.]
[To leave no footprint would mean that you return to the environment exactly what you take out.]
Choosing to buy or build an energy efficient new home is a great start.
By selecting energy efficiency upgrades for your new home, you will be saving on energy bills and making a choice to help protect the environment.
Super graphic:
[Benefits of owning a new energy efficient home:]
- [savings]
- [helping the environment]
- [improved comfort]
There are many ways you can improve the energy efficiency of your new home:
Use NRCan’s EnerGuide rating to measure and plan for energy upgrades for your new home
Make your home air tight and ensure that it has proper ventilation
Increase the amount of insulation in the exterior walls and foundation
Increase the amount of attic insulation
Use electronic thermostats
Install energy efficient heating and cooling equipment
Choose ENERGY STAR qualified doors and windows
Choose ENERGY STAR qualified appliances
Design your home with solar gains and good shading in mind
Consider using renewable energy sources such as solar power or geothermal
Choose to build or buy ENERGY STAR qualified or R-2000 certified homes that are Government-backed and feature many of these energy efficiency upgrades.
If you’re interested in these energy saving options for your new home, ask your builder to include them.
Builders participating in NRCan’s new housing initiatives such as EnerGuide Rating System, ENERGY STAR for New Homes or R-2000 know of the latest construction techniques, energy efficiency features, and environmentally friendly materials that can be used in your home.
Before building or buying a new home – be sure to ask the builder these questions about energy efficiency…
Super graphic:
[Questions to ask your builder:]
[Do you offer upgrades that improve the performance of the homes you build?]
[How do your building techniques reflect the latest developments in housing technology?]
[How do you verify the energy performance of your homes?]
If you’re interested in buying or building a new energy-efficient home and want to learn more about federal initiatives for new housing and incentives for homeowners, visit www.newhomes.nrcan.gc.ca or call 1 800 O-Canada.
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