What is a "Green Renovation"?
It involves making changes to your home using green (healthy for you & the environment) materials & products that are as effective & durable as (or even more than) their conventional counterparts that provide these seven major benefits:
Improved Health - Proper ventilation and materials & products that contain no/low VOC's (volatile organic compounds) or formaldehyde improve the quality of indoor air, which research has shown to be more harmful than outdoor air.
Increased Comfort - High efficiency materials & products and proper sealing of ducts & cracks ensure balanced ventilation, greatly enhancing indoor temperatures & air quality.
Lower Utility Bills - Energy Star products, insulation, caulking/sealants, low-flow plumbing & more help maximize heating & cooling cycles and reduce the need for water & electricity to light, heat & cool your home.
Less Maintenance - High quality materials & products require less maintenance & experience less wear & tear over time, lasting longer than conventional materials. This reduces resource use & saves you time & money over the life of your home.
Increased Home Value - If you decide to stay in your home, the cost savings & improved quality of life cannot compare to a conventionally built or remodeled home. If you choose to sell your home, you can feel confident that the green upgrades will increase your home's value.
Green Savings - Using energy efficient products & materials can qualify you for green financing, rebates & tax credits.
Less Impact - Reducing waste & emissions & conserving natural resources creates a healthier environment for all of us & leaves less of an impact on our planet.
Get Paid to Invest in Your Greener Home
Renovating is costly, but there are grants available from the Federal and Provincial governments. If you are renovating or investing in green real estate you should be taking advantage of incentive programs including ecoEnergy. As much as 10,000 dollars in grants are available for green home improvements ranging from high efficiency furnace replacement to caulking and sealing the air leaks in your home.
Anyone planning a renovation should consider getting an ecoEnergy audit. The money invested in an ecoEnergy audit will save you money and help you prioritize energy savings for your green home. Grants are available for the following, and your ecoEnergy auditor will file the paperwork for you.
Following is a shortened list of ecoEnergy grants (to a max total of $10,000.00):
Fed Prov
Furnace (EnergyStar® 90% AFUE or better $300 $300
Furnace (EnergyStar® 92% AFUE or better $500 $500
with DC variable speed motor
Attic Insulation (improve R12 to R50) $600 $600
Insulating 20% of walls $180 $180
Insulating 100% of walls (adding R9 or more $1500 $1500
Insulate Basement $100-$1000 $100-$1000
Replace Doors/Windows $30/window $30/window
Ground Source Heat Pump $3500 $3500
Solar Domestic Hot Water System $500 $500
How the Process Works - It's So Easy:
Call a local energy auditor. Have a pre audit done by an NRCan Certified energy auditor. Complete your renovations and improvements. Have a post audit done. The ecoEnergy auditor will remit your file for ecoEnergy grants and matching provincial grants.
Matching Provincial Rebates:
In the previous funding program the federal government was alone in offering grants for home owners to retrofit their houses. According to Ontario's Energy Minister, Gerry Philips "We have launched a number of initiatives to help home owners conserve energy and go green through our energy retrofit program, and receive PST rebates on EnrgyStar® appliances". This means that there is an additional matching provincial grant rebate of up to $5,000.00 for a total of $10,000 in potential rebates.
The Bottom Line:
"There has never been a better time for home owners to make their homes more energy efficient, with rebates from both Federal and Provincial government while making a real contribution to the environment" says Tracy Chong, from Green$aver.org. In our view, as energy prices continue to climb there are amazing opportunities to lower your home heating, cooling and lighting costs, improving your quality of life and the value of your home. Remember: energy is the second price tag of any house.
Visit http://www.ecoaction.gc.ca/ and http://www.energy.gov.on.ca/ to learn more.
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