Sustainable development, energy efficiency, eco-responsibility... these are not just passing trends, but rather a way of life. Indeed, according to a study conducted in 2017 by Sagen, more than 70% of first-time home buyers indicated that a green home was a major criterion in their decision-making process.

 

Discover 5 tips to make it greener.

 

A well-insulated home
Insulating the foundation floors, walls, and roof of your home helps to counteract the cold and excessive heat. A building expert, using thermography, can identify sources of air leakage as well as insulation gaps in the building envelope. You can then correct the situation by carrying out the necessary work.

 

Do you need to change doors and windows? Make sure they are ENERGY STAR certified.

 

A high-efficiency heating and cooling system

Using a heat pump year-round allows for energy savings ranging from 15 to 40%. Its operation is based on the transfer of heat from one place to another: outside in summer, and inside in winter. So, in addition to keeping your home comfortable all year round, the heat pump helps to substantially reduce your electricity bill.

 

**Important**: Since May 2024, the Rénoclimat program no longer subsidizes the purchase of heat pumps. However, other programs such as the Canada Greener Homes Grant can still offer financial support for this type of equipment, under certain conditions.

 

Clean air
Today's homes are so well insulated that they trap moisture and pollutants (dust, pet hair, cleaning product vapors, etc.) inside. And that's not good for your health! The air exchanger allows stale and humid air to be evacuated to the outside and replaced with an equivalent supply of fresh air. Thus, in winter, when the air exchanger operates for 20 minutes every 60 minutes, it helps to achieve better performance from your heating system.

 

This type of improvement is still eligible for the Rénoclimat program, provided that the energy evaluations before and after the work are carried out.

 

Energy-efficient lighting
Your light fixtures should be compatible with LED or CFL (compact fluorescent) bulbs. In addition, energy-efficient switches and dimmers are wise choices. Outside, motion sensors or timers allow lighting as needed, not all night.

 

Ecological renovations
Are you planning to renovate certain rooms in your home? There are several ways to make your renovation project greener:

A green home is created little by little, one project at a time. It's up to you to choose the changes that will produce a "wow" effect while increasing the value of your property.