Green real estate means something different to each and every one of us and that’s okay. We do need to watch out for something called “greenwashing”. This means making “green” claims that are incorrect or false.
For many consumers, the “greenness” of a home or building is determined by whether or not it has a nationally recognized certification or rating. The most widely recognized certification and rating programs in Canada are:
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Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
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Energy Star for appliances
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Energy Star for new homes (currently only in Ontario and Saskatchewan)
To the greatest extent possible, materials used for green homes should be sustainable and/or locally produced, reused from salvaged products and/or made from recycled materials. Here are some product groups, verifiable through certification standards:
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FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified materials: wood products manufactured from timber that is harvested from responsibly managed forests.
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Green Seal: products with the Green seal logo are manufactured and used with minimal impact on the environment. These are products such as windows, paints and adhesives.
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Environment Canada’s Ecologo is a third party certification of environmentally preferable products; http://www.ecologo.org
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LOW VOC materials
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LOW waste construction
Here are some major systems in and around your home that you can enhance by adding green features:
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The building envelope; the systems below grade, exterior walls, fenestration systems and roofs. Environmentally friendly materials used to enhance the building envelop are formaldehyde-free insulation, low- or no-VOC adhesives, caulks and sealants, FSC certified woods and wood I-joists
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HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning); HVAC technologies that are energy efficient by design are hydronic radiant floor heating, active solar heating and an evaporative cooler.
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IAQ (indoor air quality); can be improved by using low or no VOC paints, carpets and adhesives, resulting in no or less “off-gassing”, watching out for asbestos, lead, pesticides, radon and mold in and around the house and replacing filters in time.
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Lights; replacing all traditional light bulbs (over time) with LED or CFL lamps, installing light dimmers, automatic timers, motion sensors etc.
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Water; reducing the use of water by watering with rainwater, installing low flow faucets, shower heads and toilets and a water-on-demand system.
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Landscaping; using native plants, grouping plants with similar irrigation needs, employing xeriscaping, using mulch, composting, using organic fertilizers and installing a green roof.