When it comes to responsible consumption, the best place to start is at home! This spring, as many of us will renovate or just beautify our homes and apartments, ethiquette offers you some advice on eco-friendly building and maintenance, alternative energy sources, sustainable design and resource people such as green architects.
As a start, we are happy to present The Top 10 Eco-Renovation Tips provided to us by André Fauteux, editor of La Maison du 21e siècle Magazine.
1. Before you begin planning your renovations, check to see if you are eligible for the Federally-subsidized residential evaluation program, ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes. Subsequent grants are available to homeowners who complete energy efficiency retrofits based on ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes advisors' recommendations. The grant amount will depend on a comparison of the pre-retrofit and post-retrofit ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes rating of the home.
Consult their Website or call 1 866 266-0008.
2. Chose energy efficient, Energy Star - labelled appliances, windows, doors, lighting, heating and ventilation apparatus. www.energystar.gc.ca .
3. Don’t forget ventilation! In winter poorly ventilated houses can cause as many respiratory problems as living with a smoker. Poor ventilation leads to excessive humidity. If you haven’t got a forced air system to dehumidify in the winter, be sure the kitchen and bathroom vents expel the air outside of the home.
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