Frequently asked questions about green homes

Frequently Asked Questions about Green Home
Insurance

Green Building
What is a green home?

Healthy Building Material
What does the term off-gassing
refer to?
Why should I use non-toxic low-odour paints?
I would like to change my carpet, what is a good alternative choice?
What is my carbon footprint?
What does the EnerGuide label on appliances tell me?
What are the qualifications for the ENERGY STAR rating?
How much energy can I expect to save if I choose an ENERGY STAR appliance?
What are CFL energy efficient light bulbs?
Can I get money for improving the energy efficiency of my home?
Why should I replace my windows to ENERGY STAR windows?
Should I increase the insulation of my home?

Water Savings
What is a low-flow faucet aerator?
What is a dual flush toilet?

Heating Systems
What is an air-to-air heat pump?

What is a green
home?

A green home describes a home that exists in a state
of balance between
its surroundings and its occupants; has been designed to respond to its local
climate; uses significantly less energy and water than typical home; is flooded
with fresh air and natural daylight; has been built with responsible materials
without compromising durability and performance; is easy to care for; and
is certified by an industry-recognized green building authority. (From the
Light House document: Your Guide to Buying a Truly Green Home)

Rating systems exist as a way to evaluate the
environmental performance
of a building against a set of criteria that act as a benchmark for comparison
of projects. The current rating systems for home include:

• Built
  Green™, an industry
  driven voluntary program available in BC and Alberta that promotes "green" building
  practices;
• EnerGuide for New Houses
  rating
  is a standard operated by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) to measure
  your home's energy performance;
• R-2000 Standard is a
  performance-based
  standard similar to Built Green; and
• Powersmart for New
  homes is
  a Provincial programme operated by BC Hydro, closely linked to the EnerGuide
  Rating
  System.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
is a rating system
offered by the Canada Green Building Council for commercial and institutional
buildings; LEED for Homes is now in its pilot stage and is expected to be
available in 2008.

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Healthy
Building Material

What
does the term off-gassing refer to?

Off-gassing is a term used to describe the production
of gases from the
chemical deterioration of a substance over time. Formaldehyde and other volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) are the primary pollutants emitted from building
materials, interior furnishings and finishes.

Volatile Organic Compounds comprises a larger
category of chemicals that
are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. Example of VOCs include
formaldehyde, xylene, benzene, and toluene, are found in many household products,
including paints, varnishes, paint stripping products, and adhesives. VOCs
are air borne particles that contribute to poor air quality indoors and out.
In fact, VOCs are one of the building blocks of smog. VOCs are toxic to the
nervous system and some are cancer-causing. The health effects of different
VOCs range from damage to the reproductive, neurological and respiratory
systems, birth defects, and impaired kidney and liver function.

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Why
should I use non-toxic low-odour paints?

To prevent introducing contaminants
into the indoor environment, VOCs should be avoided by choosing healthy
paints and sealants. The way to know if paint
is healthy and eco-friendly is to first check if the product is Green Seal
certified or stipulates no or low VOC. Most of the major paint companies
(Cloverdale, B. Moore, Dulux, etc) have a low-VOC product line that is largely
price comparable with conventional paint; high-quality no-VOC paint is also
available (Yolo Colourhouse, AFM Safecoat) at a slightly higher cost. Bear
in mind that the VOC’s are largely related to the pigment so the darker
the colour the more VOC’s. www.greenseal.org

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I
would like to change my carpet, what is a good alternative choice?

New carpet may emit organic vapors
from the solvents used in the manufacturing of the carpet itself as well
as its latex backing and glues used to hold
it down. Additionally, carpet that is poorly maintained or water damaged
may result in fungal or dust mite contamination. For a healthier carpet,
look for the Carpet and Rug Institute
Green Label or
you may want to consider using hard flooring such as: Forest Stewardship
Council (FSC) certified wood floor- The FSC certifies wood that comes from
sustainably harvested forests. FSC is the most rigorous and widely trusted
certification body and it was developed to save endangered and old-growth
trees from being harvested.Cork Floors- cork is antimicrobial, resistant
to mold and mildew and is a naturally sustainable resource. Cork flooring
is now offered in much coloration in both planks and tiles. Cork floors can
be glue-downed and/or floated over a wide variety of sub-floors, including
concrete slabs. Cork floors are also offered with a glueless interlocking
system. Bamboo floors- Bamboo is a fast growing, renewable resource that
is a very hard and dimensionally stable. Floors made from bamboo can be used
in any area of the home where you might use a wood floor. They are also installed
and maintained in the same manner as a hardwood floor. An underlying pad
is placed and glueless interlocking floating floors are available.Jute-backed
wool carpet – Wool is naturally stain-resistant, antibacterial and
flame-retardant. The carpets are more durable and will not become scarred
and dull over time. Jute is a vegetation fibre and is a good non-toxic alternative
to conventional glues used for carpets. You may consider a wool area rug
to add warmth and comfort.

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What
is my carbon footprint?

It’s something many of us
want to know - what can we do? How much difference will it make if I change
a light bulb, or leave the car at home? Now
that the government of BC has declared its commitment to reduce BC’s
greenhouse gas emissions by 33% by 2020, we all need to play our part. But
which part? And how can I calculate my emissions? It’s quite simple,
really. There are six main ways that we contribute to global warming:

1. Driving.
2. Flying.
3. The energy we
   use in our homes.
4. The wastes we send to the
   landfill.
5. The stuff we buy.
6. The
   food we eat.

Calculate it here and learn how
to go Carbon Neutral. There are many calculators
to
choose from, we will have to decide on the most appropriate
for homes.

http://www.davidsuzuki.org/Climate_Change/What_You_Can_Do/carbon_neutral_steps.asp

http://www.onelesstonne.ca/home.cfm

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What
does the EnerGuide label on appliances tell me?

The EnerGuide for Equipment Program requires that
EnerGuide labels be affixed
to major household appliances to help the Canadian buying public compare
the energy consumption of products sold in Canada. Major electrical household
appliances and room air conditioners sold in Canada must meet minimum energy
efficiency standards and are required to display an EnerGuide label.While
EnerGuide provides buyers with the ability to shop and compare energy ratings,
ENERGY STAR goes one step further and identifies products that meet prescribed
higher levels of energy efficiency. When you see ENERGY STAR on an EnerGuide
label, you can be sure that the product is among the most energy efficient
available.

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What
are the qualifications for the ENERGY STAR rating?

Requirements for a product to
be ENERGY STAR qualified vary from one category to another, but typically
an ENERGY STAR model must be from 10 to 50 percent
more efficient than a conventional model. Home Appliances, HVAC systems,
lighting, consumer electronics, office equipment, windows and doors and even
new homes can qualify for an ENERGY STAR rating. Energy Star is a “best-in-class” performance
label. There is added value to the ENERGY STAR rating compared to conventional
appliance. (Both will have the EnerGuide Label.)

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How much energy can I expect to save if I
choose an ENERGY STAR appliance?

The interactive
cost calculator can be found on the Natural Resources Canada
and will help you get a good idea of the bottom-line cost of operating specific
models of new appliances for the length of time you can expect them to remain
in service.

Additionally, a Home
Heating system energy cost calculator allows you to
compare you current heating systems cost with a new system.

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What are CFL energy efficient
light bulbs?

Compact Fluorescent
Light bulbs (CFL) provide significant environmental benefits compared
to incandescent products. Here's why:

• CFLs use far less energy than
  incandescent bulbs, so they reduce greenhouse gas emissions from electrical
  generating stations powered by fossil fuels
• CFLs last up to 10 times longer
  than incandescent bulbs, so fewer bulbs and less packaging ends up
  in landfills
• the amount of mercury in a
  CFL is so small – less than
  one-fifth of the mercury found in a wristwatch battery – that
  it does not pose a significant threat to human health or the environment
  (nevertheless, CFLs should be handled
  with care and disposed of properly)
• by decreasing the demand for
  electricity from coal-fired generation
  plants – one
  of the largest sources of mercury emissions in Canada – CFLs
  can actually reduce mercury levels in the environment

Note on Mercury: Although there is currently
no substance that can replace
the efficiency properties of mercury to produce light in fluorescent lamps,
manufacturers have reduced the amount of mercury used in lamps. The following
is a comparison table for mercury amounts in various products.

Visit the BC
Hydro website for recycling drop off centres for your CFL light bulb.

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Can
I get money for improving the energy efficiency of my home?

Go to www.saveenergynow.ca.
For example, if you are planning renovations for your home you can search
under
for the Building Type, Residential, the
Focus, Renovation and the Green Aspect, Energy for Homeowners and 6 search
results are produced describing programs that offer grants and incentives
for improving the energy efficiency of your home.If you choose to conduct
an energy evaluation of your home with a licensed energy advisor through
Natural Resources Canada, you may be eligible to receive between $1000 and
$5000 in grant money for making the recommended improvements. EnerGuide rating
service energy advisors are independent experts in energy efficiency for
homes that will provide a blower door test to measure your home’s air
leakage and help you uncover the improvements that can be made to make your
home a tighter building that will reduce heating costs. For example, if you
improve the insulation in your attic, you are eligible to receive up to $600
(additional to all the savings in energy costs).

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Why
should I replace my windows to ENERGY STAR windows?

Upgrading your windows to ENERGY STAR will increase
comfort by providing
better insulation and maintaining a higher surface temperature on the interior
glazing. This will in turn improve the control of relative humidity and reduce
condensation on your windows. There is also a lower sound transmission. The
low E coating offered for some windows will help to keep warmth in during
the winter and heat out in the summer.

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Should
I increase the insulation of my home?

Warm air escaping from the inside
of a house to the outside can be a significant cause of heat loss. By improving
the insulation you will reduce your heating
bill increase protection from water ingress and maintain thermal comfort
inside during the heating season.Insulation is designed to resist heat flow
in either direction and should be installed between conditioned and unconditioned
areas of a home. The most common forms of insulation include fiberglass batts
and cellulose or fiberglass loose fill.The term R-value is often used to
describe the thermal resistance of the insulation material. The R-value is
measured per inch on material, for example fiberglass has an R-value between
3-3.8. For example, if you wish to obtain an R-value of R40 for the attic
space, you would require approximately 11 inches of fiberglass insulation.For
a complete description of your home and insulation requirements please visit
the BC Hydro
website

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Water
Savings

What
is a low-flow faucet aerator?

Water efficient or low-flow faucet
aerators are small screens that screw onto taps and add air to water flow,
so you get adequate spray using less
water. By installing a water efficient faucet aerator you can save up to
10 litres of water per minute. For the shower, water-efficient showerheads
conserve energy without changing water pressure. Low-flow showerheads use
up to 60 percent less water than standard fixtures. Consider that during
a 6-minute shower you could save as much as 108 litres of water with a low
flow showerhead. If you shower every day this could translate to a savings
of about 40,000 litres of water per year.

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What
is a dual flush toilet?

As of September 30, 2005 the provincial Water
Conservation plumbing Regulation
requires that all newly installed toilets use 6 litres or less of water each
flush. Dual flush toilets have two flush options and use even less water,
typically 3 Litres for the first option and 6 litres for the second option.
Toilets manufactured prior to 1985 used up to 20 Litres per flush. An average
family replacing their older toilets with ultra-low flush models typically
saves more than 60,000 litres of water per year!Conserving water can save
substantial amounts of money over the long term by allowing Metro Vancouver
to delay the expansion of the drinking water system. This also allows money
to be spent on improvements to the existing system and water quality rather
than being used for expansion. There are many choices for toilet brands and
types that are Canadian Standard Association (CSA) approved and included
in various regional toilet rebate programmes.

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Heating
Systems

What
is an air-to-air heat pump?

Heat pumps can be used for heating
and cooling in your home as well as for dehumidification and domestic hot
water. The heat source is a compressor
run by electricity, and heat may be drawn from ambient air, a water body,
the ground (geo-thermal), and ventilation air. The air-to-air heat pump provides
warmth through the transfer of heat from the ambient air using of a refrigerant
(HCFC or freon). When outside temperature falls below freezing, the air-to-air
heat pumps use electricity to operate as a resistance heater as back-up and
therefore less desirable in colder climate.

Air-to-air heat pumps are commonly
attached to forced warm air heating distribution systems, though radiant
floor hot water distribution systems can also be
used. To help you select a high-efficiency heat pump, look for the Seasonal
Energy Efficient Ratio and the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF).
In the Lower Mainland area, the HSPF range is optimal making it an ideal
location for the air-source heat pumps.

For
further information, visit Natural Resources Canada

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