Frequently asked questions about green homes
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Frequently Asked Questions about Green Home Insurance
Green Building
Healthy Building Material
Water Savings
Heating Systems 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:
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. 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. 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 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. 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:
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 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. 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.) 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. What are CFL energy efficient light bulbs? Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFL) provide significant environmental benefits compared to incandescent products. Here's why:
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. 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). 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. 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 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. 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. 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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| Top_Ten_Tips_for_Homeowners.pdf | 57.38 KB |
