ontario / Green Building & Sustainable Home Renovation Information & Advice

Ontario climate change action plan
Grants and incentives

Ontario announces ambitious climate change action plan to reduce emissions

...Ontario homes. The approach is intended to facilitate a smooth transition to greener technologies, not slam one door shut before others are opened. The five-year Action Plan is based on the 2015 Ontario Strategy on Climate Change. In May 2016, Ontario passed a historic law to help mitigate climate change and move towar...

Backyard solar panels
Grants and incentives

The Ontario MicroFIT program

...Ontario government has made it one of their priorities to encourage the green tech industry in Ontario and the development of renewable energy projects across the province. As part of this initiative, they have developed a program which allows citizens to connect their renewable energy projects to the provincial energy...

Ontario’s first LEED certified hospital
LEED Homes

Ontario’s First LEED Certified Hospital

...Ontario – to achieve LEED® certification. Bluewater Health’s construction of a 588,000-square-foot complex at the hospital’s Sarnia location consisted of a new addition attached to the fully renovated existing facility. Led by London-based contractor, EllisDon Corporation, the construction was the largest public sector...

Affordable green prefab homes - contemporary rancher style - Abri 1850 BV
Architecture and plan design

Prefab Homes for Sale - Beautiful & Sustainable - Available Now

Exceptional Prefab Eco Homes - introducing the Abri range These ultra high performance prefabricated homes have a size to suit every family and budget. With a contemporary style and extremely high quality of construction, these bright and well designed homes are an affordable and high quality choice when thinking of bu...

Beautiful LEED home in Mulmur, Ontario.
LEED Homes

A beautiful lakeside LEED Platinum home

...Ontario.© Shai Gil Photography LEED home in Mulmur, Ontario. © Shai Gil Photography LEED home in Mulmur, Ontario. © Shai Gil Photography LEED home in Mulmur, Ontario. © Shai Gil Photography LEED home in Mulmur, Ontario. © Shai Gil Photography LEED home in Mulmur, O...

HERD Home energy rating disclosure
Grants and incentives

Ontario's Home Energy Rating and Disclosure plan (HERD) is great news for home buyers

...Ontario and Canada meet its climate change targets, this will save homeowners money on utilities as well as increase the value of homes that take advantage of the assistance offered. The Home Energy Transparency Coalition applauds the Ontario government for taking a bold step in the fight against climate change. About ...

Artistic rendition of the 2000 square foot sustainable home being buil
Living Building Challenge

Taking the Living Building Challenge

...Ontario, is setting out to change that when they begin construction this spring on a 2,000 square foot three bedroom home. At the head of this project is Chris Magwood, executive director of the Endeavour Centre. "A lot of people think we’re far from being able to live lightly, and comfortably, on the planet.  We’d lik...

An attic with 'insulating paint' which doesn't insulate
Insulation and soundproofing

Does 'insulating paint' work?

No matter that engineers and architects long ago debunked it, insulating paint still occasionally finds its way into buildings. Powdered ceramic chips that can be added to any paint are said to reflect heat in or out of a building and reduce heat loss by staggering amounts. I was under the impression that this had been...

Electricity

Lights, appliances and all things electrical

There are a lot of options to consider when shopping for appliances, designing home lighting, and heating your home. These pages outline some things you can do that will help reduce your consumption, and despite what is sometimes a higher sticker price, usually save you money. Home lighting There are many factors that ...

Dual axis solar tracker
Solar photovoltaic

Choosing between solar trackers and fixed solar panels mounts

When considering home solar power you will first want to: Update your appliances and get your demand down as low as possible. Convert any appliances that you are intending to convert (such as installing heat pumps to replace those that use fossil fuels).  Replace any incandescent bulbs with LEDs. Now you are ready to...