Eco-Living

MHC offers a 10% premium refund on its mortgage loan insurance premiums, as well as extended amortization to a maximum of 35 years (subject to lender availability), to individuals who use CMHC-insured financing to purchase an energy efficient home, purchase a home and make energy-saving renovations, or renovate their existing home to make it more energy efficient. The refund is a one-time payment.

Jurisdiction:Federal
Action area:Home purchase/construction
Status:Available
Dollar value:10% of the cost of CMHC mortgage insurance (e.g., approximately $275 for a $100,000 mortgage with a 5% down payment, or approximately $85 for a $20,000 mortgage for renovation)

For home buyers, the refund and extended amortization are available

• when a house meets the requirements of one of the following programs: R-2000 (national), Built Green Gold label, Power Smart New Home Program (Manitoba), ENERGY STARï½® for New Homes (Ontario) or Novoclimat (Quebec);
• when a house has an EnerGuide for Houses rating of 77 or above; • when a house with an EnerGuide for Houses rating of less than 77 is renovated to increase the rating by at least five points and to a value of at least 40; or
• when, for a condominium unit, the building meets the requirements of the federal Commercial Building Incentive Program (in which case a letter attesting to this must be obtained from Natural Resources Canada or the project engineer).

The refund is also available for CMHC-insured refinance mortgages for the purpose of making energy-saving renovations to houses with an EnerGuide for Houses rating of less than 77. The renovations must increase the house’s rating by at least five points and to a value of at least 40. Extended amortization is available through participating lenders for all new CMHC mortgage insurance applications approved as of January 2005.

How to obtain this incentive: First, obtain:

• the necessary certification or CMHC declaration from a builder who is R-2000 certified or a member of one of the provincial programs mentioned above;
• EnerGuide for Houses ratings; or
• a letter attesting compliance with the Commercial Building Incentive Program; and • the new or refinanced CMHC-insured mortgage. Then complete the refund application form available on the Web site and send it to the address or fax number provided.

o qualify for the exemption, the equipment must be purchased or leased (where the lease period began on or after February 16, 2005) for installation in a residential dwelling.

The exemption applies to all parts of the equipment, including piping and refrigerant solutions integral to heat pump systems, but excluding duct work used to circulate air in a house, generic thermostats or supplementary heating systems not integral to a heat pump system.

Jurisdiction:British Columbia
Action area:Home heating/cooling system purchase/replacement
Status:Available
Dollar value:7% of the purchase price of furnaces, boilers and heat pumps Furnaces, boilers and heat pumps are exempt from the provincial sales tax (Social Service Tax) if they are ENERGY STARï½® qualified or, in the case of oil-fired forced air furnaces, if they have a Seasonal Energy Utilization Efficiency (SEUE) rating of at least 85%.

For more information: Web site
Phone: 604-660-4524, or 877-388-4440 outside Vancouver.
Web site listing the models of furnaces, boilers and heat pumps that qualify for the exemption.
Web site explaining ENERGY STAR guideline

How to obtain this incentive: Automatically received at the time of purchase.

ortis customers can choose between a reduced-interest loan and a cash grant when they install a ground or air source heat pump. For a qualifying project, a loan is available up to $5,000 at 4.9% interest and with a 10-year term. Alternatively, participants can receive a one-time grant of $0.05 for each kilowatt-hour in reduced annual electricity consumption.

Jurisdiction: British Columbia
Action area: Home heating/cooling system purchase/replacement
Status: Available
Dollar value: Per home: reduced-interest loan up to $5,000 or $0.05 per kWh of reduced annual consumption (typically $200–400)  

This incentive is available for ground source (geothermal) heat pumps meeting criteria including Canadian Standards Association standards and installed by a Fortis-approved contractor in homes where electricity is the primary source of space heating. Air source heat pumps must have a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) of 13 or greater.

This program is not available to Fortis customers in Alberta.

For more information: Web site.
Phone: 800-363-3330.

How to obtain this incentive: Call the PowerSense hotline at 800-363-3330.

he following renewable energy generating materials and equipment are exempt from provincial sales tax (Social Service Tax):

*wind-powered generating equipment;
*solar photovoltaic collector panels;
*solar thermal collector panels; and
*micro-hydro turbines and generators rated up to 150 kilowatts.

In most cases, associated and necessary components of these systems, such as wiring, controllers, inverters, pumps, tubing and intake pipes (but not batteries) are also tax-exempt when purchased as part of the systems.

NERGY STAR labelled windows are exempt from Provincial Sales Tax (PST) in British Columbia.

-2000 is operated by Natural Resources Canada's (NRCan's) Office of Energy Efficiency.

It promotes the use of cost-effective, energy-efficient building practices and technologies. The R-2000 Standard demands a high level of energy efficiency, beyond what building codes require. R-2000 houses are also healthier houses – they incorporate a whole-house ventilation system and low-emissions building materials and finishes to ensure superior indoor air quality.

Participation in the initiative is voluntary. Home builders who build to the
R-2000 Standard do so because they consider an R-2000 home to be a better home. Buyers choose R-2000 homes for their superior quality and comfort, as well as energy savings. R-2000 includes the following:

• an energy-efficiency standard for new houses that is continually upgraded
• ongoing education and training courses for home builders
• testing and certifying of new R-2000 houses

The R-2000 Standard is based on an energy consumption target for each house and a series of technical requirements for ventilation, airtightness (to ensure less drafts), insulation, choice of materials, water use and other factors. Ongoing research ensures that the R-2000 Standard remains at the leading edge of affordable energy-efficient construction technology.

Since R-2000 began, almost 10 000 R-2000 homes have been built and certified. Close to 900 builders have been licensed to build R-2000 homes. While new housing quality has improved as a result of R-2000 and other builder training programs, R-2000 builders still lead the industry in the quality of their homes – quality the Government of Canada stands behind with its R-2000 certificate.

R-2000 also has a wide range of partners across Canada, including provincial/territorial home builders' associations, provincial governments, product manufacturers and energy utilities. The Canadian Home Builders' Association has been a partner in the initiative since day one. It remains an active supporter of NRCan's goals and activities.

As a result of R-2000, manufacturers have developed many unique building products, such as heat recovery ventilators (now a $50-million-per-year industry in Canada), high-performance windows, and integrated mechanical heating and cooling systems.

R-2000, a world leader in energy-efficient housing technology, has generated a lot of interest beyond Canada's borders. It is licensed for use in Japan and several American states.

R-2000 is an official mark of Natural Resources Canada.

he R-2000 Standard sets out a series of house performance requirements that are in addition to those required by building codes. In general terms, the R-2000 Standard involves the following:

• Builder’s licence: Only home builders who have completed R-2000 builder training and hold a current R-2000 builder licence can build homes that can be certified to the R-2000 Standard.
• Energy budget: R-2000 homes must operate within a specific energy budget, based on the characteristics of the home and the climate conditions where it's built. Typically, R-2000 homes need 30 percent less energy to operate than conventional new homes. Common in
  R-2000 homes are additional insulation; double-glazed, low-emissivity, gas-filled windows with insulated spacers; and high-efficiency heating systems.
• Whole-house ventilation: Every R-2000 home must have a whole-house ventilation system that supplies fresh outdoor air to all living areas in the home. This system must be designed and tested to meet the CSA International standard CAN/CSA-F326 M91 ("Residential Mechanical Ventilation Systems"). Installers must be trained by the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada, or equivalent. After renewing the latest building research and any new technologies on the market, a technical review committee initiates potential changes to the Standard within Natural Resources Canada.
• Environmental pick list: Every R-2000 home builder must choose from a "pick list" of options for indoor air quality and environmental features. The indoor air-quality features can include items such as hardwood flooring, low-emission cabinetry, low-emission (low volatile organic compound [VOC]) paints, and non-solvent-based adhesives and finishes. Features to conserve materials include choices for insulation, siding, sheathing, wall studs and foundation drainage.
• Cleaner heating: The heating systems in the home must not be susceptible to combustion spillage.
• Water conservation: Every R-2000 home must be equipped with water-conserving toilets, faucets and shower heads.
• Independent inspections: Every home submitted for R-2000 certification must undergo a series of independent inspections and tests to verify that the requirements of the R-2000 Standard have been met.

ombining R-2000 objectives with freedom of design, the R-2000 Standard offers home builders a number of building material and design-measure "pick lists."

The Indoor Air Quality "Pick List"

Every R-2000 home is required to have a mechanical ventilation system to provide continuous whole-house ventilation, plus a tight house envelope to keep out dust and other outdoor air pollutants. In addition, the R-2000 Standard requires builders to incorporate at least three of the following indoor air quality features:

• carpets labeled under the Canadian Carpet Institute's Green Label Program or reduced carpeting
• no vinyl sheet flooring (vinyl tile is acceptable)
• paints and wood-flooring finishes approved by EcoLogo^M
• water-based, low-toxicity finished flooring adhesives
• kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities that meet international standards for chemical off-gassing
• particleboard underlayment that meets international standards
• a sub-slab depressurization system to prevent entry of radon and other soil gases
• indoor moisture control options
• air filtration options

These products have been selected because they either emit less volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or help reduce the amount of particulate (such as dust) in the air. VOCs and particulates have been shown to aggravate respiratory problems.

The Environmental Features "Pick List"

Resource conservation (reduce, reuse and recycle) is an important feature in an R-2000 home, so the R-2000 Standard also includes the following environmental "pick lists."

Building Materials

• fibreglass insulation, meeting or exceeding the requirements of the Environmental Choice^M Program for recycled glass content
• cellulose insulation manufactured from paper with a minimum of 75 percent recycled content
• mineral fibre insulation, with at least 35 percent recycled raw materials
• insulation made from plastic, meeting or exceeding the requirements of the Environmental Choice^M Program for recycled content
• fibreboard sheathing, made from recycled newsprint or wood fibres
• siding manufactured from factory or sawmill waste
• drywall containing recycled gypsum or newsprint
• steel studs in which at least 23 percent of the raw material is recycled steel
• studs and trim manufactured from sawmill cut-off and waste, free of urea formaldehyde
• foundation or under-slab drainage mixture of post-consumer glass and crushed rock or stone

Measures to Reduce Energy Use

• installing energy-efficient appliances that meet ENERGY STAR^® specifications, or – where no ENERGY STAR rating is available for that category – achieve an EnerGuide rating in the top 33 percent for that appliance category
• increasing the energy efficiency of the house by reducing its energy consumption by a further 15 percent beyond the R-2000 energy target
• installing a cooling system that meets or exceeds minimum energy performance requirements

osch Appliance Energy Saving Calculator
Bosch's Energy Savings Calculator shows you the potential energy savings Bosch appliances can deliver.

BuildingGreen
BuildingGreen is an independent company, committed to providing accurate, unbiased and timely information designed to help building-industry professionals reduce adverse impacts and improve the environmental performance of buildings.

Earthcraft House
Earthcraft House is a green building program that serves as a blueprint for healthy, comfortable homes, which reduce utility bills and protect the environment.

ENERGY STAR Rebate Finder
This application will help you find any special offers or rebates currently available on Bosch ENERGY STAR qualified products in your area.

Global Green Building Resource Center
A partnership between Global Green USA and the City of Santa Monica, the Green Building Resource is stocked with samples of the most popular environmentally-friendly building materials, and provides free design advice and information about green building strategies.

the groovy mind
thegroovymind furthers the movements of environmental sustainability and social and economic justice through buying, promoting and selling organic, fair trade and eco-friendly products that break the cycle of poverty in developing nations, while protecting our natural resources.

inhabitat
Inhabitat.com is a weblog, devoted to the future of design, tracking innovations in technology, practices and materials that push architecture and home design towards a smarter and more sustainable future.

LEED® for Homes
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings' performance.

National Association of Home Builders
NAHB designed the voluntary Model Green Home Building Guidelines to move environmentally friendly home building concepts further into the mainstream marketplace.

NRDC Green Building Resources
Resources, news, and tips for designing and building green from one of the nation's most effective environmental-action organizations.

Green Communities™
Created by Enterprise in partnership with the Natural Resources Defense Council, Green Communities is a five-year, $555 million initiative to build more than 8,500 environmentally healthy homes for low-income families.

ecofabulous
Sustainable products Blog, written by the green editor of House and Garden magazine.

The Ideal Bite
The Ideal Bite provides insight and inspiration, level-headed advice, and cool tools to take sustainable action for people who aspire to align their everyday actions with their personal values.

TreeHugger
TreeHugger is a web magazine, dedicated to everything that has a modern aesthetic and is environmentally responsible – with a goal of making sustainability mainstream.

EPA – An Introduction to Indoor Air Quality
A description of sources, contributing causes and health effects of indoor air quality problems in homes.

EPA – Indoor Air Pollution
An EPA list of links for more information about indoor air pollution, including air pollutants, research, control, effects, legal aspects, monitoring, quality models, atmospheric effects, and mobile sources.

National Resources Defense Council – Health and Environment
Links to information about harmful chemicals that infiltrate the places we live, work and play, including recommendations for the creation of health standards that protect against chemical threats.

Carbon Mitigation Initiative at Princeton
The Carbon Mitigation Initiative is a joint project of Princeton University, BP and the Ford Motor Company to find solutions to the greenhouse and global warming problem. Together our researchers are developing strategies to reduce global carbon dioxide emissions that will be safe, effective, and affordable.

Conservation International CO2 Emissions Calculator
Conservation International believes that Earth's natural heritage must be maintained if future generations are to thrive spiritually, culturally and economically. CI's new carbon calculator empowers you to calculate and offset your personal carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Energy Information Administration – Renewable and Alternative Fuels
Official Energy Statistics from the US Government. A site that includes information about renewables, biomass, geothermal, hydro, wind, alternative fueled vehicles, ethanol and international data.

Energy Information Administration – US Emissions Data
Official Energy Statistics from the US Government. A site with up-to-date energy-related emissions data and environmental analyses, including data on greenhouse gas emissions, electric power plant emissions, environmental equipment, carbon emission factors, state carbon dioxide emissions, international emissions data, greenhouse gas reporting, and emissions forecasts.

ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, with a goal to help consumers save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.

EPA – National Plan for Energy Efficiency Report
To create a sustainable, aggressive national commitment to energy efficiency through gas and electric utilities, utility regulators, and partner organizations, more than 50 leading organizations joined together to develop the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency.

StopGlobalWarming.org – Action Items
The Stop Global Warming calculator shows you how much carbon dioxide you can prevent from being released into the atmosphere and how much money you can save by making some small changes in your daily life. It's our hope that the calculator will promote action, awareness and empowerment by showing you that one person can make a difference and help stop global warming.

Archinect
Archinect is designed to make architecture more connected and open-minded, bringing together designers from around the world to introduce new ideas from all disciplines.

Cool Hunting
Cool Hunting offers daily updates on ideas and products in the intersection of art, design, culture and technology, and features weekly videos that give an inside look at the people who create them.

Curbed Los Angeles
A site devoted to the myriad flourishings of culture in Southern California, including developments in real estate and food.

Land + Living
Land + Living is a Blog about design and lifestyle in the modern world.

MoCo Loco
MoCo Loco is a web magazine, featuring modern contemporary design news and views.

a weekly dose of architecture
A weekly dose of architecture looks at contemporary architectural works with architectural and/or cultural significance.

fabprefab
fabprefab is an information resource, dedicated to investigating the market for affordable, modernist, factory-built residential architecture.

Live Modern
LiveModern is a free and open community for modern home buyers, architects, builders, developers, furnishers, lenders, realtors—anyone interested in modern and sustainable design in housing products and services.

National Modular Housing Council
The National Modular Housing Council was created to provide modular manufacturers, suppliers, and builders a national voice, facilitating policies and programs beneficial to both the industry and consumers of modular homes.

or awhile now we've been subscribed to "Dwell" magazine.   We like it because it carries the most recent ideas and creations out of, in particular, California.  It was Dwell magazine that led us to investigate 'prefab' homes.

Prefabricated homes are not what they used to be!  Not only can they be 'green', they can be, as with most green product, expensive.  Most often included in the expense however is elegance, design ingenuity, functional design, renewable resources, architectural interest, and a fore-shortened construction effort.

Empyrean homes and Michelle Kaufmann Designs are just two of the prefab home companies introduced to us by Dwell magazine.Each of these organizations have very interesting designs.

ecently we have engaged the skills of Richard Wey.  Richard runs 'Richard Wey & Associates Land Surveying Inc' in Sydney, BC.  On every aspect, we've been very pleased with our involvement with him.

I contacted Richard and he guided us through what we really need on the property.  At present we had only an inkling of where the boundaries are.

Richard offered to perform our survey in conjunction with doing other work on Pender, so as to keep our costs down.  Within about two weeks the survey was done, printed and we received it in the mail.  Total cost: about $800.  We now have boundary marker on our property, and have the foundation for any further work to be perfomred on the property, whether that's bringing in Hydro Power, modifying the driveway, or  actually building our home!

ustainable, or "green building," design and construction provide an opportunity to use resources more efficiently, while creating healthier and more energy-efficient homes and commercial buildings. Successful green buildings leave a lighter footprint on the environment through conservation of resources, while at the same time balancing energy-efficient, cost-effective, low-maintenance products for construction needs. In other words, green-building design involves finding the delicate balance between homebuilding and a sustainable environment.

As the green philosophy continues to grow, specifiers will increasingly face pressures to use or not to use certain products.

reen design is not merely the use of energy-efficient materials. It also involves the creation of products and systems that leave a light footprint on the environment over the full life-cycle - from production to transportation, installation, use and renewal. As such, sustainable green design should be thought of as a process, not just a goal - allowing for a broader evaluation of the environmental, economical and societal impacts of product, as single units and as part of their environment.

When considering environmental issues in construction and life cycle, some focus on evaluation of manufactured products in terms of waste disposal (although a product’s end-use can account for as much as 90 percent of a product’s impact on the environment). Instead, a host of factors and influences of a product’s impact on society should be evaluated and contrasted to the product’s performance. A systems approach allows for determination of the environmental impact of a product in terms of energy consumption at each state of a product’s life cycle, beginning at the point of raw materials extraction from the earth and proceeding through processing, manufacturing, fabrication, end-use and disposal. Transportation of materials and products to each process step should also be included.

t's said that the best way to be 'eco-friendly' during the construction of a new house is to make use of a 'recycled' house.

In our travels along the highway between the BC Ferries Swartz Bay Ferry terminal and downtown Victoria, we had seen the Nickel Brothers house moving company (www.nickelbros.com).

A quick look through their 'recycled' homes for sale in Vancouver area, Victoria, Nanaimo, Seattle, Everett and Port Townsend, reveals some absolutely stunning homes.

Though a number of the case studies show the transport of homes to relatively remote locations, we haven't pursued this alternative ourselves since high bank waterfront property (upwards of 100') and a long, narrow, steep, winding driveway would make it impossible to get a house up onto our property, I'm sure!

s we consider, on a daily basis, the construction, design, and inevitably the cost, of our home on Pender Island, we discover new methods of construction in Canada which appeal to us.

A Straw Bale house and Rammed Earth are two such eco-friendly options we are considering. I've recently become the owner of, "The Straw Bale House" by Athena Swentzell Steen, Bill Steen, Davaid Bainbridge and David Eisenberg.