For the average person, more than one-third of our yearly emissions are produced in and by our homes. In an age where green living has shifted from the realm of hippies to being everyone’s responsibility, there are many ways to reduce our homes’ impact on the environment. 

Perhaps the greatest difference you can make is by choosing wisely when home shopping, whether or not you are purchasing a newly constructed one. There are several things you can look for while house hunting to ensure your home will be an eco-friendly one, starting with the type of home you choose. 

Building the green way

Built Green™ is a voluntary program promoting environmentally friendly and energy-efficient building, developed by David Bengert and Jay Westman from Jayman MasterBUILT, along with support from many trades and other builders. 

“I believe that the main reason to build green is simply to save money by way of reduced energy costs, and perhaps reduce overall demand, and subsequently reduce environmental impact,” says Bengert, who today is the president of the Built Green Society of Canada™ as well as Jayman’s director of purchasing.

In order to qualify for the Built Green™ label, homebuilders must meet a series of criteria in categories like building materials, water and energy conservation, waste management and indoor air quality. There are four levels of achievement: bronze, silver, gold and new for 2008, platinum. A Built Green™ certification on an address is a sure sign the builder considered the home’s environmental impact. The program has been around since 2003, so homes older than that may still have been made using these standards but would not be certified. Information on building materials and other features is generally available from the realtor or developer. 

Avoid builders who say they are using green materials and techniques, but have not had their claims independently verified. Bengert says everyone wants to be green today, but “greenwashing,”—the term used to describe companies and products that profess to be environmentally friendly but are in fact using meaningless terms—can be common.“Everyone today claims to be green, however not all are the correct shade of green,” he says. All Built Green™ projects are third-party certified so you know their statements are true. 

Small steps and lighter footprints

Bengert says condos tend to be a more environmentally-savvy choice than detached homes, because they help to create a higher population density. By building up instead of out, more people can fit onto less land, reducing urban sprawl and traffic. Condos also require less building material per person than detached homes, and with fewer outside walls, don’t lose as much energy. For families who might not want to live in an apartment-style condo, the townhouse is a great alternative. Most included a small yard or a common green space for kids to play in, but the overall land usage is still less. Newer condos tend to use more efficient building materials, appliances and fixtures as well, because they save money in the long run, and homeowners demand it. 

Passive, but just slightly aggressive

Whenever possible, try to choose a home close to work to reduce or eliminate time spent commuting. If that’s not possible, look for a place that has ready transit access so you will be more inclined to leave the car at home. Nearby amenities like grocery stores and schools mean shorter trips as well—anything to reduce the number of one-person-occupied cars idling on the Deerfoot during rush hour. Calgary’s surge in condo developments downtown and in the Beltline area in the last few years speak to the city’s commitment to have more people living close to work.

And there’s an added bonus—studies have shown people who live close to work and amenities weigh less, since they get more exercise.

Also important is the location your home faces. Heating is a major source of greenhouse gases and a large household expense as well. By looking for a home with large south-facing windows, you can take advantage of the passive heat the sun provides. Some buildings may even use heat-storing materials in the interior walls to preserve solar energy during the day and release it after the sun sets. 

A material world

What your home is made of can have a huge impact on how energy efficient it is. How well it is insulated is the number one factor for conserving heat in the winter and cooling it in the summer. By using materials like insulated concrete forms (ICF) and triple-pane, low-E argon-gas-filled windows, less heat is lost out exterior walls. Low-flow toilets, showerheads and faucets can save you water, as can a front-load washing machine and high-efficiency dishwasher. 

Some interior finishes are more sustainable than others as well. Bengert suggests homeowners ensure that wood products come from sustainable managed forests. Bamboo and cork flooring are both considered renewable hardwoods because they can be harvested soon after planting, in the case of bamboo, or without damaging the tree itself, as with cork. And by using paints and carpets with low VOCs (volatile organic compounds, which can harm your health), you ensure potentially toxic gases won’t be released into your home. 

The lowdown on VOCs

“Look for products that have a percentage of recycled content and low VOCs,” Bengert says. “Many carpets today are made from recycled pop bottles and look and perform as well as other carpets,” Bengert says. And he recommends that all appliances carry the Energy Star label and faucets and toilets have the new Water Sense label. 

Bengert has high hopes for the future of home construction in Calgary. 

“I believe that within six or seven years the majority of all new construction will be some form of verifiable green construction,” he says. Calgarians can encourage this goal by ensuring any home they purchase is environmentally friendly and uses some or all of the above features. Not only will you save money, but you will feel good knowing that you’re reducing your impact on the environment. For more about Built Green™, visit http://www.builtgreencanada.ca