Retrofits for a greener home
Building Envelope
Air sealing
Air sealing is one of the most affordable and easy ways to improve the energy-efficiency of a home. It's the single most important thing you can do to improve the energy-efficiency and should be the first step of any retrofit project. You can save up to 30% of your energy costs by air sealing areas where energy loss occurs.
Insulation
Insulation helps keep outdoor air from getting inside your home. It also prevents indoor air from escaping. It works by trapping pockets of air and slowing down the in/out process. For optimal energy-efficiency, your home should be properly insulated from the roof down to its foundation.
Windows and doors
Upgraded windows can make a significant difference to both the energy-efficiency and comfort of your home. Replacing single-pane windows with thermal-pane can eliminate cold drafts and lower your energy use substantially.
Shutters and blinds
Shutters and blinds can enhance a home's resiliency by offering both improved energy-efficiency and physical protection during heat waves and wind storms.
Cool roofs
Cool roofs reflect the sun's rays and reduce heat build-up through a light-coloured or highly reflective roofing product such as a coating, new membrane, or shingles.
Green roofs
Green roofs capture stormwater, improve air quality and support the growth of vegetation. They consist of a waterproofing membrane, drainage layer, organic growing medium (soil), and vegetation.
Wind resilient roofs
Wind resilient roofing strategies are construction and retrofit methods, materials, and design techniques used to strengthen roofs against damage from high winds.
Foundation waterproofing
Foundation waterproofing is the process of preventing water from penetrating a building's foundation, protecting it from moisture damage, leaks, and structural issues.
Basement window well covers
Basement window well covers can help prevent debris accumulation inside basement window wells and reduce accumulation causing slow-draining wells.
Flood alarm
Early detection of water leakage can help you quickly determine the cause and source of the leak and address it before flooding occurs.
Sump pump
A sump pump is a small pump that is installed at the lowest part of your basement or crawlspace that prevents flooding by pumping flood water out of your home.
Backwater valve
A backwater valve, also called a backflow valve, is a device used to prevent outbound grey water and sewage from re-entering, or backflowing
into your home.
Heating and Cooling
Smart thermostats
A simple and inexpensive switch to a smart thermostat can provide both a more comfortable home and reduce your energy use by 8% or more.
Heat pumps
Heating and cooling, most likely, accounts for the majority of the energy used in your home. Heat pumps will both heat and cool your home and can reduce your home energy costs by up to 50%.
Air exchangers / heat recovery ventilators
A Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV), often referred to as an air exchanger, is a ventilation device that helps make the air in your home healthier, cleaner, and more comfortable — by continuously replacing stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air. During the heating season, an air exchanger captures heat from the stale air leaving your house, and uses it to preheat the fresh air coming into your house. This process is reversed during the cooling season.
Furnaces
Home heating accounts for up to 60% of the energy used in the average Canadian home. A furnace uses ductwork and vents to distribute warm air throughout your house. High-efficiency gas furnaces are quiet, reliable, and effective at maintaining a comfortable home, and they can reduce your energy bill by up to 45%.
Air conditioners
An ENERGY STAR® certified high-efficiency central air conditioner uses 8% less energy, on average, than a standard model.
Water heaters
Heating water in your home can account for about 20% of your home's energy bill. An ENERGY STAR® certified hot water heater uses an average of 14% less energy. An ENERGY STAR® certified tankless water heater will use up to 30% less energy as you only heat the water as you use it.
Drain-water heat recovery system
Drain-water heat recovery systems capture heat from water going down a drain, typically the shower, and use it to heat the cold water entering your water heater, resulting in lower energy costs.
Electrical
Lighting and appliances
Effective lighting and energy-efficient appliances play a vital role in optimizing energy-efficiency within homes. Simple changes like implementing LED lighting and ENERGY STAR® rated appliances can significantly reduce electricity usage, leading to improved cost savings and environmental sustainability.
Solar systems
Harness the sun's energy for state of the art energy savings with solar panels, solar hot water heaters, and battery energy storage systems.
Energy storage
Energy storage, also known as home battery storage or home batteries, are rechargeable batteries that can store energy to power your home when needed. These can be combined with solar panels or used as backup power during a power failure.
EV chargers
Electric Vehicle Chargers, more commonly known as EV Chargers or Electrical Vehicle Charging Stations, deliver energy to both all-electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
Yardwork
Rain barrels
A rain barrel is a container designed to collect and store rainwater from your roof through a downspout system which can be stored for later use.
Fusion gardens
Fusion gardening is an innovative landscaping approach that combines aesthetic appeal with environmental sustainability, such as pollinator's and native plants — while focusing on controlling the flow of rainwater, so it disperses naturally into the groundwater as opposed to overwhelming storm drains.
Shade trees and shrubs
Planting trees and shrubs strategically around your property can significantly cool down your home on hot summer days and reduce energy use. These natural elements provide shade and wind protection, improve air quality, and absorb rainwater that could otherwise contribute to localized flooding.
Lot grading
Proper lot grading ensures that the soil around your home slopes away from the foundation at a recommended gradient to help prevent floods and foundation damage.
Permeable pavement
Permeable pavement is a specially designed surface that allows stormwater and melted snow to filter through the pavement into the ground water instead of running off and overwhelming stormwater drainage.
Talk to a Greener Homes Coach
by phone or virtual meeting
Durham Region residents can get free expert and personalized advice from a trained Greener Homes Coach