Saturday, March 30, 2013

How far we made it - Our Home's Green features

When we started out on this project, we knew we were in it for the long haul.  After 3 years, we are proud of what we have accomplished and probably have another couple years worth of work to achieve LEED status. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like we will have an opportunity to finish the project; I had an excellent opportunity with work that I accepted and we will be moving back to Winnipeg.  It will be hard to leave the house after all the time and effort we put into it but at least we know we'll be leaving a healthy and efficient home for someone else to enjoy.

So how far did we make it? The blog has done a poor job of keeping up with the recent renos so below is a summary:

Energy Efficiency
- Overall EnerGuide rating of 81 (equivalent to a new energy efficient home)
- Navien tankless hot water heater
- Mitsubishi Zuba Central four season air to air heat pump
- Renewair Energy Recovery Ventilator
- R24 insulation including rigid insulation in kitchen, bathrooms and basement bedroom
- LED lights in bathrooms, basement bedroom and under the kitchen cabinets
- Energy star appliances

Water Conservation
- Estimated 76% reduction in water consumption
- Proficiency 3L per flush Ultra-Low flow toilets
- Bricor 1.35 gpm low flow shower head
- Bricor 0.35 gpm low flow bathroom sink aerators
- Energy star washing machine and dishwasher

Sustainable Products
- Zodiaq recycled glass counter tops
- Bamboo and cork flooring
- 80% to 100% recycled wood fibers in cabinets, baseboards and doors
- Reclaimed or FSC certified wood throughout

Indoor Air Quality
- No or Low VOC paint and adhesives throughout
- Formaldehyde free cabinets, baseboards, doors and plywood
- All natural gas appliances are closed combustion