Built Green Canada Launches Renovation Program Pilot

Edmonton, AB, October 31, 2016—coinciding with Renovation Month, Built Green Canada launches its Renovation Program Pilot and encourages trials during this phase.

The changes announced in October surrounding Canada’s mortgage rules puts new limits on how much some buyers can afford. The impact of the new mortgage rules are indeterminate at this time; however, it is expected that lower priced homes will get a greater amount of interest, as buyers who could previously afford a more expensive home will be looking at a more affordably priced home, while others who may have been considering buying up will remain in the home they’re in and focus on upgrades.

This underscores the reality of Canada’s housing stock: new housing represents less than two per cent of the overall housing stock across the country. As Canadians and all orders of government are increasingly focused on the environmental agenda, there is huge opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen the economy through energy-efficient retrofits of older homes in Canada. A study by Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation (CMHC) revealed that older homes are the source of exponentially more greenhouse gas emissions than newer homes.

A BUILT GREEN® certified renovation benefits not only the environment but also homeowners who will enjoy a healthier, more durable, and more affordable home through a reduction in the operating and maintenance costs of homeownership.

“The BUILT GREEN® Renovation Program contemplates the scale of the renovation and its ability to impact greater energy efficiency,” says executive director Jenifer Christenson. “Should the renovation be small in scope, the impact is more difficult to quantify.” This has been an important consideration at this developmental phase, and the certification is based on the performance improvement of the home at the time of completion as compared to the home’s original performance.

There are three renovation types: whole house, renovation, and small home improvements. Each takes a holistic approach to sustainable building and maintains the same seven categories as Built Green’s Single Family and High Density programs: energy efficiency, materials & method, indoor air quality, ventilation, waste management, water conservation and business practices.  

My House Design/Build Team Ltd., a long-time builder with Built Green Canada, completed the first renovation under this pilot. “The renovation program offers the consistent, clear approach Built Green’s other programs have in terms of process, priority areas, and options available. We’re happy to be participating and offering input into the program at this stage,” says Mark Nowotny of My House Design/Build Team Ltd. Meanwhile, new renovator with Built Green Canada, A Cut Above Living, is nearing completion of their renovation under this pilot.

Built Green Canada welcomes industry’s continued input during this pilot phase. The program is complementary to the leadership efforts of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association’s and CMHC’s “Get it in Writing” initiative.

Built Green Canada is a national, industry-driven, non-profit organization offering third-party certification programs for those interested in sustainable practices in the residential building sector. Since our inception, builders have worked with us to complete over 26,900 BUILT GREEN® certified homes in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Ontario; including units in multi-storey projects, this total is over 27,350.