City of Edmonton Once Again Shows Leadership in Sustainable Building Practices

Future homeowners to benefit from sustainably built homes

May 6 marked another milestone for the City of Edmonton as their newest development was rolled out. Laurel Green is a south east residential development that will require builders to comply with the Sustainability and Architectural Design Guidelines, which include certifying the homes to BUILT GREEN® Gold and to be PV Solar ready. This move is another display of The City of Edmonton’s commitment to encouraging and creating more compact, sustainable communities as part of City Council’s vision for The Way We Grow and The Way We Green.

BUILT GREEN® builders are those committed to producing smarter, more responsible, and healthier homes—both for the environment and for the homeowner. Consumers buying from a BUILT GREEN® builder can take comfort in knowing they’ve purchased from a quality builder, and will enjoy a healthier, more durable home with a lower environmental impact. Further, BUILT GREEN® homes are affordable with a reduction in monthly operating costs, rebates, and more.

Preserving natural resources means leaving more for future generations to enjoy. BUILT GREEN® homes reduce their environmental impact, both during the build and in the day-to-day operation of running the home. Improved efficiency means long-term cost savings; save on your water, electricity, and gas bills. 

Built with energy efficiency in mind, integrating the EnerGuide label through Natural Resources Canada, a BUILT GREEN® certified home goes beyond to include the preservation of natural resources, reduction of pollution, ventilation and air quality, and the improvement of home durability. As such, you have a two-in-one: the EnerGuide label and the BUILT GREEN® seal affixed to the furnace and/or electrical panel.

About saving money:

• Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and Genworth Financial mortgage insurance rebates are available for BUILT GREEN® homes that reach an EnerGuide rating of 82.
• BUILT GREEN® certified homes offer the benefit of longer-term durability through the efficient use of building materials and processes, which means a longer life for the home with lower maintenance costs.
• And you will benefit from an increase in market and resale value—the Canadian Home Builder’s Association’s recent research has shown homes with green certification sell for close to 10% more on average than homes without green certification. It’s always good to sell a home that requires little or no renovation. A prospective buyer will reduce the value of your home by more than the cost of a needed renovation, just to be sure.
• Energy efficiency is always in fashion, and future buyers will appreciate the utility savings your home offers. Further, there are many jurisdictions in Canada where an energy assessment is necessary before a home is sold—saving the homeowner approximately $300 and $500, depending on location.

About PV Solar ready: 

PV, or photovoltaics, are best known as a method for generating electric power by using solar cells to convert energy from the sun into electricity. The photovoltaic effect refers to photons of light knocking electrons into a higher state of energy to create electricity. This feature will increase efficiency and lower heating and energy costs.

Kudos to the City of Edmonton for their ongoing commitment to progressing sustainable initiatives. Edmontonians may stand proud, living in a region where its municipal government shows such leadership in creating a city that lives in balance with nature—contributing to the wellbeing of the environment, society, and economy, on top of citizens’ quality of life.

For more information:

Laurel Green: www.edmonton.ca/business_economy/land_sales/coming-soon.aspx

Built Green Canada and its builders: www.builtgreencanada.ca

Built Green Canada is a national organization headquartered in Edmonton, delivering environmental programs to the residential building sector.