Shades Of Green

By Hugh Heron

“Green” is definitely the buzzword in new home building today, and that’s a good thing in many ways. We all have to do our bit to take better care of our planet, and builders are rising to the challenge. Ontario Building Code is stricter than ever before when it comes to energy efficiency, and building practices and materials that promote sustainability. Many builders and developers are also opting for third-party rating systems that certify them in practices that go beyond Code. Technology is advancing so rapidly, however, that the public would be wise to look at all of this with an educated eye.

We can learn a lot from the past about approaching the “greening” of the industry with caution. For example, are “green” practices we’re buying into tested and true? Remember the 1970s, when urea-formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI) was installed in Canadian homes during a push for energy efficiency? Sometimes the substance was installed improperly or in areas where it shouldn’t have been, and people experienced an overexposure to the toxic gas formaldehyde. It wasn’t until 1980 that the use of UFFI was banned here. Just this year in Australia, it was discovered that the foil-backed insulation being installed in many homes was inadvertently nailed to electrical wiring. In at least one case, the home caught fire and a person died.

Solar energy is being promoted again. It first arrived on the scene in the 1970s, before the technology had been developed enough to make it work as an effective source of heating. Is the technology there yet to make it a feasible alternative? We’re also hearing a lot about windmills and their potential on the energy grid. Some sources say their use can have a 40 per cent effect; other experts say their contribution would be negligible. Who’s right? And thermal energy – we can get heat from the ground, but is the technology advanced enough to make it worthwhile doing?

When you shop for a new home, of course you want a house that is energy efficient. When people buy resale homes, they always ask about energy costs. New homes today are the resale homes of tomorrow, so finding out from the builder what green elements a new home contains is logical. My advice is to stick with proven technologies that make sense financially. You can always upgrade items in the future when new technologies take over.

As a new home buyer, you have a responsibility to be an educated shopper – and that means researching the green aspects of the homes you’re considering and figuring out how much confidence you have in them. Ask who has endorsed the energy-efficient features and sustainability factors.

Think about cost, too. Every item we add to a home increases the price. Our current Code is so stringent, that ENERGY STAR® is revamping its specs to include suggested targets for some years ahead. Ask yourself whether you need measures beyond the existing standard, and whether you can afford them.

Obsolescence is another aspect to consider when you look at the greening of the new home industry. Just look at computers: the equipment we buy today is often available in newer, improved versions within months. What’s leading edge today may be passé in weeks or months.

Before you make your decision on a new home community based on a company’s claim to use green building principles, find out what that means. Jumping on the green bandwagon with blind faith may be too trusting. It’s important to ask questions as to whether all of today’s green products and building techniques have been tested enough. For your own sake, avoid seeing green through rose-coloured glasses.

The biggest achievement we have attained worldwide is that we are all aware of the need to conserve energy and THAT’S A GOOD THING!

Hugh Heron is Principal and Partner in the Heron Group of Companies and President of Heathwood Homes, as well as a former Member of the Board of Directors of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, and a Past President of the Toronto Home Builders’ Association and the Ontario Home Builders’ Association.