The climate crisis is in full swing worldwide, prompting the concern of sustainable practices.
Governments of most nations are implementing policies to combat the rising deterioration of the environment. Canada is also doing the same, and this is getting reflected in the housing industry as well.
Sustainable home initiatives reduce carbon emissions, in addition to it being a cost-effective solution for homeowners.
For developers like AvranceCorp, sustainability is quite important. Let’s take a closer look at sustainability in construction and Canada’s role in it, reinforced by stats and data one can trust.
After all, commitment to quality and longevity is paramount to the future of living.
Sustainable Home Construction in Canada – An Urgent Step
Let us look at some statistics that would make sustainable practices in home construction a necessary step to be taken, by corporations and buyers, holistically:
- Residential buildings alone account for approximately 47 per cent of emissions from the entire buildings sector, excluding electricity use.
- With over 16 million homes across the country, the opportunity to retrofit existing buildings and construct new, energy-efficient homes is vast and pressing.
Are steps being taken on a national level? Yes:
- The Canadian government is actively involved in “greening” the building codes and retrofitting initiatives, aiming to reduce emissions significantly.
Canada’s Green Building Council’s reports suggest that the present retrofit rate of Canadian buildings stands at 1 per cent annually.
A desirable pace would be three to five per cent annually. Without this pace, Canada would fail to achieve its net-zero emissions target by 2050.
Sustainable Home Construction – Programs and Focus Areas?
What are sustainable homes?
Designing and building residential structures that minimize their environmental impact while optimizing energy and resource efficiency, occupant health, and long-term durability.
In Canada, this often means adopting recognized green building certification programs such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), Novoclimat, and Built Green Canada.
These programs focus on the following prime areas:
Energy Efficiency: These include better insulation, high-performance window systems, and sustainable heating and cooling installations. Plus, it includes airtight building envelopes.
Indoor Environment: Ensuring living indoors is as sustainable as vital. It could be achieved by air ventilation, natural light, and non-toxic finishes.
Water Conservation: This is an important element of sustainable practices. This would incorporate installing and using systems that conserve water during and after construction.
Using Sustainable Materials: Some of the top sustainable materials include locally sourced components, low-VOC paints, recycled or rapidly renewable materials, and formaldehyde-free wood products.
The Future of Sustainable Home Building
As mentioned above, Canada is on target to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The target is ambitious. Hence, it cannot be done in isolation, but in collaboration with government and private bodies, across the sectors.
At the city level, the effort must be made for the common goal. For example, Vancouver is striving to be the greenest city by 2025, while Toronto is aiming for a 65 per cent reductions in emissions by 2020.
Sustainable practices in the real estate industry are crucial. It not only protects the environment, but also brings economic benefits to the nation.
Visit www.avrancecorp.com to register for all upcoming projects.