[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||3px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” width=”95%” max_width=”100%” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”55px||15px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][wahi_breadcrumb _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][wahi_breadcrumb-link title=”Real Estate 101″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _dynamic_attributes=”link_option_url” _module_preset=”default” link_option_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9saW5rX3VybF9wYWdlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsicG9zdF9pZCI6IjcyMiJ9fQ==@” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/wahi_breadcrumb-link][wahi_breadcrumb-link title=”Buy” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _dynamic_attributes=”link_option_url” _module_preset=”default” link_option_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9saW5rX3VybF9wYWdlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsicG9zdF9pZCI6IjE2MzIifX0=@” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/wahi_breadcrumb-link][wahi_breadcrumb-link title=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90aXRsZSIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7ImJlZm9yZSI6IiIsImFmdGVyIjoiIn19@” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _dynamic_attributes=”title” _module_preset=”default” module_text_color=”#686E6E” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/wahi_breadcrumb-link][\/wahi_breadcrumb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-7px|auto||auto||” custom_margin_tablet=”-7px|auto||auto||” custom_margin_phone=”-15px|auto||auto|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”14px||16px|||” custom_padding_tablet=”14px||16px|||” custom_padding_phone=”0px||16px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” header_font_size=”3.5rem” header_line_height=”4.5rem” custom_margin=”16px|||||” header_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_font_size_phone=”2rem” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_line_height_tablet=”4.5rem” header_line_height_phone=”2.75rem” header_line_height_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90aXRsZSIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7ImJlZm9yZSI6IjxoMT4iLCJhZnRlciI6IjwvaDE+In19@[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-10px|auto||auto||” custom_padding=”1px||1px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][wahi_socialsharing _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/wahi_socialsharing][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”13px||21px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”24px” text_line_height=”1.75rem” min_height=”73px” custom_margin=”||25px||false|false” text_font_size_tablet=”24px” text_font_size_phone=”1.1rem” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Before you commit to purchasing a green home, check out these pros and cons. [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”24px” text_line_height=”1.75rem” custom_margin=”||25px||false|false” text_font_size_tablet=”24px” text_font_size_phone=”1.1rem” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n By Emily Southey<\/a> | 7 minute read<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_title title=”off” author=”off” date_format=”M j” categories=”off” comments=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||1px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_title][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||3px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”100%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”6px||3px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9mZWF0dXJlZF9pbWFnZSIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7fX0=@” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _dynamic_attributes=”src” _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||-1px|||” border_radii=”on|32px|32px|32px|32px” border_radii_tablet=”on|32px|32px|32px|32px” border_radii_phone=”on|0px|0px|0px|0px” border_radii_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”34px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”21px” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_font_size=”36px” header_2_line_height=”1.3em” header_3_font_size=”1.25rem” header_3_line_height=”1.88rem” header_4_font=”|700|||||||” header_4_font_size=”1.25rem” header_4_line_height=”1.88rem” hover_enabled=”0″ text_font_size_tablet=”21px” text_font_size_phone=”16px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”36px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n While there is no universally recognized definition, a green home is one that is environmentally sustainable. This usually means that it is built using long-lasting, environmentally friendly, non-toxic materials and is designed to reduce indoor air pollution, leverage the sun, and employ low-energy heating and cooling solutions. To further define what an eco-friendly house is, we outline some of the most common design features of eco-friendly homes in Canada.<\/p>\n \u00a0–<\/span><\/p>\n First, eco-friendly homes tend to feature energy-efficient designs. This in part is recognizing that the orientation of a property, along with its features, can impact how much energy it consumes (namely how much artificial lighting is required). Homes that are highly energy efficient aim to use nature\u2019s energy as much as possible. For example, a green home may have south-facing windows to make use of passive solar heating or overhangs to increase shade and keep a home cool in the summer.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sustainable building materials are another key component of eco-friendly homes. This usually means using raw or recycled materials that both form and insulate the home. Natural, non-toxic materials are key, as are those that are biodegradable. For example, recycled steel, cob, reclaimed wood, cork, bamboo, recycled plastic, hempcrete (a mix of sand, hemp fibres, and lime), and AshCrete (an eco-friendly concrete alternative that is made from 97% recycled materials) are all considered sustainable building materials. Other natural materials used for insulation or other needs inside the home, like vegetable cellulose, soy-based paint, and corn-sourced carpeting are also considered to be viable, environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional materials. In general, the materials used to build an eco-friendly home are known to emit fewer greenhouse gases during composition and be more cost-effective.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Energy-saving, low-pressure water fixtures are another common design feature in green homes. Examples of such fixtures include \u201clow-flow\u201d toilets, shower heads, or sink faucets. These are becoming commonplace in all homes in Canada. They are believed to perform as effectively as outdated fixtures and have much lower operating costs \u2014 a win-win for all!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#edf7f3″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”#38505b” header_2_font_size=”2.63rem” header_2_line_height=”3.75rem” max_width=”800px” module_alignment=”center” header_2_font_size_tablet=”32px” header_2_font_size_phone=”27px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_line_height_tablet=”3.75rem” header_2_line_height_phone=”32px” header_2_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”21px” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_font_size=”36px” header_2_line_height=”1.3em” header_3_font_size=”1.25rem” header_3_line_height=”1.88rem” header_4_font=”|700|||||||” header_4_font_size=”1.25rem” header_4_line_height=”1.88rem” text_font_size_tablet=”21px” text_font_size_phone=”16px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”36px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n In Canada, traditional incandescent light bulbs are already being phased out in favour of energy-efficient alternatives. Such alternatives include halogen bulbs, compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs), and light-emitting diodes (LEDs), all of which not only outperform incandescents but use far less energy. For example, halogens are known to use 28% less energy when compared to incandescents and CFLs boast a reduced energy consumption of 75%. Meanwhile, LEDs are the most energy-efficient of all, lasting roughly 25 times longer than the standard incandescent bulb. For this reason, the light bulbs you find throughout eco-friendly homes, whether in lamps, ceilings, or uplights, are likely to be low-energy alternatives, like halogens, CFLs, and LEDs.<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
–<\/span>
<\/span>More specifically, some experts believe that an eco-friendly home should embody the following five principles:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n
Common Eco-Friendly House Features<\/h2>\n
Energy-Efficient Design<\/b><\/h3>\n
Sustainable Building Materials<\/b><\/h3>\n
Low-Pressure Water Fixtures<\/b><\/h3>\n“Sustainable building materials are another key component of eco-friendly homes. This usually means using raw or recycled materials that both form and insulate the home.”<\/span><\/h2>\n
Low-Energy Lighting<\/b><\/h3>\n