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Green Reno Checklist
Renovating your home offers many opportunities to improve how it works and provide you with increased comfort and reduced monthly operating costs.
Pre-Renovation Inspection
- Renovator inspection
- Energy audit
- Equipment inspection: heating, cooling, ventilation, hot water, etc.
Kitchen
- Restricted-flow taps (aerator)
- Energy-efficient windows, doors and skylights
- Energy-efficient appliances
- Energy-efficient lighting
- Task lighting
- Low-maintenance, durable flooring (tile, linoleum, hardwood, ceramic)
- Low-emission cabinets (hardwood, sealed particle board)
- Low-emission countertop (solid surface, laminates)
- Low- or no-VOC paints
- Low-emission cements, grouts and caulking
- Range hood vented to the outside
- Built-in recycling centre
Bathroom
- Low-flow toilet, showerhead and faucets
- Low-maintenance, durable, non-slip flooring (tile, linoleum)
- Low-emission cabinets (hardwood, sealed particle board)
- Low-emission countertop (solid surface, laminates)
- Waterproof wall finish
- Low- or no-VOC paints
- Low-emission cements, grouts and caulking
- Energy-efficient windows and skylights
- Energy-efficient lighting
Living, Dining and Bedroom Areas
- Energy-efficient windows and exterior doors
- Programmable thermostats
- Energy-efficient lighting
- Area lighting
- Automatic timers and dimmer switches
- Low-emission, easy-maintenance flooring (hardwood, cork, marble, ceramic)
- Carpeting and area rugs from natural or recycled material
- Low-emission trim and mouldings
- Low-emission solid wood doors
- Low- or no-VOC paints and varnishes
- Low-emission cements, grouts and caulking
Basement
- Determine and deal with sources of mold (repair, replacement, etc.)
- Air and moisture sealing of walls
- Moisture and soil gas sealing of floors
- Upgraded insulation
- Ventilation
- Energy-efficient lighting
- Low-emission finishing materials
Mechanical Room or Area
- Energy-efficient, sealed-combustion and correctly sized heating equipment
- Energy-efficient hot water tank
- Energy-efficient furnace fan motor
- Separate, direct air supply for equipment
- Insulated hot water pipes
- Air filtration and humidification/dehumidification
- Whole-house ventilation system (HRV)
- Effective, balanced, sealed ductwork or distribution system
- Water purification system
- Central vacuum exhausted outdoors
Attic
- Upgraded insulation
- Air sealing
- Weather-stripping and insulating attic hatch
- Ventilation to the exterior
The Structure
- Insulation
- Air sealing (windows, doors, electrical outlets)
- Vapour barrier (where applicable)
- Framing, sheathing, underlay: low-emission, resource-efficient
- Drywall with recycled content
The Exterior
- Low-maintenance, durable exterior finishes
- Low-maintenance trim, soffits and fascia
- Air and moisture protection, flashing
- Long-lasting roofing
- Eavestroughing
- Drainage away from the foundation
- Properly located air intakes and exhausts for systems and appliances
- Effective lighting for safety, with motion-activated switches
- Roof overhang for shading
- Ice dam prevention
Landscaping
- Drought-resistant native plants (xeriscaping)
- Reduced lawn area (less water and fertilizer)
- Cistern or rain collection system
- Composter for organic wastes
- Organic garden
- Trees for windbreak and shade