“During the recent United Nations COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Canada and more than 80 other countries signed a Global Methane Pledge to cut emissions of methane — a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide — by at least 30 per cent below 2020 levels by 2030.” (cbc.ca)
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Canada is considered a green country overall. 79% of Canada’s electricity already comes from eco-friendly, non-greenhouse gas emitting sources.
Starting in 2021, Quebec and Vancouver banned fossil fuel heating in new properties. This ban is expected to grow to other provinces soon. The ban is part of the global goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Fossil fuels must be replaced by electric heating in new development and will extend to replacements of heating units soon.
Now we know how Canada is committed as a country, let’s look at some ways investors and developers can make properties more eco-friendly without breaking the bank.
Install Smart Heating Meters
These little gadgets allow you to program the heating and cooling to come on at certain times of the day. By using one of these, you can program a lower temperature for the night. The ideal temperature for sleeping is 65 degrees, which is cold for waking up! The meter will lower the temperature while you’re asleep and warm up before you wake up.
“On average a household with a smart meter saves two percent on their energy bills a year, or 354kWh.” (Medium.com)
Energy-efficient light bulbs
Energy-efficient light bulbs are eco-friendly because they use less electricity to turn on. “The increased efficiency ranges between 25% and 80% in comparison to incandescent lights.” (https://www.thegreenage.co.uk)
In the past few years, these light bulbs have improved dramatically and now are as bright as the older-style light bulbs. Fun fact: you can now connect smart light bulbs to your smart devices and save further energy.
Underfloor heating
Underfloor heating is more of an investment than simple light bulbs and smart meters, but if a bathroom refit or kitchen upgrade is in your future, underfloor heating can be a fabulous investment. In order to heat a bathroom, you usually need to heat up the entire home, but underfloor heating is cheaper to run, programmable, and often solves the cause of your issues: cold feet.
Check your insulation methods
Basic insulation is not something we usually consider once construction is complete, but it can break down or sink over time. If your home was constructed more than 15 years ago and is colder than average, you might want to consider hiring someone to check your insulation. Again, this is not a cheap fix, but in the long run, it could save money.
Homes are insulated in other ways as well, such as windows. Double glazing is an excellent way to stop the home from losing heat. If a window replacement is not in your current budget, consider changing out your curtains for the winter. Believe it or not, a heavier curtain can help your household on to heat just a little longer at night.
At Regalway Homes, we follow trends and news in order to keep our investing clients up to date. This is a full-time job, but we make it easier for you. By following the trends and news, we can provide the very best advice for purchasing your next property.