What would an eco-friendly dream home of the future look like? Here’s what we imagine! While it is great to dream, check back next week for great ideas of things that you can do in your home to make a difference.
Welcome home to the eco-friendly home of your dreams! Upon first glance, this home may not seem all that different from the rest of the neighbourhood but the green details promise to impress. This home will save you money on utilities, provide great resale opportunities as eco-friendly upgrades add value, and will leave you feeling good as you reduce your ecological footprint.
Energy Efficient and Off the Grid
Picture this in your mind, a stunning and well thought out home is built with efficiency in mind. Solar panels have been installed on the roof and combined with products that ensure efficiency, you can say goodbye to that hydro bill. Large ENERGY STAR windows provide bright sun-filled spaces while ensuring that energy loss is minimal, especially in the cold winter months - did you know that doors and windows can result in an energy loss of 35% in your home? Subtle details throughout the home, including high efficiency appliances and LED lighting make conservation easy while smart technology thermostats and lighting controls make everything easy to operate.
Stay Warm Using the Earth’s Natural Warmth
On cool winter evenings, stay warm with this home’s geothermal heating. Your family will love how quiet, dependable and safe this system is as well as the peace of mind in knowing that your heat comes from a completely renewable source that does not cause pollution. With the money you will save on your heating costs, consider the entertaining possibilities that this open concept living space provides. Reverse the system in the summer months and the system will keep your home cool and the humidity low.
Perfect Location
Conveniently located in a family friendly neighbourhood, this home is within walking distance to everything! Leave the pollution causing car at home and run errands on foot or by cycling through the areas extensive network of paths. If you must use a vehicle, this home has been outfitted with an outlet for your electric car to ensure quick charges.
Locally Sourced and Sustainable Building Materials
The large master suite and other well appointed bedrooms, along with the rest of the home, have been built with sustainability in mind so that you can go to sleep at night feeling good about all aspects of this home. By using locally sourced materials, the builder was able to limit the transportation pollution to get the materials to the site: keep your windows open to breathe in that fresh air! Reclaimed wood throughout the home provides warmth and style while other components were built with recycled materials; both have significantly decreased the impact on the local landfill.
Cooking Made Easy
The beautiful chef’s kitchen features stainless steel energy efficient appliances and plenty of storage in the modern cabinets built entirely from reclaimed barn board. If you love to cook, this home is for you! The backyard features large gardens perfect for growing your own vegetables and composters to take care of the waste.