Every year, millions of people decide to renovate their homes. Most renovations have the same goal — to make homes more functional, more secure, more comfortable and more enjoyable.
Over the past two decades, architects, engineers, designers and builders have made tremendous improvements in designing, building, and renovating homes. New homes today are far more energy-efficient and comfortable than in the past. All Renovation recognizes the importance of clean, fresh air indoors and of keeping chemicals and other pollutants to a minimum. We have learned how to build and renovate homes by using fewer natural resources and reducing the negative impact of housing on the environment.
All Renovation is dedicated in building and renovating with a GREEN perspective. Let us demonstrate how a house of any age can be turned into a healthy, comfortable and energy-efficient home today. We encourage you to consider an Energy Efficient Home Renovation. You can start by downloading our Energy Efficient Home Renovation brochure.
Make your project a Energy Efficient Home Renovation
(click the white arrow to plan each step):
PRE-RENOVATION INSPECTION
Goals: Determine the condition of the home and set priorities.
- Homeowner inspection
- Renovator inspection
- Building inspection by certified home inspector
- Energy assessment
- Environmental assessment
- Equipment inspection: heating, cooling, ventilation, hot water, etc.
- Electrical/fire inspection
KITCHEN / BATHROOM
Goals: Save water and energy. Improve air quality. Think recycling.
- Restricted-flow taps (aerator)
- Low-flow toilet, showerhead and faucets
- Low-maintenance, durable, non-slip flooring (tile, linoleum)
- Energy-efficient windows, doors and skylights
- Energy-efficient appliances
- Energy-efficient 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
- Area/whole-house ventilation
- Built-in recycling centre
- High-efficiency exhaust fans
LIVING, DINING AND BEDROOM AREAS
Goals: Save energy. Improve the air quality and reduce dust.
Be resource-efficient. Think low maintenance. Increase comfort.
- 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
- Low-emission furniture and drapery (hardwood frames, natural fabrics)
MECHANICAL ROOM / ATTIC
Goals: Save energy. Control air quality. Minimize water contaminants.
- 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 and Non-lead pipes
- Air filtration and humidification/dehumidification
- Whole-house ventilation system (heat recovery ventilator)
- Effective, balanced, sealed ductwork or distribution system
- Water purification system
- Central vacuum exhausted outdoors
- Upgraded insulation
- Air sealing and vapor barrier
- Weather stripping and insulating attic hatch
- Ventilation
BASEMENT
Goals: Control moisture and air quality. Eliminate mold. Save energy. Think comfort if basement is living space.
- Determine and deal with sources of mold (repair, replacement, etc.)
- Mold treatment with warm water and detergent
- Air and moisture sealing of walls
- Moisture and soil gas sealing of floors
- Upgraded insulation
- Ventilation
- Reduce concrete floor dust with water-based wax sealer
- Energy-efficient lighting
- Natural light with high-performance windows
- Low-emission finishing materials
- Low-emission cements, grouts and caulking
- Range hood vented to the outside
- Area/whole-house ventilation
- Built-in recycling centre
Planning a full gut renovation project?
CONSIDER A ENERGY RECOVERY VENTILATION SYSTEM
Energy recovery ventilation systems provide a controlled way of ventilating a home while minimizing energy loss. They reduce the costs of heating ventilated air in the winter by transferring heat from the warm inside air being exhausted to the fresh (but cold) supply air. In the summer, the inside air cools the warmer supply air to reduce ventilation cooling costs. For more information, visit the U.S. Dept. of Energy website. Also you can visit our gallery to view our Passive House project which used this system.
Download our Energy Efficient Home Renovation brochure.