Green Homes Showcase Opens the Doors of Ottawa’s Most Sustainable Homes
September 17, 2014
On September 27, anyone interested in green building renovations or sustainable design are invited to tour some of our community’s most inspiring and sustainable homes as part of the Green Homes Showcase.
The tour will showcase several homes across the city where green renovations have led to improved comfort and substantial energy savings and efficiency, while also adding value and durability to the homes.
To get from home to home, and keeping in line with sustainable transportation, there will be various options for getting around:
• guided bike tour – from 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., around 6 homes in the Westboro neighbourhood
• self-guided walking tour – from 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., includes 6 homes in the Westboro neighbourhood
• guided carpooling tour – from 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m, around 5 homes in the Ottawa area
• self-guided car tour – from 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m, includes 5 homes in the Ottawa area
Via the tour, participants will meet and get to talk to prominent local green renovators, contractors and suppliers, homeowners and other green sector professionals who will display and discuss their sustainable work and wares, and be on hand to provide technical expertise and answer participants’ questions about their own projects. A certified EnviroCentre energy advisor will also be on hand to offer comparisons between homes visited, and provide expert advice on green renovation options.
Some of the home highlights include solar heated pools and domestic hot water, microFIT installations, geothermal, sustainable flooring and cabinets, solar blinds and screens, passive solar design, fibreglass windows, LED lighting, and much more.
The Green Home Reno Tour is for people who are:
•planning renovations;
• considering buying a house;
• looking for ways to increase the resale value of their home;
• curious about the benefits of green, energy-saving upgrades; and
• contractors involved in, or considering, sustainable renovation practices
“This is a rare opportunity to gain access to some of Ottawa’s greenest homes and to hear directly from homeowners about their experiences selecting and then living with new and sustainable
products”, said Michael Murr, Executive Director of EnviroCentre. “Whether you are buying or selling a home, planning a renovation or simply looking for ideas, everyone will be able to walk away with ideas they can do in their own home”.
The event is part of the Building Greener Futures Together initiative, and is the result of a collaboration with the Social Planning Council of Ottawa – with sustainable transportation help from other community partners, RightBike and VRTUCAR.