Sustainable House Hunting Tips

Energy Usage

Energy efficiency is a crucial component of a sustainable home. There are countless opportunities to make a home more efficient. Elements to look for include heating and cooling, windows, insulation, solar power, appliances, and lighting. 

Heating and Cooling 

• Zoned heating and air-conditioning system: When certain parts of your home are not in use (like a basement reserved for guests), a zoned system will reduce the energy required to condition these spaces. 
• Smart meters: Meters can display real-time energy data for both homeowners and energy suppliers.  
• Energy monitors: Like smart meters, digital energy monitors inside a home can tell homeowners more about their day-to-day consumption habits. 
• Energy-efficient heating measures: There are multiple approaches to reducing the energy required to heat your homes, such as in-floor radiant heating or a geothermal heating system. If the energy usage (and associated costs) of a home you are considering are not readily available, you should get this information from the current homeowner.

Windows

• Window panes: Double or triple-paned windows will stop air from infiltrating your home's interior. Triple-pane windows are typically 50% better at insulating your home than single-pane and 25% better than double-pane. Many older homes only have single-pane windows, which will likely need to be replaced to improve the house's efficiency.
• Low "E" (low-emissivity) windows: This window coating reduces heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer to keep the home's internal temperature consistent.

Insulation

• Insulation types: There are many insulation types to look for, but the most environmentally-friendly ones are considered to be cellulose, cotton (denim), sheep's wool, aerogel, and some types of spray foam.
• Insulation measurements: Currently, homes are required to have between R-13 and R-19 for exterior walls. At a minimum, when shopping for older homes, make sure the home meets these requirements. Ideally, you will want a home that has an even higher R-value.
• Tight thermal envelope: The most critical factor for an energy-efficient home is the thermal envelope. Ensure that your home is adequately sealed with a particular focus on the attic, windows, and doors where heat can be lost the most.

Flooring

• Regenerative flooring: Look for low-impact flooring types such as bamboo or cork. These are renewable resources and are a more sustainable option than hardwood or vinyl. However, these options are often grown at a great distance from the North American market. So, carbon emissions related to product transport is a factor to be weighed.
• Low VOC flooring: Many carpets, synthetic, and engineered wood products, can emit high levels of VOCs as a result of glues and finishes used in the manufacturing process.

Paints

• Low VOC paints: See if your home advertises low or zero VOC paints and coatings.

Wood

• FSC wood: If the wood used in your home is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), you will know that the wood was responsibly sourced and extracted.
• Native wood species: See if your home's wood was derived from local, native species.

Inclusive Living 

Purchasing a home that includes aging populations and natural elements could be crucial to your long-term satisfaction.

Universal Design: ADA accessibility

If you hope to live in your new home throughout retirement, see if the house is ADA accessible. Examples of this may include ramps, barrier-free showers and grab bars, bathrooms large enough to turn a wheelchair around, and hands-free fixtures. This may be important to consider if you have visitors who may require ADA accessibility, such as aging parents.

Biophilic Design

Biophilic design refers to a design that incorporates natural elements, showing how we can learn from nature to inform design. Some homes may include aspects of biophilic design like living walls and water features, so keep your eyes peeled for homes with this unique characteristic.