Change Homes For Climate Guide
Whether you're planning to build or renovate your home, this guide will help you meet a greener standard and join other Edmontonians in our quest to become a carbon neutral city!
Get To Know The Green Rating Systems
Rating systems play an important role in promoting green homes. Some, like EnerGuide and Passive House, focus on energy performance. Others such as R-2000, BuiltGreen and LEED consider a wider set of green criteria important to Edmontonians, such as indoor health and local materials. A green building certification provides assurance that the home’s green claims have been verified.
BuiltGreen
BuiltGreen is a popular green building rating system that applies to houses, row houses, and condominiums. It includes an energy efficiency requirement and optional categories from which the builder can select.
LEED
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a green building rating system that provides a rating (certified silver, gold, or platinum) of the building’s overall performance.
Passive House
Passive House is a rigorous certification system with the goal of producing homes that use almost no energy. Passive Houses must meet very stringent requirements regarding both their design and construction.
R-2000
R-2000 includes requirements related to energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and the use of environmentally responsible products and materials.
ENERGY STAR for New Homes
The ENERGY STAR for New Homes initiative promotes energy efficiency guidelines that enable new homes to be more energy-efficient than those built to minimum provincial building codes. Home builders must be licensed for ENERGY STAR for New Homes.
Did You Know?
According to a study by the UCLA Institute for the Environment and Sustainability, green certification can add an average of 9% to the resale value of buildings.
