Are Albertans benefiting from energy-efficient appliances and green building practices? The statistics say yes!
According to the 2021-2022 report from Energy Efficiency Alberta, there’s a $3 return for every dollar invested in energy-efficient products. The positive results also include energy savings, water savings, and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
The need for these types of advancements in homes and buildings is becoming more and more necessary. Alberta is growing at a rapid rate (2.3 million people more by 2046, according to projections from the Government of Alberta). This means many more homes, condos, and buildings will be needed over the next 25 years. We have the opportunity to create more sustainable buildings that will help future Albertans live healthy, productive lives.
Green Building Technology in Alberta
Building technology has come a long way in the last 100 years. Edmonton and Calgary started out with simple homes with just a few windows and doors and wood-burning stoves. Today, many homes in Edmonton and Calgary include smart home systems that allow residents to change conditions with the touch of a button.
While new technology is still aimed at making life more convenient for people, another major motivator that’s developed in the past several decades is “green” technology. Scientific advancements have allowed us to begin seeing and predicting the impact of human development on our environment. In order to preserve the natural resources we rely on, we have to rethink how we’re building our homes and businesses.
Eco-Friendly Building Practices in Alberta
Builders in Edmonton and across the world are becoming more committed to green building. This includes using new technology and new building practices. Green building starts with planning, architecture, and design and runs all the way through to renovations and appliance replacements.
Some of the best examples of modern green building practices and technology that builders in Alberta are using are:
- Solar panels and “cool roofing”
- Energy-efficient windows and doors
- Geothermal heating, which draws natural heat from the ground
- Water and energy-conserving appliances, such as tankless water heaters (also called on-demand water heaters)
- Water-efficient fixtures (including taps, showerheads, and toilets)
- Replacing traditional bulbs with LED lighting
One of the most significant contributors to a home or building’s energy efficiency is the building envelope. The building envelope includes all the aspects of a building that separate the indoor environment from the outdoor environment, such as walls, windows and doors, ceilings and roofs, and foundations.
When the building envelope is fully sealed and insulated, there’s less thermal transfer, which means less energy required for heating or cooling. If you feel like your building envelope isn’t sealed, you can have an inspector or contractor use thermal imaging to see where thermal transfer is occurring. Old windows and doors are two of the main culprits, so get in touch with window and door specialists for a consultation and to calculate your long-term energy savings.
The Benefits of Green Building Practices
Green building practices have an impact on our immediate environment, but also on the planet as a whole. When we start to think about the larger consequences of how we build, it becomes even more important to start making changes at the community and individual levels.
Cleaner Cities & Communities
A clean city is a smog-free city. There are so many ways we can help reduce pollutants that impact air quality. From using renewable energy and sourcing products made with recycled materials to finding Energy Star rated windows and doors and other building materials, builders can help keep pollution down in the decades to come.
Fresher Air & Lessened Climate Issues Worldwide
It’s not just our cities that benefit when we use clean energy and efficient building materials and practices. The entire world is impacted by our use of energy. Canada is a leader in green technology. We’re not just using it, but developing it. That means we’re making a positive impact on the world at large!
Better Food Production
When we impact the environment, we impact how our food is grown and raised on farms. In Alberta, there are thousands of farms that grow nutritious food for families. Building sustainably minimizes negative impacts on the soil, water, and air needed for animals and plants to be healthy.
Improved Long-Term Health
Better food, air, and water quality means better health for humans. The impact of the condition of the environment on our lifespans is becoming a major concern across the world. According to the World Health Organization, “one third of deaths from stroke, lung cancer and heart disease are due to air pollution.”
Savings for Homeowners or Commercial Building Owners
Green building practices are worth it for everyone, and not just the community and the world! Individuals benefit from building and renovating with sustainability in mind. In addition to energy savings that translate to monthly bill reductions, sustainable materials are designed to last longer, which means less repair and replacement costs. This also keeps old building materials out of landfills, so it’s a win-win!
Incentives for Alberta Businesses & Homeowners
In case the savings aren’t enough incentive to start strategic green initiatives like Energy Star window replacements, Alberta has several incentives for businesses and homeowners. Get in touch with us to learn more about how you can start saving money and building sustainability into your life or business.
Putting the “Green” in NORTH WINDOWS TECHNOLOGIES by Canglow
NORTH Windows Teschnologies by Canglow is committed to creating brighter, greener lives for Albertans. We supply, install, and repair windows and doors in Edmonton and Calgary. If you want to learn more about the types of windows that could help you create a more energy-efficient home, get in touch with our professionals!
