CaGBC launches LEED™ Canada Homes
New green home rating system provides health and cost benefits
The LEED™ Canada for Homes Archetype Sustainable House at the Kortright Centre near Toronto.
The Canada Green Building Council [CaGBC] launched the new LEED™ Canada for Homes rating system on March 3 with tours of two new LEED-candidate homes in Montreal, Toronto, and Winnipeg.
Among other features, LEED-certified homes use energy and water more efficiently, are built with sustainable and more durable materials, provide increased comfort, and improved health for occupants. For a new home to gain LEED certification, it must achieve performance measures in eight categories: Innovation & Design Process [ID]; Location & Linkages [LL]; Sustainable Sites [SS]; Water Efficiency [WE]; Energy & Atmosphere [EA]; Materials & Resources [MR]; Indoor Environmental Quality [EQ]; and Awareness and Education [AE].
“The owners of LEED-certified homes will enjoy many comfort and health benefits, but they’ll also save money, with a home that’s up to 70% more energy efficient. Plus the resale value will remain high as more home buyers look for the durability and high performance that a LEED home provides,” said Thomas Mueller, president and CEO of the CaGBC.
In Toronto, BILD [Building Industry and Land Development Association] gave a tour of its Archetype Sustainable House at the Kortright Centre’s Living City Campus. LEED Canada for Homes Provider Emmanuel Cosgrove of Ecohabitation was a co-host in Montreal, guiding event attendees through the Abondance Triplex.
[l to r] Jean-Pierre Finet, Exe. Dir. Quebec chapter CaGBC; Emmanuel Cosgrove, Ecohabitation; Christopher Sweetham-Holmes, EcoCité Developments; Mark Hutchinson, CaGBC, LEED Delivery Manager.
Manitoba’s launch of LEED® Canada for Homes takes place in 127-year-old church
A former Winnipeg church parish hall was the scene of the Manitoba launch of LEED® Canada for Homes on March 3. Builder Cam Dobie of Dobie Properties Ltd. purchased the property to convert into seven condo units according to the new LEED® for Homes green building rating system. “We know this is the future of building and we want to be ahead of the curve,” said Dobie while touring reporters through the gutted church hall.
“Five years ago the average homeowner didn’t know what LEED® meant. Now they’re asking for it and the new rating system provides the answer,” said Rodney McDonald, the Chair of the Manitoba Chapter, Canada Green Building Council.
LEED Canada for Homes applies to new single-family homes or low-rise multi-family projects of no more than three storeys. The LEED Canada for Homes certification is being delivered to the market through seven Providers. For more information about the certification program and related education sessions, visit cagbc.org and click on the LEED Canada for Homes link.
Info: rhalliger@cagbc.org
