Towards a Greener Home: Eco-Friendly Home Renovations Ideas and Innovative Materials

With the housing crisis in Quebec and exploding house prices, for some, it's more logical to renovate their home rather than move. Indeed, with new housing starts dropping by 32% in 2023 and the average property price at $511,023 in March 2024, renovation is becoming a more realistic option for improving one's home.

At the same time, respect for the environment is becoming increasingly important for many Quebecers. So, how can you incorporate eco-friendly practices into your renovations? And what renovations are considered eco-friendly?

Adopting sustainable solutions not only reduces your carbon footprint but can also save you money in the long run. Let's look at this together!

Why Eco-Friendly Renovations?

Good question! The planet is going through a difficult time due to environmental problems. To avoid serious consequences, experts say we must limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2030.

Using more eco-friendly methods and materials during our renovations reduces our individual footprint. Notably by reducing non-renewable energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Are There Subsidies for Eco-Friendly Renovations in Quebec?

Even though the Canadian Greener Homes Grant is no longer accepting new applicants, Quebecers can still take advantage of provincial aids, such as the Rénoclimat program and Hydro-Québec programs, including LogisVert, to finance their energy-efficient renovation projects.

As highlighted by Protégez-Vous magazine, the aid can cover up to 60% of the total bill.

Eco-Friendly Renovations and Tips for Small and Large Budgets

Limited Budget

Recycling and reusing materials: Reducing consumption of new materials is an important component when talking about eco-responsible practices. For this, use reclaimed or recycled materials for your renovations. You'll always find beautiful furniture waiting to be loved on Facebook Marketplace. For the more handy, you can also refurbish your old furniture. New handles, good sanding, or a coat of paint can work wonders!
Choice of eco-friendly paints: Many Déco Surfaces retailers offer more eco-friendly paints. Plus, they are more durable than conventional products. Why are they called eco-friendly? They generate very little emissions during production, are VOC-free (volatile organic compounds), and are biodegradable. These paints are generally made from silicate minerals, clay, lime, or natural resin. Ask a store advisor for more information!
Use energy-efficient appliances: Replace your old appliances with ENERGY STAR® certified models for better energy efficiency.
Buy local: Buying local is always a good eco-responsible choice. Quebec is teeming with artisans of all kinds who can design exceptional decor. Fabric chair covers to hide outdated ones, original handmade children's beds, coffee tables made from recycled wooden pallets... the list of possibilities is endless.

Moderate Budget

Better insulation: A green house has little to no heat or air conditioning leaks. Hydro-Québec mentions: "air and ventilation leaks can represent up to 25% of a house's heat loss." Improving insulation is therefore a good way to reduce energy losses. Use renewable insulating materials such as hemp, wood fiber, straw, or cellulose. Windows and doors with good thermal insulation can also reduce heat loss. Psst! It's possible to do an infiltrometry test in your residence to determine air infiltrations.
Install low-water plumbing: The bathroom is a place where liters of water are wasted each year. By opting for responsible plumbing, we greatly reduce the family's ecological footprint. You should choose a toilet that has a tank of less than 4.9 liters, a faucet that doesn't let more than 5.6 liters of water flow per minute, and a showerhead of 7.5 liters per minute or less.
Rainwater recovery systems: Many citizens have a rain collector that's used to water plants or wash the car. It's a sensible gesture! But did you know that it's possible to do more? If you need to buy a new toilet, have a system installed connected to a tank that stores rainwater. Thus, the liters used for each flush will come from an eco-responsible source.
Installation of a heat pump: Did you know that you can save up to 40% on your electricity bill during the heating period with a heat pump? You'll find two models on the market, the wall-mounted one which varies from $2,500 to $5,000 and the central one which starts around $5,000.

Large Budget

Geothermal heating and cooling: If you're still heating with oil, it would be worth asking for a subsidy and switching to a geothermal system that uses ground energy to heat and cool the house. You can reduce your heating or cooling costs by 60% per year compared to a conventional electric heating system. It must be said that installing a geothermal system in Quebec is not cheap! It costs between $25,000 and $45,000.
Install heated flooring: With heated floors in all rooms, you'll make interesting savings on your heating bill while enjoying great comfort. Several types of flooring can easily accommodate the heating system. As a bonus, heated flooring adds value to your property.

5 Eco-Friendly Building Materials of the Future

Panels made from rice cultivation waste: Did you know that rice cultivation is very polluting? Its water demand is so great that farmers have to divert rivers to feed it. This type of cultivation produces a lot of waste, called rice residues. They are burned, which contributes to the greenhouse effect. Fortunately, researchers have invented MDF panels made with this waste. They can be used for house construction like any wood MDF panel. Plus, they are free of formaldehyde glue. A big plus for the environment!
Smart concrete: Concrete is everywhere in the construction world. However, it's not eco-friendly at all. Researchers have managed to design a type of concrete called smart. It is equipped with electronic sensors that provide real-time information on its density and condition. Even after pouring, this smart concrete continues to give details about itself. Result: we can know the date of its pouring and its performance level. This innovation allows workers to be faster on construction sites, but above all, to not destroy concrete that is still in good condition and to avoid concrete waste by minimizing errors.
Biodegradable ceramics: The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Institute for Applied Research has succeeded in designing ceramic tiles from non-polluting organic elements such as linseed oil, natural fibers, and microalgae. They are more resistant to shocks and temperature changes than regular ceramics. Plus, they are 100% biodegradable. For now, this product is not commercialized, but it shouldn't be long!
Bricks made from recycled paper and cardboard: Paper is surely the most recycled material in the world, and you can do a lot of things with it! A Quebec company has found how to make bricks with paper waste. Each block is made of 100% recycled paper. These paper bricks are also super solid! Plus, they are fire-resistant and offer excellent thermal and acoustic insulation.
Cork insulation: Cork insulation panels are still little known, but their green aspect attracts many. The cork oak is, like all woods, renewable. Its bark can be transformed into granules which, once expanded, become a perfect material for insulating buildings, both thermally and phonically. Cork insulation panels even resist fire.

Other Considerations to Keep in Mind

It's not just renovations that make your home greener. There are also daily actions to reduce your carbon footprint, for example:

Use less single-use packaging and more reusable packaging. For example, beeswax food wrap
Make compost. Learn more if your municipality is eligible here.
Use LED bulbs.
Use Hydro-Québec's dynamic pricing.

As we can see, we have plenty of options to make our homes greener, whether through eco-friendly renovations or daily actions. The real question to ask is: what efforts are we willing to make for a more sustainable future?

After all, every action counts towards building a greener future.