LEED Canada for Homes- Media Talking Points for Providers

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1 Key messages LEED and LEED Canada for Homes LEED Canada for Homes is a national, third-party certification system that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes. Because they have better indoor air quality and are built using non-toxic materials, LEED homes are healthier and more comfortable for the people who live in them. LEED homes are more energy efficient and use much less water than a conventional home, saving the homeowner money on utility bills, while having a smaller environmental footprint. LEED certification is an assurance for potential homeowners that a home is third-party inspected, performance-tested and certified to perform better than a conventional home. Homebuilders seeking LEED-certification are able to differentiate their homes as representative of national green building leadership. Key messages LEED Canada for Homes Providers and their role Providers have building and design experience and expertise in their local market. They have been selected by the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) to provide support to builders in their region in the construction and certification of high performance LEED homes. Providers are integral to the certification process. They: o Promote green homebuilding in their region o Provide green home rating support services to builders o Train, coordinate and oversee green raters, who are responsible for the inspections and verification required under LEED Providers also: o Assist builders in registering projects with the LEED Canada for Homes certification program o Perform the preliminary review of a builder s LEED documentation for a project o Submit documentation to the CaGBC for certification o Complete the required onsite certification inspections and coordinate HERS/EnerGuide ratings for home energy performance. o Train, coordinate, and oversee green raters and builder support staff 1

2 Supporting messages Registration with the LEED Canada for Homes certification program provides access to many resources, from Reference Guides to online and instructor-led workshops and courses Overall, the net costs of owning a LEED-certified home is comparable to that of owning a conventional home. LEED homes save owners or tenants money compared to a conventional home and also provide a better place to live, by: o Using less energy between 30 and 60 percent less in some U.S. case studies o Using less water in U.S. case studies, as much as 50 percent less o Using non-toxic building materials and improving indoor air quality, which lowers exposure to mould and mildew and providing a healthier, more comfortable living space for the home s residents o Making owners eligible for additional home financing options with some lenders and financial institutions o Making owners eligible for certain federal, provincial or municipal grants and incentives o Potentially lowering home insurance premiums Related Facts & Figures Residential Energy Use and GHG emissions According to the Office of Energy Efficiency at Natural Resources Canada, Canadian single-family, detached homes used PJ of energy in 2006 ( Of that energy use: o 62% or PJ was used for space heating; o 16% or PJ was used for water heating; o 13% or PJ was used for appliances; o 5% or 52.7 PJ was used for lighting; and o 2% or 24.7 PJ was used for space cooling - In 2006, the residential sector accounted for mt of CO2e or 14.4% of Canada s overall GHG emissions - And 16% of overall energy use - In 2002, the average Canadian was the second highest consumer of energy out of the G-8 nations, consuming 55% more energy than the G-8 average. Only Americans consumed more energy. (Source: International Energy Agency, special tabulation, December 6,

3 Construction Waste and Disposal - Many provincial and regional governments have programs in place to reduce construction waste in landfills. - In October 2008 the Government of Alberta, the Alberta Construction Association and the Canadian Home Builders' Association-Alberta entered into a joint strategy to begin to recycle construction and demolition waste, with a goal of eventually eliminating it from landfills. The group says that if the Alberta construction industry can divert even 50 percent of construction and demolition material, the amount sent to landfills would drop by 130 kilograms for each Albertan every year. In Alberta, during construction, the average home generates four to seven tonnes of waste, and construction and demolition waste make up 23 percent of the waste stream. Metro Vancouver applies a 50% surcharge to tipping fees for loads delivered to its transfer stations and disposal facilities found to contain 5% or more by volume of one or more banned materials, including drywall. Making good design decisions, particularly in the framing of homes, can significantly reduce associated waste. Indoor Air Quality According to Health Canada, Canadians spend about 90 percent of their time indoors, so indoor air quality should be a concern to everyone. - Since moisture promotes mould growth, dampness is one of the most common causes of poor indoor air in homes. Health Canada says that controlling the level of moisture is one of the best and easiest ways to improve indoor air and protect your health. - There is increasing concern about the health effects of indoor mould growth because of a probable link to a wide range of symptoms and illnesses. North American and European studies show a relationship between mould and damp conditions, and an increase in the following symptoms: o Eye, nose and throat irritation; o Coughing and phlegm build-up; o Wheezing and shortness of breath; and o Allergic reactions According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the levels of pollutants indoors run two to five times higher and occasionally more than 100 times higher than outdoors 3

4 Water Efficiency - According to Environment Canada, in 2004, the average Canadian daily domestic use of fresh water per capita was 329 litres. - Although Canada has a significant amount of fresh water, we possess only 7% of the world's renewable freshwater supply. - Our growing population, and our growing thirst for water, are being concentrated in expanding metropolitan areas, and are forcing water regulators and policy makers to find ways to stretch available supplies even further. - Increasing pollution of surface and groundwater is further reducing the supplies of readily available, clean water. - Because our water use almost always leads to some degree of deterioration in water quality, the less water we withdraw, the less we upset the natural balance of our aquatic ecosystems. And, the less we upset the ecosystem, the less we have to spend to restore the water quality to an acceptable standard for public use. - Municipal use accounted for 9.5% of all water withdrawals in 2005, or 11% when similar rural uses were included (excludes industrial uses and large-scale agriculture). In the municipal sector, more than half of the water demand is a result of residential use. - More than 50% of the water applied to lawns and gardens is lost due to evaporation, or run-off because of overwatering. During the growing season water use can increase by as much as 50%. The most significant savings come from a reduction in lawn area and switching from exotic plant forms to native species which require less water. (The above points are taken from the Environment Canada website: - In USGBC case studies, the reduction in water consumption of LEED-certified homes has ranged from 20-50%. Other LEED Canada for Homes and Green Building Facts & Figures LEED Canada for Homes is the national benchmark for green homebuilding: there are well over 50 certified homes and over 350 registered homes as part of the LEED Canada for Homes program. 7 LEED Canada for Homes Providers from all over the country are administering the LEED Canada for Homes program at the local level. More Providers will be added in early 2010 to accommodate growing demand. 4

5 LEED Canada for Homes includes affordable housing, production homes, custom homes, singlefamily homes, duplexes, townhouses, and low-rise apartments. LEED Canada for Homes is also applicable to major home renovations exposing the exterior wall cavities/envelope. LEED Canada for Homes addresses the whole home through eight credit categories, including: o Innovation & Design o Location & Linkage o Sustainable Sites o Water Efficiency o Energy & Atmosphere o Materials & Resources o Indoor Environmental Quality o Awareness & Education According to the 2007 McGraw-Hill SmartMarket Report on Attitudes & Preferences for Remodeling and Buying Green Homes, the value of the true green home market was $2 billion in Given forecasts of the housing market and other trends, green homes are expected to be worth $60 billion by 2010, making up 10% of the overall housing market. - The 2006 Census revealed 12,435,520 private households in Canada. In 2008, there were 211,056 new housing starts (Statistics Canada) - The built environment represents a major source of opportunity as we strive for solutions to protect our environment and combat climate change. Buildings in Canada (both residential and commercial combined) account for about 30 percent of overall GHG emissions. Building green is a way to have an immediate and measurable impact on the health of the environment. 5