Columnists

Concerned about the rising cost of energy? Worried about the climate change and other environmental impacts of using that energy to heat, cool and power your home or your business? Curious about what technologies are our best options for more efficient, less expensive, lower-carbon-footprint energy?

Pollution Probe, an independent Canadian environmental organization, today released a comprehensive primer on Canada’s energy sources and offers detailed explanations of better technologies for our homes and beyond. The primer offers a very thorough look at where our energy currently comes from, showcases plenty of helpful energy options in an easy to understand manner and provides case studies as well.

To read the document, click here to download it from the Pollution Probe site.

Quick, how could you save about 30 per cent on your home heating costs? If you have an uninsulated basement, head down the stairs and have a look at your energy-saving potential.

The thinking used to be that basements don’t need insulating because, well, they’re underground, nestled inside the insulating walls of earth around the foundation walls. But those walls rise above grade, and heat rises. The rim joist, or header area at the top of the foundation walls, up to the main-level flooring, is a major heat-loss zone, so your furnace (and your wallet) has to work harder when you have gaps in your insulation – or no insulation at all – on your basement walls and up into the wall perimeter.

Since 2008, the Ontario Building Code has required that new houses be built with insulated basements. Those of us with older homes can cut our energy (and thus carbon) use by retrofitting insulation on our basement walls and on the rim joists where the foundation walls meet the base of main floor walls.

And that’s what I’m up to right now, in my free time. My home was built in the 1940s. Although the basement was finished decades ago, I peeled back (OK, a team of friends and I sawed, pried and otherwise arduously removed) the trim and wood panelling and voila, bare concrete walls. Nice walls, mind you — dry, mould-free walls — but totally uninsulated walls.

If I were building new, I would insulate my basement as part of the construction using a system such as insulated concrete forms (ICFs, explained here). ICFs have an R-value (a measure of how insulating they are) of R-18 to R-30 and make up the structure of your foundation, in place of traditional concrete block.

If you have uninsulated basement walls, you can retrofit a basement by building stud walls along the foundation walls, then filling them with insulation and adding a finished wall surface. These days, spray-in closed-cell polyurethane foam is the best choice for this, since it provides a seamless, high-R-value wall that serves as its own vapour barrier. It’s important to deal with any moisture issues, particularly foundation leaks, from the outside before trying to insulate your interior walls. Otherwise you may create a mouldy situation.

I’ll be using closed-cell spray foam to insulate my rim joists. Here’s a great video showing the technique.

Because my home is fairly small, I’m keen to maintain as much room down in my basement as possible. So when looking for a wall insulation option, I was glad to find InSoFast, an R-10 wall cladding option that serves as vapour barrier (when you seal the tops and sides with spray foam) and allows you to attach drywall directly to it. InSoFast panels have a polyethylene strip for mounting drywall, and comes with wiring channels built right in.

Through all of this, I’m aware that, while my basement is leak free and feels dry, to keep it from getting moist and musty I not only need insulation, I need air circulation. With air flow, I’ll avoid condensation (when hot, moist air hits cold surfaces, water forms) and keep my basement nice and dry.

Basements are complicated places to retrofit, but given the energy savings and the lure of expanded living space, it’s worth it!

If there’s condensation on your windows, it’s not just, umm, a pane in the glass. That sweaty window could indicate either that you need more efficient windows or that you need an energy smart home ventilation system to get a better handle on your household humidity.

Over the past two years my partner and I have done several things to improve the energy efficiency of our home to try to save on our heating costs and reduce our carbon footprint. Up in our attic (see more here), we sealed up the tops of the walls with insulation, and enclosed the electrical boxes in insulated, sealed boxes and then had cellulose insulation blown in to top up the insulation that was there to R-50. We had insulation blown into our exterior walls. Take that, heat loss! We had our back door and frame removed, and had the mortar for the entire door opening redone to allow a tight fit with a new door frame and insulated door. Take that, air leaks! And now we’re preparing to tackle what may be the largest source of heat loss in our home: our basement walls. We’ll soon insulate the interior of our basement walls, using rigid foam panels (I ordered this type that allows you to skip building a stud wall) and polyurethane spray foam to curtail a major heat-loss culprit: the header where our home’s exterior walls meet the top of our basement foundation walls.

Already in our energy efficiency journey we’re noticing that the windows in our 1940s home, while relatively new, end up with condensation on them if we are doing a lot of cooking, washing or even entertaining — a lot of people chatting, laughing and breathing can add a fair bit of moisture to the air! The problem isn’t really the windows, although you’ll see less condensation on windows that are more efficient, since they’ll be colder compared to the interior air temperature. It’s that we’ve sealed up many of those air leaks that used to let hot, moist air escape. For more information about this, consult the Office of Energy Efficiency here.

Condensation is a minor problem for us, but we are considering a ventilation system, particularly a heat-recovery ventilator (HRV), which exchanges some of the heat in the outgoing, stale air into incoming, fresh air to keep energy costs at bay. Not only will it keep our windows from sweating, it should improve our indoor air quality.

Ooh, I have a new poll tool! Let’s try it.

I you have tightened up your home recently? Did you notice any changes – to your utility bills or the way your home feels?

In a word, yes, I am a very good at killing things. I am eerily good at swatting, smacking, squishing and generally flattening all kinds of bugs. I have excellent peripheral vision, and I can be entirely absorbed in something – making dinner, reading, brushing my hair – and before I’ve had a conscious thought about the movement in the corner of my eye, I’ve reached out and killed something. While perhaps squeamish to look at an insect across the room, I flatten them with my bare hands without hesitation.

Don’t get me wrong, my home is not infested with bugs. But every older home has a few insects trying to make a living, and while the odd spider or fly isn’t going to interfere with my health, I figure that when bugs cross my threshold, they’ve crossed the line. My partner is much nicer to insects – when he discovers an errant moth or spider, he traps it and puts it outside where it belongs. Perhaps I should learn from him.

Being an environmentalist and all, should I feel guilty about my killer instinct? Should I accept that the biosphere doesn’t end at my bricks and mortar? Maybe, but so far I can’t just live and let live, smile as a mosquito circles my bedroom, humming its high-pitch warning. Besides, the kinds of insects I’m likely to find at home aren’t exactly threatened species, although my Dad, a biologist, assures me that every insect has an important role in the food chain, so each one is important. Yes, even mosquitoes.

In my defense, there are a few types of insects that we should not welcome into our homes, because they carry disease or cause damage to our stuff or our home’s structure.
- Carpenter ants burrow and nest in household wood; their expanding colony could take out important support structures. Sealing up cracks and gaps in your home’s exterior from the outside and replacing any rotting wood can help keep carpenter ants out, and some bait products can help you eliminate the ants.
- Mice can do a lot of damage to insulation, can compromise wiring and can threaten human health if they carry hantavirus, a type of lung disease. Again, seal up your home’s exterior and bait and trap the mice. Remove any possible food source.
- Cockroaches are difficult to eradicate, but they’re disease carriers so it’s important to take action. Call in the pros for this problem!
- Bedbugs are a growing threat in Canada. They don’t seem to carry diseases, but victims say they make you crazy! Again, aside from washing bedding in hot water, vacuuming your mattress and eliminating clutter, the best you can do is call in the pros as soon as you notice a problem.

Have you been affected by any invaders? What do you think, is my eco conscience clear if I kill the odd household spider?

I’m fighting a territory war in my own backyard. No,it’s not the coons this time (although that battle ain’t over), it’s the cats. My neighbourhood is full of languorous wanderers in tabby and calico, sunning themselves on fence tops (such balance!) and, unfortunately, quietly marking their territory beyond their own yard. They seem very aware of property lines, and my undefended border (I love cats, but can’t have one due to allergies) is often crossed. And that’s where that smell was coming from.

The cats were trying to out-mark each other, each attempting to declare my platform deck their kingdom. When I saw one looking suspicious I’d yell at them: “Urine trouble now!” and chase them away. When I saw a cat just hanging out in my yard, however, I would sometimes try to befriend them, perhaps making them decide that my home was their extended home. But the reality is I’m not home enough for either of these tactics to be effective.

Last weekend, in an effort to stake out my territory, I stained my deck. (That sounds too simple. More like scrubbed, washed, scrubbed, taped off, vacuumed, stained my deck in the beating hot sun.) I used a low-VOC (volatile organic chemical) semi-transparent stain, a good choice for protecting existing wood, and the safer formulation is better for me and the wildlife visiting my yard.

But all that prepping and staining was my act of defending my territory. The cat smell is gone, the air is fresh and clear, and I’ve protected the wood from decay from the sun… and from the cats.

Next challenge: Does anyone have any tips for protecting gardens from cats?

Spring has come rather early this year – at least in Southern Ontario — and I’m hearing that I’m not the only one who suddenly feels behind on my garden and yard work. I have a bunch of things to do, and as I work I want to create a space that can withstand the elements so it lasts longer – and so it’s easy for me to host an impromptu backyard barbecue party.

Here’s what’s on my yard work list:
- Reconnect my rain barrel (done!)
- Set up a bird bath (done!)
- Scrub my outdoor furniture with scent-free, dye-free, plant-based soap
- Scrub my wood decking. If I can’t remove the algae from between the boards, I’ll consider renting a power washer with a low power setting, so I can better reach the nooks and crannies. Using a power washer on a high setting will just damage the boards and make them more porous, inviting more algae growth, but a low setting should be OK.
- Stain my deck to protect it from rotting, so it will last longer. I’ll use a low-VOC semi-transparent deck stain, the best type for protecting existing wood decks without risk of the finish peeling later.
- Consider staining my wood outdoor furniture, maybe in a different colour than my deck
- Clean out my eaves troughs to prevent water from backing up and damaging my roof. I did this in late fall, but they’re probably full of leaves and pine needles again!

Here’s what’s on my garden list:
- Cut back dead stems and prune trees as needed (done!)
- Plant native wildflowers (started! I added purple coneflower and blue vervain yesterday)
- Think through my garden design. I have a number of mature plants coming up, but I’d like to find an area for vegetable gardening.
- Spread compost and a layer of mulch over my garden, weeding as I go. Not only will this feed my garden and reduce my need to water by preventing evaporation, my garden design looks tidier with a fresh layer of mulch!
- Try planting thyme in the bare spots of my tiny lawn (done! I’ve planted a test plot to see whether the thyme could grow into a ground cover)

That’s all I have on my garden and yard work list for now, but that’s enough! What’s on your list this spring?

So, you say you want a renovation? Well, we all want to live in comfy, efficient spaces so we pay minimal energy costs. And, I’d like to think, we all support reducing our home’s carbon footprint in the process to try to lessen the effects of climate change.

But a major booster to this Canadian pastime, the federal EcoEnergy Retrofit program, has been cancelled. The program offered thousands of dollars in rebates for improving your home’s efficiency. If you’ve started the process by getting an initial audit, you can still complete the program. Otherwise, you’re out of luck. Just like that. Here’s all the government has to say about it. When I tried to submit a feedback form asking them to reconsider, the form spat out an error. I guess I’ll have to write a letter. (Yes, I’m that ticked!)

It’s funny, I was thinking that a post-recession recovery period would be ideal for a program that helps create healthy small businesses and green jobs through demand for contractor services, manufacturing of efficient home-heating systems such as geothermal systems, solar hot-water systems, Energy Star windows and other renovation staples. These are all items that generally cost more up front, but offer much lower operating costs. I was thinking that encouraging Canadians to reduce our dependency on cheap energy would do a great job of preparing us for the higher costs ahead, especially those in lower income groups.

The feds must know something I don’t. (If anyone understands what that is, please fill me in.) But here’s something I do know: Canadians take enormous pride in our homes, and we spend a lot of energy — and money — improving them. So taking away a rebate program as helpful as the EcoEnergy Retrofit audit is like poking us in the eye. And we might remember that when the next election rolls around.

Luckily the provincial programs are still in place. For now. For details on those, click here.

Have you had your audit, or were you planning to?

We’re in a sea of innovation. As energy costs go up and cities struggle to reduce costs, many cities are passing bylaws requiring energy-saving improvements. For example, the City of Toronto now requires that new industrial, commercial and institutional buildings have a green roof. (Click here for more information.) Green roofs absorb heat, insulate, collect rain water and, of course, make rooftops look nicer.

With all the eco innovation going into structures these days, I wasn’t so much surprised as delighted to discover this “breathing building”, a Geox shoe store no less. Opened about a month ago in the historic centre of Milan, the Geox store communicates the key selling point of the brand’s footwear — breathability. The store’s three floors are clad in 734 individually controllable stainless-steel plates in gold, bronze and copper hues that open to allow more ventilation while still providing shade, or shut up tight to preserve heat. Geox says that the new design offers them a 75% reduction in C02 emissions, and given it a top energy rating, presumably versus an earlier structure. For more pictures of the Geox breathing building, click here.

For ideas on making your home healthier and more efficient, read my Homemakers article here.

It’s the final countdown to knock off home renovations that qualify for the Home Renovation Tax Credit. Sunday’s the last day, folks, so get out there and purchase that insulation, caulking, tankless hot-water heater and other great stuff that will make your home more energy efficient. You don’t have to actually install these things before Sunday, but if you’re paying someone else to do the labour, fees for any work done after Sunday don’t count.

The HRTC is a tax credit against your income of 15 per cent of what I’ll call permanent upgrades to your home and surrounding property, as well as the labour fees paid to do the work. You can only claim expenses after your first $1000 spent, and that’s only for receipts dated January 27, 2009 to January 31, 2010. The maximum refund is $1,350. For all the details, see the government website.

So far I think my partner and I are up to about a $500 tax credit, thanks to masonry work, adding insulation to our attic, a lot of plumbing and electrical supplies and many other bits and pieces. 15 per cent isn’t an incredible amount of money, but we’re doing the work, so we might as well get the tax benefit. Hopefully the real payback will come from the ecoEnergy Retrofit program and, of course, in reduced utility costs (and a smaller carbon footprint).

If you’ve collected your receipts but need a tool organize your expenses and calculate what you’ll get back, download the Homemakers HRTC tool here.

Well it was messy, noisy and not particularly cheap, but I now have a well-insulated attic. I spent the morning at home yesterday watching as three guys from Greensaver, a green renovation company, headed up beyond our ceiling via a hatch in my bedroom closet to do their attic insulation work. They built sealed, insulated forms around electrical boxes, spray-foamed and boxed in the tops of walls, and blew in several centimetres of cellulose fill on top of everything, adding to the fibreglass and cellulose that was there before. When the guys emerged from our attic, in their respirators and coveralls, they were totally covered in dusty cellulose. Bits of it drifted everywhere.

But a few zips around the house with a mop (and, um, writing a cheque) are well worth the results: my attic went from R 19 to R 50, so it’s now more than double as effective at conserving heat — and protecting the house from the hot attic in summer. (Here’s some background on R value and insulation. Blown-in cellulose is ideal for attics because, when properly installed, you can get great coverage throughout the attic.) According to Greensaver, because of my small home’s general lack of attic vents, it could benefit from installing a couple of small vents one third of the way up the roofline so that moisture could escape a little better, and to help bring the attic temperature down in the summer.

While my partner and I could theoretically insulate the attic ourselves, it’s great to have the pros just come in and do the job well. Besides, we’re pretty busy doing other things, like renovating our basement. Not to mention the fact that our EcoEnergy Retrofit followup audit is in May. That’s when our auditor returns to the house 18 months after his first visit to evaluate the changes we’ve made to the tightness of the house (sealing drafts), the insulation level (in things such as exterior walls, the attic, basement walls, and windows and doors) and to our utilities (our water heating and space heating and cooling equipment). We’ll receive government rebates for the changes we’ve made.

Are you hoping to add insulation to your home?