Green building is responsible building at the 2024 National Home Show By: greening homes

April 29, 2024
Community, Green Materials, Planning a Renovation

The term “green building” conjures up a lot of things for a variety of people. What I hope stands out is that green building is responsible building. In addition to having a minimum impact on your health and environment, it should minimize problems down the line. Green building is a sound building practice that provides […]

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Weatherproofing your home for a changing climate By: greening homes

June 1, 2023
Water Protection

On July 8, Toronto will mark the ten-year anniversary of the great rainstorm that cost the city $65 million. You may recall submerged cars on the Don Valley Parkway. According to Toronto’s Future Weather and Climate Driver Study, in just 20 years Toronto can expect an average 4.4 C increase in annual temperatures, and more […]

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Neighours of High Park Magazine: Plan well. Be patient. Renovating a home during a pandemic By: greening homes

June 1, 2021
Media, Planning a Renovation

Greening Homes’ founder and President, Chris Phillips is an expert contributor of Neighbours of High Park Magazine. This article appeared in the June 2021 issue.

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Not easy being green? Think again By: greening homes

January 28, 2019
Green Materials, Indoor Health, Planning a Renovation

When people think of a “green” home renovation, they often envision high performance windows or a well-insulated attic. We also hear that while it would be nice to go green, it’s unaffordable. In reality, environmentally-responsible renovations, when done right, go beyond windows and insulation, and can save you money. A responsible renovation factors in the […]

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It’s back to school! When can I start my home renovation? By: greening homes

September 11, 2018
Planning a Renovation

This blog is part of Greening Homes’ Planning a Renovation series. It’s back to school time (and back to life) time. Now that the kids and you are back to reality after the summer break, you may be taking a serious look at your dream home renovation. You are not alone. This time of year, […]

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Planning a renovation? Timing is everything By: greening homes

February 7, 2018
Planning a Renovation

This blog is part of Greening Homes’ Planning a Renovation series. Early in the year we often field inquiries about spring home renovations. How soon can we start? That’s all going to depend on the project’s scope. If you plan to expand the building envelope, it could take a lot longer to get your approvals. […]

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Ontario’s building code changes will improve your home performance and comfort By: greening homes

December 6, 2017
Planning a Renovation, Resource Efficiency

Changes to the Ontario Building Code come into effect on January 1, 2018, stipulating greater emphasis on airtightness, higher requirements for mechanical ventilation of homes, and more effective insulation installation. If you are planning a home renovation, these changes will impact some of your decisions. The changes are part of an ongoing provincial plan to […]

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Aging in place in Toronto By: greening homes

November 20, 2017
Alternative housing, Planning a Renovation

Once upon a time it was not uncommon for Toronto homeowners to purchase and sell several homes in their lifetimes. Property was affordable and people moved to accommodate a growing family or to live in a neighbourhood that better suited their needs and lifestyles. Nowadays, a growing population is up against limited residential stock. Consequently, […]

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