How do I use the guide?

RONA’s Eco-Responsible Renovation Guide presents practical advice, recommendations, products and resources to help you evaluate your needs and carry out your renovations in a way that is always more respectful of the environment.

To use the guide, simply turn to the section on the project or renovation you have in mind to find the information you need. Each section of the guide presents different eco-responsible renovation strategies, and each strategy includes advice and alternatives, along with an analysis of their advantages and disadvantages. Links to fact sheets for RONA ECO and eco-responsible products are also provided.

To help you make the best choices, summary tables are presented so you can quickly compare the various suggestions based on their cost and level of difficulty.

The charts below provide a short description of the symbols used in the summary tables and RONA ECO and eco-responsible product fact sheets.

Environmental benefits of suggestions and products presented in the guide

Issue	Eco-responsible motive	Description	Eco-responsible actions
Climate change	Reduce greenhouse gases (GHG)	Compared to conventional options, this suggestion or product reduces greenhouse gas emissions.	Save energy Reduce impact related to transportation Reduce waste (especially organic) sent to landfill Reduce emissions of other substances that contribute to the greenhouse effect (such as CFC, HCFC, refrigeration gas, etc.)
Availability and quality of water	Save and protect water	Compared to conventional options, this suggestion or product reduces the amount of water used or helps preserve water quality by reducing the amount of pollutants dumped into water sources.	Save water Reduce pollutants discharged into water (pesticides, heavy metals, synthetic compounds, etc.)
Human health	Protect human health	Compared to conventional options, this suggestion or product protects human health or air quality.	Reduce emissions of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and potentially carcinogenic substances into the air Reduce emissions of substances that are harmful to the ozone layer Reduce emissions of toxic substances into the water and soil (to avoid contaminating the food chain) Reduce emissions of fine particles, irritants and other substances that cause respiratory problems
Quality of ecosystems	Preserve ecosystems	Compared to conventional options, this suggestion or product helps preserve ecosystems.	Protect biodiversity Reduce emissions of toxic substances into the water and soil (to avoid contaminating the food chain) Reduce emissions of substances that cause the proliferation of algae in the water and lead to the “death” (eutrophication) of lakes and waterways Encourage sustainable forestry Reduce emissions of substances that cause acid rain
Depletion of resources	Reduce resource waste	Compared to conventional options, this suggestion or product helps reduce the waste of non-renewable natural resources.	Promote recovery and use of recycled materials Promote end-of-life recyclability Reduce the amount of packaging and primary materials used Reduce consumption of non-renewable resources

Level of difficulty of project/renovation compared to conventional options		Estimated costs compared to conventional options
	Accessible to everyoneThis suggestion is not difficult and is accessible to everyone.		Comparable to conventional options These options cost about the same as conventional options or require a minimal investment.
	Doable by do-it-yourselfers This suggestion is slightly more difficult: it requires precision, patience or basic handyman skills.		Slightly higher than conventional options These options are generally more expensive than conventional options. They will require a slightly higher investment.
	Within the reach of experienced do-it-yourselfers or professionals This suggestion is more complicated, relatively difficult and requires the proper tools. It must be carried out by a professional or experienced do-it-yourselfer.		Higher than conventional options These options demand a bigger investment than conventional options. But many will pay off over the short, medium or long term through lower energy or water bills.
	For experts only This suggestion entails a serious technical challenge and safety considerations. It should only be carried out by a licensed professional.		Much higher than conventional options These options demand a much bigger investment than conventional options. But many will pay off over the short, medium or long term through lower energy or water bills.

Fact sheets about RONA ECO and eco-responsible products are also available in RONA's Eco-Responsible Renovation Guide. Each sheet provides a description of the environmental benefits of the product and its positive environmental features at the various stages of the product life cycle.