Why renovate with eco-responsible materials?
Residential renovations improve your home to suit your needs, tastes and priorities.
Eco-responsible renovations take things a step further: they reduce the impact of your home on the environment and contribute to better health. How? By making informed choices that promote good air quality and reduce water and energy use.
Eco-responsible renovation offers affordable alternatives that often pay for themselves and even generate savings over time. With the Eco-Responsible Renovation Guide, RONA opens up a wide range of possibilities. The guide’s strategies, suggestions and recommended products explore helpful solutions for projects, renovations and landscaping.
A number of different environmental impacts are considered, but they can all be related to the five major issues that are the subject of worldwide scientific consensus. From a sustainable development perspective and to safeguard the well-being of future generations, scientists agree that our priority should be to take eco-responsible action on the five following issues:
| Issue | Eco-responsible action | Icon |
|---|---|---|
| Climate change | Reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) |
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| Availability and quality of water | Save and protect water |  |
| Human health | Protect human health |  |
| Quality of ecosystems | Preserve ecosystems |
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| Depletion of resources | Reduce resource waste |  |
Real impact on health and the environment
Our homes and lifestyles provide us with definite comforts, but they can also have a major impact on the environment.
Did You Know That ?
- Did you know that the concentration of harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is from 2 to 5 times higher inside the home than outside, in the country and the city? It may even be 1000 times higher after certain renovation activities like painting.
- Did you know that the residential sector is responsible for 30% of the greenhouse gas emissions generated in the entire country? A huge proportion of these emissions is generated by the use of energy, mainly for heating (62%), heating water (19%), operating household appliances (13%), lighting (4%) and air-conditioning (2%).
- Did you know that Canadians are among the biggest consumers of water in the world, with an average domestic use of 329 litres per day, 30% for the toilet and 35% for the shower and bath? And yet the amount of water required to live is only 50 litres a day each.
- Did you know that activities related to construction and renovation generate significant quantities of waste, from preparing the site (including demolition), losses on materials that are cut or damaged, temporary structures and packaging?
- Did you know that in Canada in 2010 we used 15 times more fertilizer than in 1945? The phosphorus and nitrogen in this fertilizer causes the eutrophication of lakes and rivers, which are key components in the health of ecosystems, and leads to the proliferation of cyanobacteria, the infamous blue-green algae.
Little-known benefits!
Besides having a positive influence on the environment and human health, eco-responsible renovation offers several other benefits. For example, installing electronic thermostats reduces your energy consumption and increases your comfort. Choosing VOC-free floor coverings, counters or paint significantly improves your indoor air quality. Despite this, there are a few aspects of eco-responsible renovation that need to be clarified:
Eco-responsible renovation is increasingly accessible
More and more easy-to-use, low impact materials are available on the market, especially at RONA. It is no more difficult to install a low flow toilet, VOC-free floor covering or ENERGY STAR® window than to install conventional products. Some options can be more complicated, however, such as greywater recovery systems or solar water heating systems. But you can always call on an expert to guide and advise you. Refer to the guide’s “Resources” section to learn more.
Eco-responsible options are no more expensive
The energy savings, the increase in the value of your home and the subsidies offered in some provinces reduce the real cost of installing ecological options, especially when it comes to the more complex systems. For example, a Novoclimat certified home costs about 3% more to build than a conventional house, but it reduces the energy bill by 25%, which helps absorb the higher initial cost. Other options, such as VOC-free paint and floors or low flow toilets, now cost about the same as the traditional options.
Eco-responsible construction is here to stay
People have always taken advantage of local, natural materials, the position of the sun and the direction of the wind in building their homes. These practices are even more relevant today as we face the rising costs of energy, dwindling resources and the onslaught of climate change. Many scientific studies have also proven that certain materials can cause health problems when used inside the home. The growing number of LEED® certified buildings in Canada, the increasing availability of ecological and low chemical toxin products proves that building construction is becoming healthier and more respectful of the environment. High-performance homes also enjoy a higher resale value and are in greater demand on the market.
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