The biggest environmental impact of a home over the years is related to the consumption of non-renewable energy that generates greenhouse gases and contributes to the degradation of ecosystems (emission of pollutants into aquatic environments leading to a loss of biodiversity). Special attention should be paid to the energy source selected.

Our recommendations :

1. Install a central heating system. This type of system distributes heat more effectively in a large home than baseboard heaters or convectors in each room. There are several different types of central heating systems:
   • Forced air is the most common kind of central heating system for renovations, since it is relatively economical to install. It combines air ducts with a hot air generator such as a combustion chamber or heating elements. Cold air is heated and then blown through the air ducts and spread into the other rooms as needed. Choose ENERGY STAR® rated devices.
   • Hydronic heating systems circulate water in pipes from a central boiler to radiant heaters (radiators or heated floors). Radiant heat does not spread dust or germs the way convection-based hot air systems do. Rather than heating the air directly, radiant heat diffuses energy to the materials which, in turn, heat the air, creating a more comfortable feeling.
   • Other radiant heating systems work using electric wires that can be integrated into walls, floors or even ceilings. The heating wires transfer their energy to the materials, creating a more comfortable feeling.
   • Wood heat is another type of radiant heat, which can be optimized using metallic coils filled with liquid. These coils distribute heat in the walls and floors and transfer it to the air. Although new high-energy-efficiency units are now available on the market, wood heating is not recommended for big cities, in order to protect air quality and safeguard human health.
   • Heat pumps use a compressor that extracts energy from the outside air and delivers it into the house. It is a highly energy efficient process because for each kWh of energy pumped into the system, it provides the equivalent of two, three or even four kWhs. Heat pumps are usually coupled with a hot air system. Choose ENERGY STAR® certified heat pumps for guaranteed efficiency.
2. Install a heating system that uses the least polluting energy possible in terms of greenhouse gas production, resource waste and ecosystem damage. There are systems available for all different energy sources. To make an informed choice, evaluate the availability of each source, the installation costs for the type of home and the long-term operating costs. Here are some details on a few energy sources:
   • A geothermal system (geothermy) is an effective choice because it is a renewable option (the sun heating the earth) that uses a heat pump to provide heating and cooling. With geothermal systems and heat pump systems – which function on the same principle – one kWh of electricity is used to operate a compressor, recovering 3, 4, or 5 kWhs of naturally existing energy in the environment (air or ground) for free. The performance of the heat pump is called the coefficient of performance, or COP. Depending on the size of the home – and the size, performance and use of the system – the installation costs can be recovered relatively quickly.
   • Certified high-efficiency wood stoves, pellet stoves and masonry heaters offer very energy efficient performance and reduce fine particle emissions by up to 90% compared to non-EPA certified models. Wood is a renewable source of energy if it comes from a certified forest. Wood heating is not recommended in urban areas, however, due to emissions of greenhouse gases and fine particles which can cause respiratory problems.
   • In some provinces, electricity is mainly produced using renewable energy (such as hydro, wind and solar power), which reduces GHG emissions and resource waste. In other provinces, however, electricity is mainly generated by nuclear power plants or the combustion of non-renewable fossil fuels (coal, gas, oil, etc.), which are major sources of GHGs, toxins, and air and water pollutants, and generally unfriendly on every environmental level. In these provinces, electricity is not the most responsible form of energy for your heat supply. It is better to use a geothermal or heat pump system. Electricity can be used to supply a backup system of baseboard heaters, convectors or heating coils, but these are not energy efficient systems.
   • Heating systems such as boilers that operate on natural gas or propane do not emit sulphur dioxide and are preferable to oil because they have a higher heating value. But these are not renewable sources of energy, and the infrastructure for using natural gas is not available everywhere. For homes far from public utilities, propane, unlike natural gas, is available in tanks, but it is less economical.
   • Oil emits 33% more CO2 (a greenhouse gas) than natural gas, and also causes risks of spills and ground contamination. The use of high-pressure burners reduces oil consumption, however. Tanks should be changed every 25 years to reduce the risk of leaks.

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