Compare an energy-efficient home proposal by asking what will be designed, installed and checked. A list of efficient products does not explain how the whole house will perform. The envelope, heating and cooling, ventilation and construction details need to be considered together.
Start with a baseline and a target
For an existing house, ask what information is available about comfort problems, air leakage and energy use. Natural Resources Canada's EnerGuide information provides a starting point for understanding home energy evaluations and finding the appropriate programme information.
For a new home, ask which performance target the design team proposes and how it will be verified. Avoid treating a product label or a rendering as proof that the completed house meets a whole-building standard.
Compare systems and junctions, not just insulation
Ask how the roof, walls, windows and foundation connect. The points where materials meet deserve as much attention as the specification for each material. A large window area changes the balance between daylight, summer heat and winter comfort.
Heating and ventilation should be considered alongside the envelope. Ask who will size the equipment, what design assumptions they use and how the installed system will be commissioned. Keep those responsibilities in the written scope.
Use a short comparison checklist
- What is the starting condition or proposed performance target?
- Who is responsible for the energy assessment or modelling?
- Which envelope details are included in the drawings?
- What installation checks and tests are planned?
- Who commissions the heating and ventilation equipment?
- What documents will the homeowner receive at handover?
Programme eligibility and rebates can change. Confirm current terms with the programme administrator before including an incentive in your budget; this article promises no grant amount or eligibility.
Renovation and new construction are different conversations
For an addition or whole-home renovation, the new work has to meet the existing house. Investigate how the proposed changes affect the parts that remain. A new-home project also has its own builder licensing and warranty requirements; the HCRA explains who needs a licence.
Jarvis currently offers renovations, additions and design, rather than new custom homes. Contact us to discuss the scope of an existing-home project, and use the questions above when comparing any proposal.
Questions
Does installing efficient equipment make the whole house efficient?
Equipment is one part of the design. The envelope, ventilation, controls, installation quality and household use also matter. Ask how the complete proposal will be assessed and checked.
Sources
- EnerGuide information natural-resources.canada.ca
- HCRA explains who needs a licence hcraontario.ca