Did you know that buildings are responsible for more carbon emissions than vehicles? Vehicles contribute roughly 5% of carbon emissions, whereas the energy used to heat and cool buildings contributes nearly 13% of Canada’s carbon emissions.
A Net-Zero Energy home is a high-performing structure that uses less energy than a standard home and returns energy to the grid when it has more than it needs. The blueprint for this type of home is created with energy modelling software that estimates how much energy it will need. In order to achieve Net-Zero, the amount of carbon being put into the atmosphere by homes needs to be drastically reduced. Achieving Net-Zero can be done by building a residential, commercial, or multi-unit building with ICE Panels.
Here are 4 things to consider when planning to build a Net-Zero building:
Energy Efficient Building Materials
One of the biggest contributors to a building’s carbon footprint are the building materials used for construction. Plan to work with suppliers or manufacturers that produce a product that will ensure your building envelope is highly energy efficient — like us! By choosing to work with Greenstone’s ICE Panel, your building envelope will be airtight, thermally broken, and provide you with extremely high R-values, providing energy efficiency for years to come.
Energy Saving Light
Using LED lighting in a home is the way to go. Just like the ICE Panel, LED light bulbs are energy efficient and have a longer lifespan than their traditional counterpart, incandescent bulbs. Planning to use LED light bulbs with an ICE Panel structure a winning combination.
HVAC Systems & Smart Thermostats
With the fluctuating temperatures we can face throughout the year, we end up using a lot of energy to heat and cool our homes. With the recent advancements in HVAC systems (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning), homeowners can reduce the amount of energy needed to keep their homes at a comfortable temperature. Pairing an efficient HVAC system with a smart thermostat can help reduce energy. By investing in smart technology, you can ensure that energy is being used efficiently throughout the building.
Renewable Energy
There are many ways homeowners can implement renewable energy. Roof mounted solar panels are among the most commonly seen solutions. There are even solar panels on the market that track the sun to maximize the amount of energy collected during the day.
In order to achieve Net-Zero, the amount of carbon being put into the atmosphere by homes needs to be drastically reduced.
An ICE Panel building envelope is airtight, providing a highly energy efficient environment that reduces overall carbon emissions over the lifetime of the building. By choosing to build with ICE Panels, your building will be well on it’s way to achieving Net-Zero status.
Ready to get started? Let’s chat! Give us a call at 204-726-1426 or send us an email at sales@gsbp.ca to get your project started.
