# Buildingexpert Making canadian homes greener - Site: https://buildingexpert.ca/ ## What is an energy-efficient home? - Link: https://buildingexpert.ca/blog/2024/09/13/what-is-an-energy-efficient-home/ - Published: 2024-09-13T13:36:03-04:00 - Author: Larbi Toumi **Any home can be more energy-efficient** Any home, no matter when it was built, can be energy-efficient. Modern construction standards demand greater energy efficiency in new homes, but older homes can be upgraded to improve their energy performance. And the people living in these homes can be energy-efficient in their habits, too. **An energy-efficient home is…** ![](https://buildingexpert.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/NRCan_EnerGuide_House_Illustration- 1024x738.jpg) **Cost-effective** It’s got a great EnerGuide rating. That means it’s well insulated and airtight, with high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment that helps keep utility bills low. It’s outfitted with low-flow accessories to lower water consumption and water- heating costs. The people living in this home keep inside temperatures reasonable, use electricity wisely and buy ENERGY STAR^(®) certified products and appliances. **Comfortable and healthy** It’s warm in winter, cool in summer and free of drafts. The home has great ventilation and excellent air quality; it’s never too humid or dry. The people living there use a programmable thermostat to manage heating and cooling at night and when they’re away. **Always adding value** This home’s fixtures and upgrades show a commitment to energy efficiency that adds resale value. Newer windows and doors, and high-efficiency lighting and appliances not only save money and energy, they also look great to buyers. And investments in renewable energy like solar panels can pay off for years to come. **Kind to the environment** All the efficient features and elements work together to lower energy consumption, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and shrink the home’s carbon footprint. [FIND AVAILABLE INCENTIVES IN YOUR AREA](https://buildingexpert.ca/provinces/) **Useful links and sources:** Learn how you can [make your home more energy-efficient](https://natural-resources.canada.ca/energy-efficiency/homes/make-your-home-more-energy-efficient/20550). Take charge of your home’s energy performance with an [EnerGuide energy efficiency home evaluation](https://natural-resources.canada.ca/energy-efficiency/energuide/energuide-energy-efficiency-home-evaluations/20552). What does the [EnerGuide](https://natural-resources.canada.ca/energy-efficiency/homes/what-energy-efficient-home/what-does-energuide-label-mean/20562) label mean? [https://natural-resources.canada.ca/energy-efficiency/homes/what-energy-efficient-home/20548](https://natural-resources.canada.ca/energy-efficiency/homes/what-energy-efficient-home/20548) --- ## About our expert: ![](https://buildingexpert.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Larbi_Toumi.jpeg) ### **Larbi Toumi,** Ambassador / Energy Advisor / Quality Assurance Specialist ## How to Register to Canada Greener Homes Initiatives online - Link: https://buildingexpert.ca/blog/2023/07/17/how-to-register-to-canada-greener-homes-initiatives-online/ - Published: 2023-07-17T11:39:41-04:00 - Author: Gabriel Houle **IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Canada Greener Homes Initiative is closed.** The Canada Greener Homes Grant ended on December 31, 2025, and the Canada Greener Homes Loan closed to new applicants on October 1, 2025. Online registration is no longer possible. This article is kept for reference only. To find programs that are still available, visit our [Provinces](https://buildingexpert.ca/provinces/) page or our [CMHC](https://buildingexpert.ca/efficiency/cmhc/) pages. Here is how to register to the federal Canada Greener Homes Initiative program that allows loans and grants to upgrade the homes of Canadian residents who want more energy efficient housing. **1- Fist : Make sure you have these** * **•** A proof of property ownership * **•** A pen and paper to note passwords and usernames. **2 – Check your eligibility** * **•** Now that the government’s website page is open in a new browser tab – open it and check all the boxes that fit your situation. You must at least check the one that says “I am a Canadian homeowner with proof that my home is my primary residence.” to be eligible. If you check the right boxes, you will see the green“ Start your application!” button shows up. Click on it and continue. **3 – Create your Greener Homes online account.** * **Option #1 –** Sign-In with a banking account * **Option #2 –** Create a GCKey (user ID and password) - **•** A new page will load up. Look to the right of the screen and click “ Sign Up”. - **•** Accept terms and conditions. - **•** Create a username, a strong password and your account recovery questions. - **•** If you want to access your account with a backup email address, insert a secondary email address in the next page. (otherwise, you can click “skip”). - **•** Click “Continue” and then you will receive an email for confirmation. - **•** Open the email you have just received and follow the URL link to confirm the creation of your account. **4 – Log into Greener Homes Initiative web platform** * **•** You will now automatically go back to the login page. * **•** Once logged in : Fill up your contact informations when asked **5 – Start a new application** * **•** A new page will load and you will have a few options. Click the pale green“ New Application” button. * **•** Time to fill the Greener Homes Initiative application form. * **•** Scroll down and check everything that fits your home ownership specifics. * **•** Be sure to check “Yes” at the “Consent to be Contacted by Natural Resources Canada” line. * **•** On the next page : Enter home specifics. **6 – Select Buildingexpert** * **•** Your are now on a new page with many lines of company names. * **•** Find “Buildingexpert” and click the “select” button on the same row. **7 – Final step** * **•** This is now the last step! Click the “upload file” bbutton and upload a proof of your”Primary residence”. * **•** At the bottom left of the page : Check “agree” then click “Next” Your registration to the Canada Greener Homes Initative is now pending. It will take between 2 and 14 business days for the government to approve your application. Once approved, the government will send us your contact information and one of our staff will contact you to schedule your Energuide home energy evaluation. ## Asbestos in drinking water, the norm in Quebec! - Link: https://buildingexpert.ca/blog/2021/07/15/asbestos-in-drinking-water-the-standard-at-quebec/ - Published: 2021-07-15T10:17:51-04:00 - Author: Christian Lebeau-Jacob, Microbiologiste **On sait que l’eau est source de vie, mais peut-elle aussi être une source de fibre d’amiante? L’amiante est un minéral fibreux qui a été largement utilisé par le passé pour ses nombreuses utilisations, notamment dans le bâtiment. Le Québec occupait d’ailleurs autrefois une place de choix dans l’extraction/exportation d’amiante chrysotile. Bien que l’encadrement de l’amiante fasse l’objet aujourd’hui d’un encadrement relativement strict, il n’existe pas au Québec de norme sur la présence d’amiante dans l’eau potable. Cette situation commence d’ailleurs à soulever l’intérêt dans le public depuis le printemps.** En effet, l’amiante peut se retrouver dans l’eau que l’on consomme. Il en existe bien sûr de façon naturelle dans le sous-sol québécois, mais c’est surtout l’apport des canalisations en fibrociment qui inquiète. La dégradation de ces canalisations avec le temps peut relâcher des fibres dans le système de distribution d’eau potable et être consommée par l’Homme. **Risques pour la santé** Les effets de l’exposition à l’amiante inhalée sont très bien connus. Cancer du poumon, mésothéliome, asbestose, l’amiante demeure la cause de décès professionnel la plus fréquente chez nous. Toutefois, les effets de l’ingestion d’amiante, plutôt que l’inhalation, restent mal connus. On sait que dans certains cas que l’on pourrait qualifier d’extrêmes, l’amiante ingéré est lié à une incidence de cancers gastro- intestinaux plus élevés. Le lien épidémiologique reste à confirmer, mais on se doute donc qu’une ingestion continue de fibres pourrait causer une augmentation de ces cancers (ex. : de l’estomac, rectal, de la rate, du colon, du pancréas, etc.). L’agence américaine de protection de l’environnement possède, comme quelques autres pays dans le monde, une norme sur la présence de fibres dans l’eau potable. C’est de cette limite fixée à 7 millions de fibres par litre d’eau que le Québec pourrait s’inspirer selon toute vraisemblance. Cela peut sembler énorme, mais il faut se rappeler que ces fibres sont extrêmement fines et que l’érosion des canalisations sépare les faisceaux de fibres d’amiantes que l’on observe habituellement au microscope optique en fibrilles extrêmement fines de l’ordre d’une vingtaine de nanomètres de côté (0.00002 mm). L’utilisation d’un microscope à transmission d’électron est donc nécessaire pour cette analyse. **Norme au Québec** Pour se donner une échelle de comparaison avec la norme sur les fibres respirables( 1 fibre/ml pour le chrysotile), on doit d’abord se rapporter sur le même volume. ![](https://buildingexpert.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/image-6.png) | **Norme de l’eau **  7 millions de fibres/litre = 7000 fibres/ml d’eau | ![](https://buildingexpert.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/image-7.png) | **Norme de l’air** 1 fibre/ml d’air | Ensuite, une « fibre respirable », ou plutôt « faisceau de fibres respirable »,  fait par définition jusqu’à 3 µm de largeur soit 0.003 mm. Si l’on considère, une fibre unique d’amiante mesure 0.02 µm (0.00002mm), chaque faisceau de fibres respirable contiendrait en réalité 60 000 fibres uniques parfaitement entassées les unes sur les autres. ![L’attribut alt de cette image est vide, son nom de fichier est image-4.png.](https:// buildingexpert.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/image-4.png) | **Norme de l’eau** 7 000 fibres /ml d’eau = Environ 0.00012 faisceau de fibres/ml | ![L’attribut alt de cette image est vide, son nom de fichier est image-5.png.](https:// buildingexpert.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/image-5.png) | **Norme de l’air**  1 fibre/ml d’air | Cette comparaison est fortement biaisée par le fait que nous avons choisi les plus gros faisceaux de fibres respirables permis par la définition et les plus petites fibrilles décrites, mais ça démontre tout de même que la norme ne soit pas si permissive qu’il n’y paraît et pourrait s’insérer logiquement dans une réglementation ayant pour but de diminuer l’exposition de la population aux fibres d’amiante. Bref, vivement un resserrement du contrôle sur l’eau que l’on consomme, pour la santé et la sécurité des Québécois(es)! [LAB’EAU-AIR-SOl](https://labeauairsol.ca/) offre une formation sur gestion sécuritaire de l’amiante Formation sur l’amiante ## What you need to know about asbestos and its regulation. - Link: https://buildingexpert.ca/blog/2020/10/23/what-you-need-to-know-about-asbestos-and-its-regulations/ - Published: 2020-10-23T13:26:41-04:00 - Author: Christian Lebeau-Jacob, Microbiologiste **In recent years, Canada has finally followed the lead of most industrialized countries and banned the import and production of asbestos-containing materials, decades after they were identified as the cause of many lung diseases. Although its use is now restricted or even banned, what about the remaining asbestos and its safety standards?** First of all, asbestos refers to a group of commercially used minerals that have the particularity of being highly fibrous. These minerals were mainly used for their unique profile offering high malleability, strong resistance to heat, acids and moisture. **Where is asbestos found and why is it harmful?** The different types of asbestos are likely to be found in just about any material resulting from the mixing of several components. Insulation, flockings, cements and plasters as well as vinyl siding are some examples. It is also important to know that asbestos is sometimes found in certain products as a contaminant and not because it has been added to benefit from its properties. Materials such as talc or mica (vermiculite) may contain asbestos without being knowingly added. The combination of properties that make asbestos a unique material is also the basis of its harmfulness. Initially, asbestos can break down into fine fibrils that can remain airborne for a long time and can easily travel far into the respiratory system. Once in the alveoli, which are responsible for gas exchange (O2 and CO2), the fibers persist despite the incessant attacks of the immune system thanks to their great resistance. Physical damage, inflammation, and the accumulation of degradation enzymes will, over time, cause significant damage that limits the efficiency of gas exchange in the lungs and may encourage the development of certain cancers. **Stricter safety standards for asbestos removal workers** Although Québec regulations are stricter than elsewhere in some respects, particularly in the definition of what constitutes an asbestos-containing material, the exposure limits to asbestos fibres are very high here. Asbestos-producing countries, of which Canada was a member only a decade ago, are generally more lax in their regulations and have historically defended the low toxicity of asbestos at low doses. Now that Canada has aligned its position with that of the WHO and most of the European community, it goes without saying that we modify the exposure thresholds accordingly. Des normes de sécurité plus strictes pour les travailleurs chargés du désamiantage Greater vigilance by authorities in enforcing existing rules should also be part of a tightening plan. Examples of hazardous practices are legion, despite the presence of a regulatory framework and the CNESST’s _Tolerance 0_ plan! **Does the presence of asbestos fibers automatically justify asbestos removal work in a building?** No, not necessarily. A building containing asbestos, but which is in good condition and does not represent a high risk of degradation in the short or medium term, does not require replacement work. Does the presence of asbestos fibers automatically justify asbestos removal work in a building? La présence de fibres d’amiante justifie-t-elle automatiquement des travaux de désamiantage dans un bâtiment ? Please note that when replacing insulation or sealing materials, owners can benefit from grants for building improvements through energy efficiency programs such as [Rénoclimat](https://buildingexpert.ca/en/energy/renoclimat/). However, there are no specific programs for asbestos removal. The presence of asbestos remains a major concern during renovation work and that is why it is important to know its type and quantity. If you suspect the presence of asbestos, you can call upon a competent laboratory in the identification of the type of asbestos participating in an inter-laboratory testing program and being recognized by the Centre d’Expertise en Analyse Environnementale du Québec (CEAEQ), as is the case for our laboratory, [LAB’EAU-AIR-SOL](https://labeauairsol.ca). **Usefull links** * LAB’EAU-AIR-SOL’s [Safe Asbestos Management Training](https://labeauairsol.ca/formations/formation-sur-lamiante/)