With the right design, a home can reduce its environmental impact and be more comfortable. Inside, a well-designed home uses space efficiently and benefits from energy-saving features. A good design can make use of free, natural light to brighten rooms and provide heat in the winter, and well-placed windows can allow prevailing breezes to cool rooms in the summer.

More Information

• The Five Essentials of Healthy Housing™: This Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation fact sheet outlines the five design elements of a Healthy House™.  

• LEED Canada for Homes Rating System: Here you will find information on the new rating system that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes.

• R-2000 Homes: Learn about the criteria and benefits of Natural Resource Canada’s R-2000 building standard.

• Planning is the Key to a Successful Renovation: This Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation guide provides information and easy-to-understand tips that can help you assess your requirements and learn the key questions before you get started.
• Buying a Home: This CMHC online resource area covers topics to consider when buying a new home such as comparing neighbourhoods for sustainable features and new trends in green housing.
• Maintaining Your Home: This Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation online resource covers home maintenance topics to consider, such as energy efficiency, air quality, and cost savings.

Grants and Refund Programs

• CMHC Energy Efficient Mortgage Loan Insurance Premium Refund: Learn how owning an energy-efficient home can earn you a 10% rebate on CMHC mortgage insurance and may be able to provide added flexibility through longer amortization lengths.
• Genworth Energy Efficient Housing Program: Mortgage insurance premium refund program available to home buyers purchasing an energy-efficient home (including R-2000, LEED® Canada for Homes, Manitoba Hydro Power Smart™) or refinancing an existing home to make energy-saving renovations.

Help us keep this information current. If you know of a web page with good information on this topic, or if you know of a grant or refund program that could help fund a home greening project please let us know by sending an email to yourgreenerhome@assiniboine.mb.ca.