HOW TO GREENIFY YOUR HOME, DIY STYLE

Not everyone can tear down their creaky, leaky old house and start from scratch. Christine Lolley, the principal and co-founder of Solares Architecture, a green home and sustainable building firm based in Toronto, says it’s possible to get greener without breaking the bank. Here’s how:

PLUG THE LEAKS

Hire an energy auditor to assess your home’s efficiency. If it’s leaking hot air, no amount of insulation will matter. “It’s like wearing a down jacket without zipping it up,” says Lolley. She recommends Toronto companies GreenSaver and CoEfficient.

ATTACK THE ATTIC

Next, check your attic. A lot of attics in Toronto, especially in older homes, have no insulation whatsoever. “Your mom always said, ‘Put your hat on.’ The same principle applies here,” says Lolley. Adding insulation can make a huge difference. If you’re not up for a DIY job, she recommends Great Northern Insulation.

SURFACE MEANING

Everyone wants stone countertops, but not all surfaces are created equal. “I always recommend quartz as a planet-friendlier alternative to marble. It’s manufactured from chips, so you’re using waste material rather than taking a huge slab out of the earth’s core.”

SWITCH OVER

Switching over to LED lighting is a great way to reduce your energy consumption and hydro bill, and it’s a lot less expensive than it used to be. “LED bulbs are kind of bright and harsh and most don’t work with dimmers,” says Lolley. “I love that gorgeous hue you get with halogen bulbs that you can dim down to a sunset orange.” For fellow light snobs, Lolley recommends a Richmond Hill company called Liteline, which makes LED pot lights ($80 per light, cheaper in bulk) that create that perfect golden glow.

PANE MANAGEMENT

Most people want as much natural light as possible, but leaky windows force your heating and cooling systems to work overtime. If replacing windows is an option, look for ones with low emissivity, which let in the light but not the heat. She recommends Inline Fiberglass and Fibertec.