Toronto Real Estate Agents | Julie Kinnear

Sneeze by Mcfarlandmo

More than 2 billion dollars are spent each year to fight against allergy symptoms like itchy eyes and runny noses. Treatments are getting more effective, but in addition to the recommendations of your doctor, there are easy and inexpensive steps to work toward an allergy-free home — a haven from irritating allergens.

Ceramic Tile by Mtneer man

One of the most effective ways to make your home more environmentally friendly is to use sustainable flooring. Switching to “green” floors also benefits anyone with health concerns such as allergies and asthma, as well as people looking to save some money long-term (and who isn’t?).

Humber College
by Wikimedia Commons

While for some people, the entire green movement is just a phrase and a cool way to advertise their social/environmental consciousness, quite a few architects took the craving for sustainability seriously. There are amazing structures created almost every day, but when it comes to buildings, it’s not always easy to distinguish the passive green building from an ordinary skyscraper or home producing tons of CO2. Walking through your local downtown, always keep in mind that many of the structures that seem normal from the outside might be champions in water and energy conservation.

Fallen Leaves by Knehcsg

Autumn in the garden always comes along with heaps of fallen trees and dead flowers that need to be removed somehow… The question is what the best options for Torontonians are when it comes to dealing with organic waste. As Canada boasts one of the best environmental protection measures in the world, the City of Toronto follows the national trend and offers its residents considerable aid with the processing of their bio waste by supporting two major programs: the Green Bin Program and the Mechanical Leaf Collection Program.

Purple Passion
by Clyde Robinson

Bored of ordinary petunias and cacti around your apartment? Why not try houseplants of a more peculiar nature that will most certainly astonish your guests? Check out some of the weirdest and most interesting houseplants we’ve chosen for you and hit up the local florist’s store to step up your home decor!

Riverdale Hub - Office Space

Gerrard Street is a ten-kilometre-long street in Toronto, running from University Avenue eastward to Clonmore Avenue. It’s one of the most diverse streets in Toronto, spanning several neighbourhoods and countless cultures.

Water Splash by dr_relling

The media has lately abounded with information about famine and droughts, water shortages, and other adverse effects of climate change. If you can read between the lines, or are acquainted with the topic, you’ll know that these phenomena are closely related and even interconnected. Read how “Local Warming Goes Global” in my other article on this topic if you’re interested in further details.

Solar Panel Construction
by Wayne National Forest

When you’re on a quest to erase your ecologic footprint, the installation of solar panels may be a great step towards living greener. Or it may be a completely uneconomical solution with real efficiency closing towards zero. Why? Well, nothing is as simple as it seems and this topic cannot be reduced to a simple debate of using solar energy vs. not using it. That’s why we’re going to take a deeper look at the problem.

Yellow Lamp
by Matt MacGillivray

The phrase ‘energy-efficient’ is one of the loudest buzz words of our time. More than ever before, people want to make efficient use of their resources. Firstly, wasteful behaviour costs a lot of money, and secondly, we tend to care more about our environment lately. Whatever your motivation, there are several things that you can do to improve your home and lessen your ecological footprint at the same time. Let me share with you some of the ‘brightest’ ideas of today.

In January we let you know what to expect if you decide to go through a home energy audit. Today we'll have a look at what grants there are available should you choose to install a home solar power system.

Why solar energy?

The ultimate advantage of solar energy is of course its nature-friendliness. With more solar energy, less energy produced the conventional (dirty) way will have to be made. Another really cool aspect of the solar energy today is that it is very popular and widely subsidized by most of the developed countries' energy policies and Canada is no exception. So if you ever though of installing a few solar panels on your roof, right now would be a good time.

Preparation

Before we have a look at the grants themselves, don't forget that in order to qualify for both federal and provincial government grants, you have to go through the home energy audit. What does that means?

• Don't start the installation of the solar panel system before the auditor's first evaluation visit.
• Finish all the necessary work within 18 months after the evaluation.
• Keep all the technical documentation, receipts and even take photos of your progress so that you make sure you will be able to claim all the grants you are eligible for.
• Book the follow-up appointment.

The first energy audit visit costs $341.25 (inc. GST), the follow-up visit $157.50 (inc. GST). The Government will refund you $150 toward the cost of the first evaluation.

Federal and provincial grants

Basically you are eligible to parliament grants for both solar photovoltaic system (solar energy is converted into electricity) and solar thermal system (solar energy is used for heating water). The federal government provides a grant of up to $500, but only if the system meets CAN/CSA standards. This grant is available until the end of March 2011. As for the Ontario government, they will match the federal government grant, so that's $1000 altogether. Also you can claim a refund of the 8% RST from the Ontario government. If you would like to take an advantage of this opportunity, you should hurry up since currently you can only claim it on equipment purchased up until the end of this year. The refund deadline has been already extended from the end of 2007 and might not be extended again.

This surely is a great opportunity for all those who are thinking of environmentally-friendly living while taking advantage of available government funding.

Imagine spending a whole summer with a perfectly manicured lawn that you never have to cut. No its not astroturf, Its No-Mow Grass!

(Leave the Lawnmower in the Garage! continued...)