Build green, it pays off

EXTRA CONSTRUCTION COSTS

The additional costs of construction are minor, considering the benefits! For a Novoclimat single-family home, there is a surcharge of about 2% of the cost of construction in order to obtain a “certified” LEED® certification level.

BETTER RESALE VALUE

House buying and in particular the construction of housing with a reduced environmental footprint, but with a high environmental performance, continues to increase. Studies of the American housing market even show that certified green homes can resell more quickly, and 8% to 22 % of them have a higher resale value compared to non-certified houses.

FINANCIAL COMPENSATION

Some municipalities provide tax benefits to homes that are LEED® certified, like tax credits and subsidies. Discounts on home insurance and favourable mortgage rates can also be obtained.

This is the case with the Green Homes program offered by Desjardins. It is intended for owner-occupiers of four or fewer dwellings in Quebec and Ontario. It applies to the acquisition of an approved new home that is Novoclimat 2.0, LEED® Canada certified or Energy Star certified in Ontario and to renovations that are eligible for the Rénoclimat program.

The Green Homes program offered by Desjardins includes a cash rebate of up to $2,000 for the purchase of a new home and $500 for eligible renovations. It is a 0.5% rebate on the acquisition of a home and a 1% rebate on renovations. It also includes a discount on the home insurance premium, a free fixed-rate monthly plan for one year and free home assistance service with the purchase of loan insurance.

Moreover, it allows the member to make donations to the non-profit organization Ecohome through purchases made with their Desjardins Visa card. To take advantage of the above mentioned financial compensation, one simply has to ask for mortgage financing from Desjardins and obtain the required certification for the particular home project.