September 11, 2025

Eco-friendly homes: all you need to know about sustainable houses

Did you know that buildings consume around 54% of the energy used in North America ? This includes the extraction, manufacture and transport of materials used, as well as the day-to-day operation of the buildings. In other words, the way we build or renovate our homes has a surprisingly high impact on our health and the health of the planet.

Luckily, there is a concrete solution to reduce this impact: eco-friendly houses. Designed to be environmentally conscious, green homes offer a healthy, comfortable and energy-efficient living environment with a minimal carbon footprint.

In this article, you will learn more about eco-friendly homes, their construction principles, the different types, recognized certifications, and financial assistance available to make your home greener.

What is an eco-friendly home?

An eco-friendly home is a home designed to have a minimal impact on the environment throughout its lifetime. It is based on the principles of sustainability and respect for the environment, which includes optimizing energy consumption, reducing the materials and resources used, managing water efficiently and limiting pollutant emissions. The aim is also to ensure that the house fits seamlessly into its environment without disrupting it. To achieve this, particular attention is paid to the architectural design and the types of materials used and equipment installed.

By contrast, an energy-efficient home focuses mainly on energy efficiency. It aims to reduce heating, air conditioning and electricity costs and to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Regardless of its age, any home can become energy efficient with the right renovations.

Benefits of sustainable homes

In addition to their low environmental impact and energy efficiency, eco-friendly homes offer many advantages when it comes to the well-being and quality of life of their occupants.

Comfort and quality of life

On average, we spend 90% of our time indoors , where air quality can be up to three times more polluted than outdoors. By comparison, an eco-friendly home provides health benefits for its occupants: it promotes a healthy environment thanks to non-toxic materials , efficient ventilation systems and optimal moisture management.

Energy savings

The design of an eco-friendly home limits the amount of materials used, encouraging recovery, reuse and recycling. The design also aims to maximize space, which limits daily energy needs and results in significant savings on heating, air conditioning and electricity.

Lower carbon footprint

In addition to saving energy, eco-friendly homes have a lower overall impact on the environment. Opting for sustainable, local and largely unprocessed materials limits the emissions associated with manufacturing and transporting them. Using renewable energy, like solar panels and geothermal energy, also helps reduce the amount of greenhouse gas generated by housing.

Added resale value

Buyers concerned about energy efficiency and indoor comfort are increasingly looking for eco-friendly homes. The quality of life and energy savings they provide are often seen as assets that can enhance their value.

Key features of eco-friendly construction

There are four basic pillars of eco-friendly construction.

Sustainable building materials

Eco-friendly homes focus on using sustainable and environmentally friendly materials. These include recycled materials, eco-certified lumber and wood from sustainably managed forests. Other examples include a steel roof covering, wood wall panelling, and hardwood, linoleum or smooth concrete floors.

Insulation and energy efficiency

Green homes are designed to take advantage of passive solar energy. They do this by absorbing sunlight, thanks to windows that ideally face south and are triple-glazed to limit heat loss in the winter. This reduces heating costs by 15% to 20% and prevents your home from getting too hot in the summer. High-efficiency heating and air conditioning systems also improve energy efficiency.

Renewable energy

Eco-friendly homes often incorporate renewable energy sources to reduce their carbon footprint. Solar panels , geothermal systems and heat pumps are proven solutions for generating electricity and heating water efficiently. While these technologies require a higher initial investment, they generate substantial long-term savings.

Water management

Sustainable homes can include dual-flush toilets, bathroom ventilation systems, low-flow shower heads and rainwater recovery systems. Using WaterSense-certified products could even reduce water consumption by up to 20% .

Types of eco-friendly houses

There are several types of eco-friendly houses, each suitable for different needs and budgets. Some mainly rely on energy efficiency, while others aim for self-sufficiency or the use of natural materials. Here is a summary of the main approaches.

Energy-efficient homes

This category includes any construction whose design and materials exceed current standards to significantly reduce energy consumption, without necessarily aiming for self-sufficiency.

Bioclimatic homes

Bioclimatic homes are designed based on local conditions and natural resources: orientation, terrain, vegetation, etc. All stages, from design to construction, take the immediate environment into account to reduce the environmental impact while optimizing the comfort of the occupants. The materials used are generally natural, recyclable or mostly unprocessed, which limits the carbon footprint.

Passive solar homes

A passive home uses reinforced insulation, extensive waterproofing and optimal orientation to reduce heating and air conditioning needs by up to 90% compared to a traditional home. It leverages heat from the sun thanks to large south-facing windows without the need for solar panels.

Active solar homes

Unlike a passive home, an active solar home uses various technologies likes solar panels and (in some cases) wind turbines. The energy produced can be stored or resold, making it possible to achieve a near-zero carbon footprint.

Net-zero or self-sufficient homes

A net-zero house produces as much energy as it consumes, and most of the time, it can meet its water needs. To achieve this autonomy, it combines several technologies: solar panels, geothermal systems, wind turbines and rain harvesting.

Wooden homes or eco-friendly log construction

Built from certified wood from sustainably managed forests, these homes use a renewable and naturally insulating material. They offer excellent thermal and sound performance and a low environmental impact.

Straw-bale or hemp houses

These houses use natural materials for insulation, such as straw or a mixture of hemp, lime and water. They offer natural humidity regulation and high thermal comfort while using abundant and low-emission resources.

Container houses

Made from recycled shipping containers, these houses incorporate reused materials and create modular living spaces. They offer natural humidity regulation and some thermal comfort.

Eco-certifications

In Quebec, the construction of green homes is governed by strict standards. A number of certifications can assess the energy and environmental performance of a house based on strict criteria.

LEED

LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is an international standard that assesses the overall sustainability of a building. This includes energy efficiency, water consumption, indoor air quality and materials management. A LEED-certified house is a guarantee of eco-friendly construction practices and a significantly lower environmental footprint.

Novoclimat

The Novoclimat certification applies specifically to Quebec and encourages the construction of new, more energy-efficient homes. A Novoclimat-certified house saves up to 20% on energy costs compared to a home built according to the Quebec Construction Code . Projects are eligible for financial assistance if they are registered in the program before work begins and meet various criteria.

ENERGY STAR

The ENERGY STAR symbol mainly concerns household appliances and heating and air conditioning equipment. Certified products exceed minimum energy efficiency standards and reduce electricity consumption while limiting greenhouse gas emissions.

PassiveHouse (Passivhaus)

PassiveHouse Canada certification identifies homes with very low energy consumption. The annual heating consumption must be below 15 kWh/m², while the total energy consumption (including household appliances) must be under 120 kWh/m² per year. By comparison, a traditional house consumes more than 100 kWh/m² annually for heating alone.

Living Building Challenge

The Living Building Challenge is an environmental certification that is considered to be one of the most difficult to obtain, as it goes beyond sustainability. It aims to ensure that buildings are self-sufficient and actively contribute to restoring the environment, drawing inspiration from the principles of a natural ecosystem. According to this philosophy, the building must be self-sufficient by generating its own energy from renewable sources, collecting and treating its own water, and blending in harmoniously with its environment.

R-2000 house

In Canada, the R-2000 certification guarantees that new homes are energy-efficient. R-2000 buildings offer enhanced insulation, improved indoor air quality and environmental protection measures. Their energy consumption for heating and air conditioning is much lower, directly helping to reduce national emission and climate change targets.

Available financial aid and subsidies

Renovating or building a greener home can come at an additional cost. Fortunately, there are a number of financial assistance programs to keep costs down.

Government of Canada

Government of Quebec

Energy distributors

  • Énergir : subsidies to improve the thermal envelope of buildings or build energy-efficient homes.
  • Hydro-Québec : financial assistance granted under the LogisVert program to implement energy efficiency measures and purchase high-performance equipment (heat pump, induction stove, pool heater, etc.).

Municipalities and financial institutions

  • Municipalities: some towns and cities offer subsidies, financing or even tax breaks when you buy a certified home.
  • Financial institutions: a number of banks offer discounts or a lower mortgage rate to purchase an energy-efficient home.

How to make your current home more eco-friendly

You don’t need to build a new home to reduce your environmental impact ; shrinking your ecological footprint is possible even in an existing home. Often, the simplest gestures go the furthest.

Here are some ideas to get started right now:

1. Improve the insulation and waterproofing of your home
Reduce heat loss by insulating the walls, windows and roof. A well-insulated house uses less energy resources.

2. Replace your household appliances with energy-efficient models
Opt for ENERGY STAR-certified appliances and heating and air conditioning units, which use less energy and emit less pollutants than traditional appliances.

3. Install a smart thermostat
Optimize your energy consumption by programming your heating and air conditioning based on when you are at home.

4. Choose renewable energy
If you can, install solar panels or a geothermal system to generate electricity and heat your water while reducing your carbon footprint.

5. Reduce your water consumption
The most effective way to reduce your daily water consumption without disrupting your routine is to install specific devices on existing appliances, like low-flow shower heads.

6. Choose sustainable and healthy materials
During renovations, opt for local wood, natural insulation and eco-friendly paints.

7. Green your yard
Plant trees to create shade and set up a vegetable garden or even a green roof to enhance the local ecosystem and create a more comfortable environment.

8. Adopt good habits every day
Reduce waste, reuse as much as possible, recycle and buy locally. Simple everyday gestures matter just as much as major projects.

Eco-friendly homes: a forward-looking choice

Whether you have a condo in the city, a house in the suburbs or a cottage in the woods, there are various options available to make your home greener. As we have seen in this blog post, good design and high-performance equipment are the foundation of an energy-efficient home. This type of home will offer you comfort, energy savings and sustainability while adapting to your needs. Don’t hesitate to hire qualified professionals to ensure that every detail of your construction or renovation project meets the highest environmental standards.

Ready to turn theory into practice? See which energy-efficient homes are available on the market now and find the one that best suits your lifestyle.

Frequently asked questions

1. Does an eco-friendly home cost more to build?

According to the non-profit organization Écohabitation , an eco-friendly house costs between 4% and 6% more to build than a traditional home . However, the money you save on heating, air conditioning and maintenance will offset the price difference between a green house and a traditional house.

2. Which renovations provide the best return on energy investment?

The most cost-effective renovations include improving your insulation, replacing your doors and windows, and upgrading your heating and ventilation systems. This work reduces your energy bills, increases the resale value of your home and improves your daily comfort.

3. Does an eco-friendly home require more maintenance?

An eco-friendly home is often easier to maintain. Sustainable materials require less repairs, and energy-efficient systems are designed to operate reliably and efficiently. As with any home, with the right regular maintenance, you will enjoy a healthier and more comfortable environment year after year.

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See also:

Available renovation subsidies

Heat pumps: all about installation and financial assistance

Are solar panels a cost-effective solution for your home?