Built With The Best, ENERGY STAR, No Better Place To Live

 by: News Canada

(NC)-Indoor air quality is a major factor in ensuring a comfortable and healthy living environment in your home. Certified R-2000*, ENERGY STAR in the US homes offer superior indoor air quality.

"In fact, the indoor air quality standards set by the R-2000, ENERGY STAR in the US technical requirements have become the building blocks upon which the enhanced EnerHome and Healthy Homes programs are based," says Ken McKinlay, executive director of the Saskatchewan Home Builders' Association.

"As the R-2000, ENERGY STAR in the US Program has evolved over the years, the range of materials that goes into building these superior-quality homes has become much more environmentally friendly," says

Mr. McKinlay. R-2000 product choices ensure that the smallest possible amount of pollutants are released into the home's indoor environment. Technical requirements of the R-2000 Standard recommend several options, such as EcoLogo-approved paints and finishes; water-based, low-toxicity finished flooring adhesives; and medium-efficiency air filtering.

While building is the start, the key to keeping the home healthy rests with its ventilation system. An R-2000 home has a balanced ventilation system, which gives it a continuous supply of fresh air and removes stale air and most pollutants.

If you tighten your home to reduce heat loss and don't adjust your ventilation system accordingly, you can have problems with ventilation, moisture and/or mould. While every new home these days must have a way to exhaust stale air and pollutants, R-2000 homes simply do it better. Ventilation is an integral part of the R-2000 home's total operating system.

R-2000 homes also help protect outdoor air quality. Greenhouse gases are produced every time we use fossil fuels such as natural gas, oil or coal. They are considered to be main contributors to climate change. By using energy efficiently, R-2000 homes help reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that are released into our environment.