Renovating With Efficiency In Mind

Electrical Safety Authority

Make sure your attic is properly insulated and vented to prevent hot air from building up and causing moisture that will ruin your insulation.	Check around doors, windows, and all plumbing and venting leading to the outside for cracks and air leaks, and add the required insulation.
If you are tearing out old drywall, check the levels of insulation currently in your walls - especially in exterior walls.	Be sure to meet or exceed the recommended levels of insulation for walls and ceilings - the higher the R value, the better the insulating value.
Inspect your foundation, including the sill plate, where the frame of your house meets the foundation wall, for any cracks, moisture buildup, air and/or water leakage problems - fix these before doing any interior work.	Consider radiant in-floor heating for kitchens, bathrooms and/or basements.
Be sure you or your contractor follow all local building codes, the Ontario Electrical Safety Code, bylaws and permit requirements - they are in place to protect you.	Remember to consider the U-values when shopping for new windows.
A large percentage of your electricity is used in the kitchen - have a licensed electrician check your electricity demand and supply.	If you are building an addition, you may need to upgrade your home's wiring to accommodate any extra demands - be sure to plan for enough outlets so that you won't need extension cords - have any modifications to your home's wiring inspected by the Electrical Safety Authority.