Eco friendly: let’s build it greener
OakWood is an Eco friendly Renovator. We only practice green construction methods to ensure you get an environmentally friendly home. All materials will be recycled from your renovation: nothing goes to the landfill.
Our proactive eco-friendly practices also include:
- The use of sustainable materials and construction methods that use fewer resources to build, less energy to operate, have a reduced impact on the environment whenever possible, and when economically feasible.
- We support suppliers and design professionals who share our philosophy and our commitment to the planet and that use environmentally friendly practices.
- Active support for the Canada Green Building Council mission to promote green construction and generate the transformation to high-performing, healthy green buildings, homes, and communities throughout Canada.
You are in control
The level of “greenness” of your project is totally up to you. We will always use OakWood’s high green construction standards as a base – and allow you to determine how environmentally friendly you want the design and build of your project to be. OakWood will help guide you all the way!
Green construction starts with good planning
The key to an environmentally friendly renovation is good planning. Fortunately this is where OakWood truly excels: we have well-honed Eco friendly processes to ensure your renovation project is completed on-time and on-budget.
During the planning phase of your project we can walk you through the many green construction options available. Your decisions will be incorporated into our comprehensive OAKplan™, a custom roadmap for your environmentally friendly project.
You have many green Eco friendly options
Some of the areas, practices, and solutions that you may wish to consider when renovating or remodelling your home includes:
- Adding space without increasing the home’s footprint.
- No carpet.
- Solar water heating.
- Hydronic heating, also primarily solar powered.
- Fresh air inlets and whole-house ventilation.
- Chemical-free insulation of recycled cellulose.
- Nearly 100% recycling of job site waste.
- Solar tube lights to minimize electric lighting.
- Zero-VOC paints inside and out.
- Hard-wax floor finish, originally designed for children’s toys.
- Sustainably grown lumber, plywood, and hardwood flooring.
- Cement-fibre or natural wood siding.
- Energy efficient windows and weather stripping.
- Incorporating energy saving appliances and practices, on-demand water heaters, resource efficient landscaping.
- Reducing or eliminating the use of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
- Much, much more!
Consider re-cycled materials
Many building materials, when properly handled, can be reused and recycled for your project, or someone else’s. In fact, many recycled materials are not only environmentally friendly they are better quality than newer materials! If possible, OakWood will re-use materials: it not only saves you money, it’s good for the planet.
Items that can be re-furbished and re-introduced into your project include:
- Original trim including baseboard, casing, back band, crown moulding, chair rail.
- House wood siding, wood beaded soffit, brick and stone including sills and headers.
- Door hardware including hinges, stoppers, locks.
- Support and architectural columns.
- Hardwood flooring.
- Light fixtures (although we typically recommend re-wiring).
- Leaded glass windows. On many projects, OakWood places the original leaded glass windows inside new windows (as casements opening in).
- Kitchen door hardware.
- Hardwood stairs and handrail including newel posts, balusters and handrails.
