He is friendly, professional, knowledgable, organized, and honest. He put us at ease, lending suggestions, and involving us in any challenges, changes or decisions, making our renovation everything we could have imagined and more. there were no hidden costs and our renovation was completed exactly within the estimated time. Ben had all the trades coordinated as he needed them.  We still can’t believe how quickly everything came together! Many thanks to Ben his crew and all the tradespeople involved in making our renovation a great experience. We would recomend Ben with confidence to anyone. Top Quality work!

Thank you!

Universal Design is about everyone. It is a way of keeping children safer, a way of more easily having grandma live or visit at home – whether as a guest or because she needs the support, and a way to age-in-place with dignity. Universal Design creates more inclusive communities and supports inter-generational living while looking nicer and being worth more.

Remove thresholds. Ever stumbled when you are carrying groceries, caring for your kids, pushing a baby stroller or just not paying attention? There is no need for thresholds.

Increase the width of your doors by ~4″ (adds only $10/door). Can you feel the space? Movers love it! This is the first thing a builder does to make a home custom. Now when your aging parent comes for a visit he/she can move around with those walking aids without you having to give a helping hand. Imagine you can’t go home to recuperate from a hospital visit because the temporary support you need doesn’t fit through your door and you can’t move around your home. For an extra $10/door during construction you can have all 3-foot wide doors.

Offset bath and shower controls (adds $40). Ever had sore muscles, a backache or use crutches while trying to lean around the toilet and reach into the tub or shower for the controls? It is hard work and a potential accident waiting to happen.

This manual has been made available to you through the support of Home Owner Protection Office and their seminar series Building Smart.

As our communities are evolving, we are experiencing a huge demographic shift with the aging of our population. The latest Statistics Canada figures reveal the number of older adults and seniors in our communities will continue to increase at unprecedented rates. By the year 2032, 48% of Canadians will be over 65 years old. Seniors traditionally use canes, walkers and scooters to maintain their independence. By building to SAFERhome Standards, half the community is directly served with appropriate housing to keep them safer, active and independent in their homes longer. As a bonus, everything we do for our aging parents works just as well for our children.

However, SAFERhome is more! Have you ever wanted a home that …

• is a “better” real estate investment,
• truly works to improve the physical safety of the whole family,
• can easily be changed to meet your family’s needs both now and in the future,
• is pre-wired to give you smart home style electrical options,
• is ready to be more energy efficient,
• offers ‘one-level living’ lifestyle in any multi-level design,
• is age-friendly for the young and old and allows for aging-in-place solutions,
• is built to the only measurable Universal standard in the world.

By adopting the SAFERhome Standards you can have it all. “Insist” on having anything you buy or build meet the SAFERhome certification criteria. If your builder or realtor says it’s there, ask them to “prove it”and make any deals subject to: “Written proof of successful SAFERhome Certification!”

The SAFERhome Standards are all within the existing Provincial and National Building Code. You now have a real housing choice of getting more in your home than the traditionally accepted minimum building standard. This manual shows you just how easy it is.

SAFERhome Standard is a measurable and tangible “Gold Standard” in Universal home design. Universal design is a way to build homes that work for all people – and simply put, it makes any home look better, work better, and worth more.

For a new home to be considered ENERGY STAR qualified, it must be built by a registered  ENERGY STAR for New Homes builder. These builders are expected to follow strict building codes that far exceed the normal national and provincial standards. These homes, once complete, must be inspected and evaluated by neutral third party advisors before they are verified as ENERGY STAR qualified. ENERGY STAR qualified new homes feature ENERGY STAR qualified products such as windows, furnaces, hot water heaters, appliances, etc.  throughout and will boast an NRCan EnerGuide rating of at least 80.

The Victoria British Columbia non-profit City Green Solutions is registered both as an EnerGuide rating service and a licensed ENERGY STAR for New Homes advisor, capable of registering interested builders. Homeowners, home builders, and those looking to buy a home anywhere on Vancouver island are encouraged to find out more at www.citygreen.ca

An EnerGuide rating shows a standard measure of your home’s energy performance. It shows you (and future buyers) exactly how energy efficient your home is.

The rating is calculated based on standard operation assumptions so that you can compare the energy performance of one house against another.

The home’s energy efficiency level is rated on a scale of 0 to 100. A rating of 0 represents a home with major air leakage, no insulation and extremely high energy consumption.

A rating of 100 represents a house that is airtight, well insulated, sufficiently ventilated and requires no purchased energy on an annual basis.

For a brand new house, a rating of 80 or higher is excellent.

EnerGuide Rating System (Existing Homes)

The EnerGuide Rating System (ERS) offers you  a standard measure of your home’s energy performance. The rating allows you to compare the energy efficiency of comparable homes in your neighbourhood and across Canada.

Why Should I Have My House Rated?

If you are planning to renovate or sell your home, the rating shows your home’s present level of energy efficiency and the level it could achieve with recommended upgrades.

How Is the Rating Determined?

During the walk-through of your home, the energy advisor collects data on home energy systems, house construction materials and the “building envelope” (the walls and roof of the home) to model the home’s energy consumption. After performing a blower door test, the advisor uses an energy analysis software called HOT2000 to compare your home with a reference house of a similar size in a similar climatic region. You will later receive a report with recommended renovations and an EnerGuide label.

What Do the Numbers Mean?

A home’s energy efficiency level is rated on a scale of 0 to 100. A rating of 0 represents a home with major air leakage, no insulation and extremely high energy consumption. A rating of 100 represents a house that is airtight, well insulated and sufficiently ventilated and requires no purchased energy.

▪    Better energy efficiency means comfort and long term savings for  the homeowner.
▪    Healthier indoor air means comfort, better health and peace of mind for the family.
▪    Durable, reduced-maintenance materials mean a longer life for the home and long term savings.
▪    Preserving natural resources means leaving more for future generations to enjoy.

Informing and educating the home-buying public on the value of a home that meets Built Green™ standards are one of the primary undertakings of the program. An informed buyer will recognize the value of greater energy efficiency, healthier indoor air, reduced water usage, and improved comfort. 

Sustainable building practices go beyond energy and water conservation, resource efficient building materials and superior indoor environmental quality.

Some of the key benefits are:
▪    Lower electric and water utility costs
▪    Environmentally effective use of building materials
▪    Enhanced health and productivity
▪    Long-term economic returns
▪    Reduced environmental impact

The homebuyer will know that their Built Green™ home represents their commitment to the environment, future generations and improving the way we live. Resource and environment-conscious homebuyers will look for Built Green™ certification when choosing their home.

A Built Green™ home certification offers participating builders an excellent way to distinguish themselves in the marketplace. Market research shows that consumers take environmental concerns and long-term energy costs into consideration when making purchasing decisions.  Builders can demonstrate their environmental leadership by participating in Built Green™ and produce a great home.

Three-bedroom, three-bath home enjoys functional, family-friendly layout with bright new master suite over new garage, main-floor living and rec room/guest space downstairs.

Butt-jointed millwork in edge-grain fir extends throughout. Island-made, wood-framed, low-e, argon-filled windows and insulated, painted aluminum garage doors maximize efficiency while maintaining Craftsman style.

New kitchen features custom, Shaker-style oak cabinetry, Island-quarried granite, fir-trimmed pass-through to dining room for bright, open ambience. Oil-rubbed bronze hardware; complementary Tiffany-style pendant lighting; Energy Star, stainless steel appliances; apron sink with Moen gooseneck faucet; island prep sink.

Unused under-stairs space became cozy, attractive workstation, with comfortable seating and desk.

Reducing, reusing and recycling were essential. Carefully saved and re-used Union Bay brick in the new entry; recycled old aluminum siding; donated wood siding and doors to Habitat for Humanity’s Restore.

Low-VOC paints, slate and natural finishes on local, FSC-certified fir flooring and trim enhance indoor air quality; new floors blend seamlessly with existing wood.

New rainscreen technology, perimeter drainage, framing, plumbing, electrical, insulation and forced air heat pump, low-flow toilets and fixtures.

West Coast colours on Hardi-plank, cedar shingles and low-maintenance landscaping create a home in harmony with treed, water-view setting.

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