ENERGY STAR®
ENERGY STAR® Certified Homes represent a higher standard in energy-efficient construction, backed by the Government of Canada. It is a home built from the ground up to be 20% more efficient than a standard home built to the minimum provincial building code.
Unlike traditional homes, an ENERGY STAR® home follows a “whole-house” approach where every system – from the windows to the furnace – is optimized to work together.
The Urbandale Difference
Living in an Urbandale ENERGY STAR® home means lower monthly utility bills, a smaller carbon footprint, and a noticeably quieter, more comfortable living environment. It is a “future-proofed” investment that holds its value better than a home built to code.
Features
Advanced Air Sealing
The most critical technique is reducing air leakage. Urbandale seals every “penetration” in the building’s exterior – including gaps around windows, doors, electrical outlets, and plumbing stacks.
High-Performance Fenestration
Windows, doors, and skylights are often the “weakest link” in a home’s insulation. ENERGY STAR homes use certified products that feature high performance windows, low-E (low-emissivity) coatings to reflect heat back into the room during winter and block solar heat in summer and, insulated frames to prevent “thermal bridging” (where heat escapes through the frame itself).
High-Efficiency HVAC
Standard builders often “oversize” furnaces and AC units “just in case,” but this leads to inefficient cycling. Urbandale uses precise software to “right-size” the heating and cooling systems based on the home’s square footage and airtightness.
Whole-House Ventilation (ERV/HRV)
Because these homes are so airtight, they require “mechanical lungs” to ensure fresh air. Installing an Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) or Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) system exhausts stale indoor air while pulling in fresh, filtered outdoor air. Crucially, it uses the heat from the outgoing air to “pre-warm” the incoming air, so you get fresh air without losing your expensive heat.
Effective Insulation Installation
It’s not just about how much insulation you use (the R-value), but how it is installed. ENERGY STAR techniques require insulation to be; completely flush against the air barrier with no gaps or voids, compressed-free, as squishing insulation reduces its ability to trap air and hold heat, and upgraded in key areas, such as R-60 in attics and R-20+ in basement walls.
Electrical Integration
Electrical savings are achieved using combination of 100% LED lighting throughout the home and the installation of ENERGY STAR certified appliances (refrigerators, dishwashers, and laundry) which use significantly less power and water than conventional models.
ENERGY STAR®
The ENERGY STAR® initiative is administered by Natural Resources Canada to promote homes that are at least 20% more energy efficient than a house built to code. We achieve our high levels of energy efficiency through attention to detail during the construction process, and by specifying the highest quality equipment and materials. We also require additional inspections throughout the building process to ensure each home is built to the highest standards.