Via Capitale recently published a report titled Vers une habitation durable (Towards Sustainable Housing). The report assesses the growing number of programs available in Quebec aimed at homeowners and buyers who are concerned about the ecological impact of a property they live in or are seeking to buy.

To help website visitors determine a home’s ecological footprint, Via Capitale includes the Energy Rating along with other key information that can be displayed on the property’s listing page at the Via Capitale or Art by Via Capitale websites.

“More and more Quebecers are becoming aware of the environmental impact of buildings and their use, so they’re looking for sustainable homes that have a much lower environmental and economical impact over their life cycle,” says Nicolas Ayotte, president and CEO of Via Capitale. “By highlighting the Energy Ratings of homes, we can better present properties that have been built and certified under programs like NOVOCLIMAT, LEED Canada for Homes, Greenglobe and Blanches, or have been renovated to meet the standards of programs like Rénoclimat or Rénovation Écohabitation.”

Environmental impact is measured over the life cycle of a building, from the manufacture of the materials to construction, use by occupants, maintenance, repairs and renovations and finally the end-of-life phase.

Users of the Via Capitale web platforms www.viacapitalevendu.com and www.ArtViaCapitale.com can see all the factors taken into account in calculating a property’s Écohabitation Energy Rating by dragging their mouse over the rating shown on the property’s listing page. Écohabitation is the No. 1 organization promoting green homes in Quebec, the company says.