Last Friday, before the ribbon was cut on opening day of The National Home Show, I got a sneak peek at the futuristic Glass House, built by Concept PolygHome and interior-designed by Debbie Travis. The home was pieced together in a short seven days inside the Direct Energy Centre at Exhibition Place.

I quickly found out there was a lot to learn about this innovative green construction concept, which features bioclimatic architecture. In real words: the structure is made with wood beams manufactured from the recovery of engineered wood. This one happens to be assembled into a semi-circle, but as I learned, it can be assembled in a variety of ways. 

The Glass House has floor-to-ceiling energy-efficient windows that capture as much sunlight as possible and they can be swapped out for solar panels. There’s a rainwater recycling mechanism and even the insulation is soya-based polyurethane foam. I’m sure I’m forgetting a few details, so if you get the chance to get down to the Show before Feb. 27, it’s worth the trip—if only for the inspiration.

Incorporating green ideas into your home might seem overwhelming, but talking to a professional renovator can help ease those fears. That was the inspiration behind our BILD booth at the Home Show, aptly called Destination Renovation. I was there for five hours on Saturday and watched as dozens of couples wandered around our booth, looking at our displays featuring before-and-after photos of our Renovation and Custom Building Award finalist and winners.

Some people wandered into the centre of the booth where our volunteering professionals, who are BILD and RenoMark members, were dishing out free advice. Many asked about remodelling their kitchen, bathroom or unfinished basement. Others had questions about where to start and how to begin the renovation process.

The one piece of advice I could confidently give was to begin by visiting BILD’s RenoMark website, where a database of certified contractors is at your fingertips. A simple search engine helps you find a professional in your city or town, who can help you with the specific renovation you key in. There’s also a section of the site that explains government incentives that can help pay for some of your green renos, so check it out and let the planning begin.

Stephen Dupuis is the President and CEO of the Building Industry & Land Development Association.