For the second installment of our Eco-Renovation series (the first one on environmentally kind painting tips is here), we've culled a list of 5 great tips for all kinds of different home improvement projects, all of which aim to make them that much more earth-friendly. Enjoy, and we hope you put them to good use during your next project!

1) Reduce, Reuse, Reshingle?

If you're a fan of natural wood shingles, try re-shingling with reclaimed redwood shingles, a product made with the stumps of old growth trees. They are available at most major hardware stores, although you may pay a bit of a premium over regular wood shingles.

2) Say No to Poison Lumber

Most people don't realize that that greeny tinge in pressure treated wood is given to it by a toxic blend of pesticides that is injected into the lumber and can often leech out into the surrounding environment. If you're building a deck, or some other exterior wood project, consider asking for CA-B Pressure Treated wood, which is pressure treated, but without the harsh chemicals.

3) Go EnerGuide

This may seem like a no-brainer, but the simple act of making your next appliance upgrade an EnerGuide certified one will help the environment tremendously over the long term... and save you money as well.

4) Insulate Au Naturel

Rather than using fiberglass insulation, which is bad for air quality and difficult to dispose of, consider using all natural cotton-based insulation instead. Again, there is a slight premium associated with preferring this variety, but the R-Values are comparable and the ecological footprint much smaller.

5) One Man's Trash...

When you're ripping out old building materials for a renovation, remember that what you no longer need, someone else may be able to make use of. Bringing un-wanted building supplies to a Habitat for Humanity's ReStore location near you is a great way to give some renewed life to what was essentially your trash. There are two locations here in Ottawa, the locations of which are listed on the local HFH chapter website here. 

Do you have any other great green reno tips that you'd like to share with our readers? If so, drop us a note in the comments!

BUILDERS GIVING BACK 

It is often said that the homelessness problem in any given city, Ottawa included, is much worse than it appears. It's not just the stereotypical "homeless" we see lying on sidewalks in the downtown core who are under-sheltered. 

In reality, for each of these poor souls on park benches, there are several times as many people who are living with family, or in shelters, or even in crowded rental units, and often with multiple children and little money for other necessities like food and clothing. 

These are the somewhat more invisible "homeless" of our cities, and the ones that charities like Habitat for Humanity seek to help. And since homebuilders house people for a living, by definition, it is always refreshing to see builders step up to the plate and partner with Habitat to give back. 

That's what Ottawa builder Urbandale was doing this week, as they prepared to break ground on one of the local HFH chapter's two home projects for this year.

The two projects will house two families in need of help, in side-by-side homes in Orleans. One home has been sponsored by The Home Depot Canada, and the other by Urbandale.

The Urbandale home will house Angela Durant and her two sons Sherwin and Sheldon (pictured at left.) It will be built to the stringent R-2000 Environmental standard, which is a first for the National Capital Region Habitat chapter.    

Orleans (Otawa East) city councillor Bob Monette spoke at the ground-breaking ceremony earlier this week and encouraged the Durants to be hopeful for their future in the new home. 

"You'll notice the community you're moving into is a beautiful one," he said. "It's very safe and you'll feel very welcome here."

Indeed, as Platinum Sponsors, Urbandale has made a significant impact upon the future of this family, donating $75,000 towards the construction of their new family home. The builder has made this donation as part of its 50th Anniversary celebrations. 

As with all Habitat projects, the home, when finished, will be sold to the Durants on an interest-free mortgage that will be paid back in full. The family has also already begun the 500 hours of "sweat equity" required of participants in the program, helping out at fundraising BBQs, delivering flyers and the like.

Despite this generous donation from Urbandale, Habitat is still always in need of volunteers to help make their projects a reality. If you would like to participate in this build, either by doing a skilled trade, committee person or coordinator, they would love to hear from you. You can reach the Ottawa office at 613 749 9950 or via email here. 

If you don't live Ottawa, but would like to help this great hand-up-instead-of-out charity, you can find a chapter near you on their Canadian site here, or their American one here. 

Kudos to Urbandale for giving back to the community in such an apropos way.

With this year's version of their annual URBANA fundraising gala, local homebuilder Dharma Developments has raised $15,000 to help Habitat for Humanity provide affordable housing for Ottawa's homeless and inadequately housed families.

The 4th annual URBANA was held on Thursday, April 24 (2008) at the National Archives of Canada and featured a live band and the poetic stylings of Oni the Haitian Sensation. More than 150 people attended the evening, including many members of the homebuilding industry.

"We were really happy with the support that members of the GOHBA (Greater Ottawa Homebuilders Association) gave," says Akash Sinha, President of Dharma Developments. (Pictured) "A lot of builders came out, and a lot of trades and suppliers either came out or supported the event but weren't able to attend. That is really important because affordable housing should be a cause that our industry cares about, and it's good to see that they do."

All monies raised from the event were earmarked to support a Habitat for Humanity Youth Build this summer. Elizabeth Rock, President of the National Capital branch of Habitat, says the $15,000 raised is the equivalent of about three bedrooms worth of construction materials, which means that "three more kids in this region will have a room they can call their own, a refuge, and a place where happy childhood memories can live."

The special performer at the event, Oni the Haitian Sensation, wrote and directed a moving spoken word and multimedia presentation that was meant to give attendees a glimpse into the lives of under-housed children in Ottawa. A group of five local students presented poems written by Oni, interdispersed with pre-recorded interviews of local Habitat volunteers.

"I got a lot of positive feedback," says Oni. "A lot of people were not familiar with spoken word (presentations), and I think they really got a sense of what it means to be involved with Habitat for Humanity - the youth (presenters) represented the people in Habitat homes."

Before and after the special presentation, the crowd mingled and socialized to the sounds of the band "Rumbavant", and enjoyed tapas provided by sponsor Mambo Restaurante. Two lucky guests took home door prizes, a trip for two to Whistler, B.C. courtesy of Westjet, and a gift basket donated by Bridgehead coffee.

All in all, Sinha says the event was a great success. "URBANA has always been about raising awareness in the community," he says, "It's not just about financial support, because organizations like Habitat also need the support of the community and people to literally lend a helping hand, and we saw lots of that this year."

"The feedback we got from those who attended was that they didn't know what an organization like Habitat really did, or how they helped families," says Sinha. "So one of the best benefits of the event is that Habitat for Humanity got a number of people who were moved by the videos and the spoken word and wanted to volunteer and be involved in future builds."

More more information on how you can get involved with Habitat, contact the NCR Volunteer coordinator Gisele Grenier Miller by email. 

You can also find out more information about Dharma Developments here.