On a quiet side street in Danforth Village lurks an unusual species for sale – a gleaming modern gem renovated with eco-friendly building practices and materials.  The designer of this unique home is Emmanuel Belliveau, one of the hosts of HGTV’s World’s Greenest Homes. Emmanuel is in various stages of renovation on four flip projects in the area, testing the market’s interest in sustainable homes and, most importantly, finding out if buyers are willing to part with a little more green to get green.

Emmanuel took me on a tour of the house last week and I was amazed by the light, airy ambiance and attention to detail throughout.  While the house is a compact 1000 square feet (1300 square feet including the basement), the space has been carefully maximized by smart decisions like cathedral ceilings in the bedrooms, a space-saving built-in teak headboard in the master bedroom and a glass enclosed staircase that acts as a central light well and divides the living and eating space.  No corner has been neglected, including the Forest Stewardship Council certified wood patio, which features an organic herb garden.

Like any eco-friendly product, a green home challenges the buyers’ expectations around necessity versus desire.  Emmanuel’s house is being defined by many buyers as a starter home and perhaps not large enough to raise a family.  The difficulty with green renovation is that the payback period is 5-20 years, whereas first time buyers typically stay in their homes for 5-8 years.  The annual savings in running costs of a house of this size are around $4,000, which may not offset the initial renovation investment if a buyer doesn’t stay in the house over the long-term.  Emmanuel reminded me that “The average person needs 300-500 square feet of living space so we have ample room here for a family of four.  Why have formal rooms that you don’t use but have to heat?”

The key to being more environmentally responsible is to buy only what you need, so why wouldn’t a three bedroom home with two separate living spaces be adequate for a growing family?  Europe and Japan have embraced compact living, so why can’t we?

Given all the recent media attention around “green-washing” and general green fatigue, anything that is marketed as eco-friendly is now open to massive scrutiny.  We used cloth diapers for our daughter but were scolded for wasting water by laundering the diapers every other day.  It is very difficult to attain perfection and in the frustration to do so, many people give up.  With Emmanuel’s house, buyers have questioned everything from maintaining the original home’s air conditioning system instead of installing fans to using reclaimed granite in the bathroom rather than an eco material like Ice Stone.  Emmanuel points out that “You can’t be perfect.  You have to participate in the movement, do things that are better.  It’s not about perfection, it’s about participation.”

I couldn’t agree more.  Let’s take a look inside, shall we?

Lovely views of the street can be enjoyed from the house's hillside perch. While shoveling two sets of stairs in the winter won't be fun, being above street level allows for a very private treehouse feel. The siding is made of Extira, with no old growth wood used in manufacturing and no added urea formaldehyde.

The rock garden and minimal lawn space reduces the need for a lawnmower and low maintenance planting and mulching reduces the amount of watering required. The Ecoscapes mulch is MSC certified and does not contain cremated copper arsenate-treated wood. Safe for your misbehaving dog to chew!

Breathe in and enjoy! No VOC paint, bamboo floors, and energy-efficient, allergy friendly radiant in-floor heating.

Many family buyers are looking for entrance storage or some way to hide all the unsightly "stuff" that comes with kids. While there is a coat closet in the kitchen, it would have been nice to have some storage or a partition wall for hooks here.

Nothing looks better naked than red brick! The exposed brick feature wall brings warmth to the dining area and is a nod to the original building.

Ikea cabinetry, energy star appliances in stainless steel and reclaimed white granite are neutral choices but exude style. Little details like the pot filler above the stove and "book-matched" counter and back splash get my pulse racing. Double doors lead to a generous patio and a recycling depot (no more midnight snacks for you, raccoons of the East end!). A barbecue gas line is already installed. See you at the housewarming BBQ, lucky buyer, whomever you are!

Let there be light! The glass staircase leads to a skylight, creating a central light well. Natural light throughout the house is maximized, reducing use of electrical lights. Wood open risers are a modern choice but could be tricky for small children to navigate.

The master bedroom and bathroom are separated by the staircase from the other two bedrooms, aka "the kids wing". See you never, I mean in the morning, kids!

Vaulted ceilings and a very large closet with a safe (what secrets shall I hide? mmm ha ha!) and organizers make this a lovely master bedroom. The best part is what lies above - the house is retrofitted for solar panels!

By moving the staircase, the bathroom gained square footage. Mondo storage can be found in the responsibly harvested teak vanity.

100% wool broadloom produced by progressive green company Interface has an eco rubber underlay, giving the basement a cosy vibe without the usual worry of toxic fibers and glue. The family room is a great space but there is no storage room for your old high school yearbooks and Doc Marten collection in the basement. Guess it's time to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Emmanuel’s recommended reading list:

Eco:  An Essential Sourcebook

Cradle to Cradle

The full tour of the house is available here.

The Deets:

Danforth/Coxwell, Detached, 2-Storey, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms

List: $649,900

Taxes: $2,572

Lot: 20 x 11o Feet

Parking: 1 space

Remarks For Clients: Green Living At Its Best. Fully Reno’d Top To Bottom, Inside & Out. Modern, Unique, Energy-Efficient Reno By Celebrity Designer Emmanuel Belliveau (Hgtv’s Worlds Greenest Homes). Eco-Friendly Materials, Meticulous Attention To Detail, Top Quality Finishes And Fixtures (Granite, Bamboo, Teak, Porcelain, Wool Carpet). Steps To Subway, Danforth Restaurants & Shops, Good Schools & Park. Absolute Must See – Too Many Custom Features To Describe.