Duffins Gate
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Buying Green

Coughlan Homes prides itself on exceeding the expectations of home buyers. We recognize the value of being energy efficient and being supportive of the environment.

At Duffin's Gate, we are proud to be the first Pickering home development to follow the Energy Star requirements for New Home construction. Coughlan Homes will not stop there. Future developments will actively pursue a green approach to construction and on-site waste management systems.

What is Energy Star®?

An ENERGY STARŪ qualified home is a home that has been built by a licensed ENERGY STARŪ for New Homes builder who incorporates energy efficient features into the home so that it can meet the ENERGY STARŪ for New Homes technical specifications.

Upon completion of the ENERGY STARŪ qualified new home, an independent (not employed by the builder) ENERGY STARŪ for New Homes evaluator verifies that the home has been built to ENERGY STARŪ for New Homes technical specifications. After the verification process is complete, Natural Resources Canada issues an ENERGY STARŪ for New Homes label and certificate to the homeowner. The label is usually placed on the home's electrical panel and includes a regional service organization seal of authenticity.

Potential homebuyers will be amazed to learn how much less they will have to spend for heating, cooling and hydro in energy-efficient homes.

Coughlan Homes in the Duffin's Gate Community is pleased to offer the following:

  • Dual pipe high efficiency furnace
  • Air tightness / furnace plenum sealing
  • ECM / DC motor on Furnace
  • Low E argon filled patio doors
  • Low E coating & Argon Filled Window with Insulated Spacers
  • Heat Recovery Ventilator
  • Programmable Thermostat
  • 2" Styrofoam under Concrete Foam (builder's extra)
  • R40 Attic Insulation
  • R22 Exterior Wall Insulation
  • Filed testing for Air Tightness & Labeling

What does this mean to you?

You can be assured that your ENERGY STARŪ qualified new home has been built to strict technical specifications by a licensed ENERGY STARŪ for New Homes builder and that it has been verified by an independent energy evaluator to ensure state-of-the-art performance. You will benefit from it in a variety of ways.

Lower cost

You will be pleased to see the monthly energy savings in an ENERGY STARŪ qualified new home. If you pay a mortgage, these savings will more than compensate for any additional costs that may be charged initially for the energy-saving features.

Improved air quality = health and comfort

Air movement in your house, especially in winter, causes drafts that make you feel uncomfortable. You will quickly notice the difference in an ENERGY STARŪ qualified home. Higher levels of air tightness and a heat recovery ventilation system (HRV) give you a greater sense of coziness as they keep indoor air fresh and maintain humidity at the level you find comfortable.

Less energy expended = fewer pollutants

Homes account for 17 percent of all energy use in Canada. As ENERGY STARŪ qualified homes are more energy-efficient than standard code built houses, they can help reduce air pollution and lessen other environmental problems, such as climate change.

Interested in learning more? Visit the Energy Star website.