Frequently asked questions

There are several possible answers to this question. At the very least, an ecological home should consume less energy and water, ensure healthier air quality and use environmentally  friendly materials. For those who want the very best, Belvedair has extensive experience in designing and building energy-efficient homes. See our Eco-Building Guide.

Passive solar means using the free, phenomenal energy the sun sends our way every day to heat our homes. We’re not talking about solar panels or technological add-ons here; rather, it’s about orientation, abundant windows and other well-designed features. With passive solar design, you’ll be able to live in a bright, comfortable place all year long, with significantly lower energy bills. Learn more

Yes. Belvedair is a general contractor specializing ecological homes in since 2007. We offer plans, lots, custom architecture and eco-building services. 

We mainly cover the Laurentians, Lanaudières, the Eastern Townships, Montérégie and Greater Montreal. We serve regions where we have permanent teams and know that we will be able to provide service and attention that meets your expectations. Consult our Contact Us page to view our serviced territory. If you have any ambiguity about your sector, call us so we can discuss it with you!

You should allow a minimum of two months for project planning and at least four months for construction. 

However, the time required for construction varies from one house to another (dimensions, finishes, features, etc.), from one lot to another (constraints, access, relief), and even from one city to another (permit issuance period) or from one season to another (weather constraints). Your advisor will give you an overview at the planning stage, and as the start of construction work nears, your construction project manager will give you a schedule. Regular follow-ups will also be carried out throughout the project.

The project has three main stages:

1. Project analysis: finding a concept that meets your needs and budget. Free of charge, except for the site visit.
2. Architectural phase: choosing a plan from our portfolio or creating a customized plan with our architectural department.
3. Construction phase. 

Find out more

• “Turnkey” means we take care of the job from start to finish. 
• “Ready-to-finish” means we deliver the house to you after the drywall and jointing stage.

You manage or take care of interior finishes (floor finishes, interior doors, mouldings, priming and painting, built-in furniture, staircase finishes, lighting and faucets) while Belvedair takes care of the following: site services, excavation, foundations, framing, insulation and sealing, roofing and siding, interior partitions, mechanical systems (ventilation, plumbing, electrical), drywall and joints. In short, we take care of everything that impacts your home's energy efficiency, quality and sustainability.

To ensure the quality and energy efficiency of the home, our services include more than just the construction of the framework alone . The house’s mechanical systems (plumbing, ventilation, electrical) and exterior cladding are closely linked to the integrity of the envelope and therefore impact the durability and energy efficiency of the house. That is why Belvedair always takes care of these features.

Yes, our ecological homes are covered by the Garantie Construction Résidentielle (GCR) warranty plan. Learn more

The extra cost of building an energy-efficient home is estimated at around 4% for the building envelope. However, the energy savings generated are greater than the additional mortgage payment. 

The cost of purchasing an ecological home is higher, but the costs associated with its use and maintenance are significantly lower than with a standard home. By buying an ecological home, you’re investing in your health and your future!

You have to add the cost of the land and its preparation for construction, as well as all related services: clearing, driveway, excavation, well and septic systems, electrical hook-up, and landscaping. Taxes (GST, QST) are also added to the price. 

Finally, if you opt for a “ready-to-finish” home, you will need to budget for interior finishes.  

Yes. The foundation is always included in the price of our homes, for both “turnkey” and “ready-to-finish” projects.

Belvedair does not offer plans for sale. We are an eco-contractor first and foremost!

Yes, we can make adjustments to the plans to suit your land, lifestyle and needs. Modifications can be minor or major; depending on the case, your consultant will advise you of the possibilities. We also have an in-house architecture department. If you are interested in a custom architectural project, Belvedair has been specializing in this type of project since 2007.

Yes, you can send us your plans. Our team will study them and give you an estimate if the plans are consistent with your project. It is not unusual for a plan to require modifications for budgetary or ecological reasons. In such a case, wet will assist you and provide solutions.

Yes, you can take a tour of our model homes at our monthly open houses in the Eastern Townships and Laurentians. Go to the Open house section to see our upcoming events and follow us on Facebook! 

Novoclimat is a program that encourages the construction of energy-efficient buildings. Novoclimat contractors are trained and certified, as are the program's evaluators trained and mandated by Transition énergétique Québec (TEQ). In addition, each home meets rigorous standards and is inspected twice by an independent evaluator to establish its energy efficiency. Novoclimat also provides financial support ranging from $2,000 to $4,000 for certification.

This certification is a guarantee of quality, comfort and confidence.

Learn more about Novoclimat

Absolutely! It’s Belvedair’s specialty!

Yes, Belvedair visiting your plot is one of the first steps of the project. We charge $400 for a visit.

No, we have chosen not to be the only builder authorized on our lots. 

If you wish to use another builder or build your own home, you will simply have to comply with an architectural charter designed to ensure that:

• the houses blend in with their surroundings;
• surfaces not affected by the work are maintained, and that the affected areas are restored using natural, sustainable landscaping;
• the overall appearance of the homes is harmonious to ensure value for the owners.

Unlike standard construction, a Belvedair sustainable home features superior insulation and exemplary airtightness. By utilizing bioclimatic design, we transform winter sunlight into a free source of heat: where a conventional home consumes energy to compensate for heat loss, the eco-friendly home capitalizes on passive solar gains, and its high-performance insulation conserves energy, providing constant comfort and drastically reduced Hydro-Québec bills.

Yes, an eco-friendly home is truly more sustainable, because sustainability depends on performance that is invisible yet real. Beyond healthy materials, it is the building’s high-performance envelope that makes the difference: better weatherproofing protects the structure from water and Quebec’s extreme weather conditions. This efficiency translates into significant energy savings and a reduced carbon footprint throughout the home’s entire life cycle. Choosing Belvedair means investing in a resilient building that retains its resale value while offering a superior quality of life.

Belvedair’s approach focuses on improving components that require little to no maintenance. For example: 

• through better window orientation to take advantage of the sun’s free energy;
• through improved air and water tightness, which enhances energy efficiency and protects the building’s structure;
• through better insulation;
• through healthier interior finishes and more durable exterior finishes;
• through more efficient plumbing fixtures;
• through a more efficient heat-recovery air exchanger.

This approach differs from one relying on “mechanical” technologies, which require more maintenance, such as geothermal systems, for example. Although there are no “maintenance-free” homes, a Belvedair eco-home will require less maintenance than a “standard” home.

Absolutely, affordability is at the heart of our mission. To help you realize your dream without compromise, we offer a catalog of eco-friendly house plans featuring optimized and affordable designs. For those who want to get more involved, our “Ready to Finish” package is an excellent option: it allows you to take on certain finishing tasks to reduce labor costs.

Belvedair has built more than 40 LEED-certified homes. We have the expertise to guide you through the LEED certification process, if that is your goal. This is a prestigious international recognition that verifies, through independent inspectors, that your home is environmentally friendly. All Belvedair homes adhere to the principles of sustainability and high-level eco-friendly design, and we would be happy to assist you if you wish to pursue LEED certification.

Yes, and in fact, Belvedair is one of the very few Novoclimat Select Contractors. High energy efficiency is at the heart of our approach: that’s why all of our homes, without exception, are Novoclimat certified. This Quebec construction standard ensures superior insulation, rigorous airtightness, and consistent thermal comfort, summer and winter alike. In addition to reducing your energy bills thanks to Belvedair’s exemplary energy performance, this systematic certification gives you access to attractive government grants, making your investment even more profitable.

The cost of owning an eco-friendly home is lower than that of a standard home, as energy savings and reduced maintenance costs quickly outweigh the additional construction costs. Although eco-friendly features add about 4% to 6% to the cost, the energy savings exceed the additional mortgage payment.

In passive solar homes, the goal is to keep heat inside during the winter and prevent it from entering during the summer. A wall section like the one in Belvedair offers an R-value of 33. The insulation value of windows is significantly lower! The increase in insulation value from triple-pane to double-pane windows is nearly double: R3.6 for standard double-pane glass versus approximately R8 for high-performance triple-pane glass. Since the additional cost is only about 15%, the energy savings more than offset this purchase cost. 

The effectiveness of triple-pane glazing will be appreciated on the south-facing wall as well as on the other facades. Although some argue that it is not worth installing triple-pane windows on the south side, the calculations from Belvedair’s energy simulations are clear: double low-e triple-pane windows are necessary even on the south side. This choice will also help prevent overheating in the summer, increase comfort near the windows, and reduce the risk of condensation on the windows.

No, the first step is to optimize the building envelope, solar orientation, and floor plans. Technologies like geothermal energy and solar panels can improve a home’s energy efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint, but you must start with a passive approach by optimizing the home’s permanent features.

For example, you can’t change the home’s orientation after construction. It’s impossible to revise the layout after construction to optimize ergonomics and storage, for example, without incurring significant costs. And you certainly won’t want to tear open the walls to add insulation if you have an additional budget a few years later. But it is possible to add technologies a few years after the house is built.

It’s also worth noting that adding insulation, airtightness, solar orientation, and optimizing floor plans are the most cost-effective measures to address from the very beginning of your project planning. While technologies like geothermal systems and solar panels can be cost-effective, their lifespan is shorter, making them less cost-effective in the long run. 

There are other factors that may still prompt you to install technologies such as solar panels, for example, to ensure energy self-sufficiency in the event of a power outage. However, optimizing the performance of your insulation and windows to retain heat remains a top priority, as this also reduces the risk in the event of a power outage.

It is also important to note that geothermal energy is no longer quite as relevant given the rapid advancements in cold-climate heat pumps over the past few years. Heat pumps that draw heat from the air and can also function as air conditioners have become so efficient that geothermal energy is no longer cost-effective compared to these units.