Along with lowering monthly utility bills, green home features can also cut costs for homeowners by reducing their mortgage insurance premium.

Depending on the home's degree of energy efficiency, up to a quarter of a borrower's premium can be covered by a rebate through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) Green Home program.

Increased energy efficiency can increase your home's resale

Whether it is through appliances, heating or cooling, homes use a lot of energy.

In Canada, space heating accounts for more than 60 per cent of residential energy use and makes up a good proportion of a home's overall energy bill.

While the environmental reasons for reducing the energy use of a home are many, there are also financial reasons to add a little green to your home.