It’s Easy Being Green: Products that Will Save Energy, Water and Money
With energy and utility costs expecting to rise in the next few years, investing in environmentally friendly products can help you save energy, water—and perhaps most importantly, money. To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of products that will help you live green.
Energy Efficient Bathroom Items
As much as 65% of all indoor water use occurs within the bathroom. If you’re not using low-water, energy efficient products, you’ll likely waste thousands of litres of water every year – which can add up financially over time. That’s why it’s important to optimize your home’s bathrooms with environmentally-friendly products; reducing your impact on the environment and reducing your family’s overall water waste.
Low Flush Toilets
Traditional toilets can use up to 18 litres of water per flush – wasting hundreds of dollars per year. In comparison, low-flush toilets are designed to use six litres of water or less per flush, which can add up to substantial savings over time. In fact, the CHMC conducted a study comparing water-efficient toilets to standard ones in a single-family dwelling; the results reported a 68% decrease in water consumption between the two.
Low Flow Shower Heads and Faucets
The average family of three can take approximately 1,000 showers throughout the year; with the average conventional showerhead using 18 to 27 litres of water per minute—the costs can add up quickly. Consider installing a low-flow unit that typically uses 9 to 11 litres per minute, saving thousands of litres per year.
Most showerheads and faucets are based on an aeration technique by adding air into the water stream. This creates an even, full shower spray despite using less water. Low-flow showerheads and faucets come in a variety of styles and finishes, so you’ll be able to maintain the luxurious feel of any bathroom, without wasting water and money.
Energy Efficient Kitchen Items
Opt for new energy efficient refrigerators and freezers when designing your kitchen; ideally choosing a model with an ENERGY STAR for optimal efficiency. In fact, although an ENERGY STAR fridge costs a little more to purchase initially, they’ve generally paid for themselves within a few years.
When selecting your refrigerator, consider the size of your family and the storage requirements you have. The average household requires a fridge between 16 and 22 cubic feet for optimal storage. Selecting a fridge that’s too small can cause overcrowding – which can become inefficient; likewise, a fridge that’s too big will just waste energy.
If your family requires a deep freezer, opt for a chest style over the upright models. Chest freezers are typically 25% more energy efficient than upright models that will continue to save you money in the long-run.
Energy Efficient Housing Items
High-Efficiency Water Heater
Heating water requires extensive amounts of energy, often heating the entire tank of water to maintain a temperature repeatedly. While this does, in fact, work well for most homes, opting for a high-efficiency water heater can save you energy and money. Look into purchasing a per use water heater, which heats the water at the time of use – instead of consistently warming it (for instance, when you’re sleeping or at work). This way, you’ll only use energy to heat water you’re using at that time – instead of around the clock when you don’t need it.
Likewise, you can also insulate any visible water pipes to help eliminate any heat loss as well. By insulating the pipes, you’ll help keep the temperature consistent and use less energy in the process.
Added Insulation for Extra Warmth
If you’re looking to save some money on your heating bill, consider adding extra insulation (like spray foam) to your home’s structure. But adding spray insulation, you’ll be left with a fuller, thicker coverage – keeping your house warm and toasty in the winter by keeping the cold out. Likewise, you can opt to add additional insulation to the attic and basement of your home as well, which can improve the energy efficiency of your home too.
Properly insulating your home can reduce your year-round energy usage by 20-60%, which can add up to considerable savings over time. Likewise, insulation is one of the most cost-effective ways to reducing your heating and cooling expenses over time.
Small Changes Add Up to Big Savings
While it might not seem like a lot of changes, making small improvements to your home’s structure and design can add up to considerable savings over the years. As more people understand the importance of living green, the value for homes with these features and qualities can hold or improve the retail value in the event they decide to resell down the road. Combined with the immediate savings you’ll see at the time of installation, having an energy efficient home is a no-brainer.
How Much Will a Septic System Cost in Ontario in 2026?
If you’re building in Ontario and you need a septic system, you’ve probably already heard three very unhelpful answers: “It depends.” “It varies.” “Somewhere between a used pickup truck and a brand-new one.” Sadly… those answers are not wrong.
But we can do better than that. In this guide, we’ll lay out realistic 2026 cost ranges, the big cost drivers that move the price, and a budgeting method that keeps the septic from becoming the surprise villain in your build story.
First, What’s Regulated (and Who’s In Charge)?
In Ontario, most residential on-site sewage systems fall under Ontario Building Code requirements (Part 8) when the design capacity is below 10,000 litres per day — which covers typical homes. Your permit and inspections are commonly handled through your local authority (often a health unit or municipality acting as the “principal authority”) under the Ontario Building Code framework.
If you want the official backbone references, start here: Ontario Building Code (Ontario.ca) and Ontario’s sewage systems regulation reference: O. Reg. 358 (Sewage Systems).
Plain-English takeaway: A septic system isn’t “just an excavation job.” It’s a regulated system with site evaluation, design rules, clearances, inspection steps, and paperwork. That’s why two properties on the same road can have very different pricing.
2026 Cost Ranges You Can Actually Use
Here’s the best way to think about septic costs in 2026: there’s the “simple gravity system on good soil” price, and then there’s the “Ontario reality” price. Ontario reality includes tight sites, clay, rock, slope, high water tables, longer driveways, and permits that take time.
| System / Scope | Typical Ontario Range (planning) | Why it lands there |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional septic system (gravity) on good soil | $10,000 – $20,000 | Best-case sites: decent percolation, easy access, minimal importing/exporting of soil. |
| “Average” new system on many rural lots | $18,000 – $35,000 | More typical: some site constraints, more material, larger beds, or more labour/hauling. |
| Advanced treatment / raised bed / challenging site | $25,000 – $50,000+ | Used when soils, setbacks, or conditions require treatment units, pumps, raised beds, or special design. |
| Permit + testing + design (soft costs) | $1,000 – $3,000+ (plus permit fees) | Soil evaluation, design, paperwork, plus permit/inspection fees that vary by authority. |
Those ranges line up with what multiple Ontario excavation/installers publish as “typical” starting points and advanced-system ranges, but remember: you’re not buying a product — you’re buying a site-specific solution.
The 10 Cost Drivers That Move Your Quote (The Real Stuff)
1) Soil type and “T-time” (percolation behaviour)
Good draining sand is the “easy mode” of septic. Heavy clay is the “hard mode.” Rock is the “boss fight.” Your soil evaluation drives bed sizing, design approach, and whether you’ll need a raised bed or advanced treatment.
2) Water table and seasonal wetness
High groundwater can trigger more engineered solutions (and more imported aggregate). It can also affect when the work can be done and how stable the excavation is.
3) Space and setbacks
Limited lot area, waterfront constraints, wells, property lines, and building footprint placement can push you into a more complex design. When you’re tight on space, you’re not just “installing septic” — you’re solving a site puzzle.
4) Slope and elevation
A flat lot is cheaper. A sloped lot often means more excavation strategy, more stabilization, and sometimes pumping/lift requirements. (If you’re dealing with slopes in general on custom builds, this is a helpful read: Slab-on-Grade vs Basement in Ontario — because foundation choices and site grading tie into septic planning.)
5) Access for equipment and material delivery
If equipment can get in easily and the install area is clear, productivity stays high. If you’re threading machines through trees, tight gates, or soft ground, labour and time go up. The septic itself didn’t change — the site did.
6) Hauling, spoils, and imported fill
Disposal is expensive. Imported stone and sand are expensive. If your site needs a lot of imported material or you have to haul soil off-site, that can add thousands quickly.
7) System type (gravity vs pump vs advanced)
Gravity systems are the simplest. Pumped systems add equipment and electrical. Advanced treatment units add equipment, ongoing service expectations, and often higher up-front cost — but they can make a “difficult lot” buildable.
8) The tank (size, material, placement depth)
Tank size is driven by design flows and bedrooms (and sometimes additional fixtures). Depth and access can change installation difficulty and bedding requirements. Many septic tanks are built to CSA standards such as CSA B66 for prefabricated septic and holding tanks.
9) Permit and inspection fees (vary by authority)
Permit fees are not the same everywhere. Some Ontario sources cite common permit ranges like roughly $500 to $1,200 for a new system, but your local authority can be higher depending on application type and local fee schedules. Also, some municipalities run re-inspection programs with published fees (for example, some list ~$142 for a regular inspection).
10) Timing (season, scheduling, and coordination)
Septic is often on the critical path: it influences where the house sits, where the driveway runs, and how your site grading will work. If you delay septic decisions, you can delay the whole build. If you want a clean overview of how permits fit into the schedule: How to Get a Building Permit in Ontario.
Budgeting Method That Works (Even When You Don’t Know Everything Yet)
Here’s how we recommend budgeting septic in 2026 without playing financial roulette:
Step 1: Pick a realistic “base range”
- Good soil, lots of space: start around the conventional range
- Typical rural lot: start in the “average” range
- Constraints/water/limited space: start in the advanced range
Step 2: Add “unknowns” as line items
- Extra hauling / disposal allowance
- Imported stone/sand allowance
- Pump/electrical allowance (if needed)
- Raised bed / engineered fill allowance
If you plan this way, septic stops being a surprise. It becomes a managed risk — like every other part of construction. For a deeper Ontario-specific guide to systems and how they work, we’ve got this page: Septic Systems Ontario.
“What About Maintenance?” (Yes, It Matters to Cost)
A septic system is not a “set it and forget it” item. It’s a system you maintain so you don’t end up paying the worst kind of money: emergency money. A conventional system has relatively straightforward maintenance (pumping on a schedule, smart water use). Advanced treatment units can have added service expectations and sometimes annual service requirements.
Builder tip: The cheapest septic system is the one that lasts. If your installer gives you operation/maintenance guidance, keep it. When you sell, buyers like documented care.
Smart Questions to Ask Before You Sign Anything
Use these questions to compare quotes properly (and to avoid the “but I thought that was included” moment):
- What exactly is included? Tank, bed, pumps, electrical, stone volumes, filter fabric, backfill, grading?
- What’s excluded? Tree clearing, driveway restoration, landscaping repairs, extra hauling, import fill?
- What assumptions are being made? Soil type? Access? Water table? Depth?
- What happens if soil conditions differ? How are change orders handled?
- Who pulls the permit and books inspections? (Make sure it’s clear.)
If you’re doing a high-performance custom build and you want a contractor who understands the full picture (site, structure, and systems), this is what we do on the ICF side as well: ICFhome.ca – Custom ICF Home Construction.
Bottom Line: What You Should Budget in 2026
If you want a practical planning number for 2026, here’s the honest answer: many Ontario builds land in the $18,000–$35,000 range once you factor in real-world site conditions, and difficult sites can push into the $25,000–$50,000+ territory. If your lot is big, well-draining, and easy to access, you may land closer to the conventional range.
The best way to protect your budget is to treat septic like a design-and-site project, not a commodity. Get the site evaluation early, plan the house placement with septic in mind, and demand clear scope definitions in quotes.