What is EnerGuide for New Houses?

February 13 2008
http://www.nshba.ns.ca/energuide.html

Developed by the Office of Energy Efficiency of Natural Resources Canada, EnerGuide for New Houses is a rating system that will help you understand the energy efficiency of your new home. It will help to determine how much your annual heating costs will be each year and provide you with an energy rating between 1 and 100.

Anyone can claim that a house is energy efficient, but an EnerGuide for New Houses label proves it. The label gives you an estimate of the electricity, natural gas or oil that you can expect to consume each year. But remember that energy consumption estimates are just that – estimates. The estimate for your home is based on a number of standard assumptions, such as a family of four living in the home and specific thermostat settings and usage rates for hot water, lighting and appliances.

In order to have an evaluation done on your new home, submit your enrolment form, house plans and $250+HST fee to the Nova Scotia Home Builders’ Association office. Once this is done, an energy advisor will be contacted to perform the evaluation and testing.

What will EnerGuide for New Houses do for me?

Energy costs are at an all-time high and are only increasing with each passing year. The EnerGuide for New Houses program is one way that you can pre-determine what your energy usage will be right from the time of construction, a significant advantage to the homeowner.

Are there any other incentives?

If your new house receives an EnerGuide rating of 77 or higher you will be eligible for a $250 rebate. Cheques will be sent directly to the new home owner or builder by Conserve Nova Scotia. Starting January 16, 2007, if your new house receives an EnerGuide rating of 80, you are eligible for a further incentive of $500. If your home has a rating of 77 or greater you will also be eligible for a 10 per cent rebate on your CMHC Mortgage Loan Insurance and be eligible for a 35-year mortgage plan at participating financial institutions.

What is in the Future of EnerGuide for New Houses?

The Province of Nova Scotia wants to make all new homes more energy efficient. A proposal to increase the energy efficient standards in new houses was released Jan. 16, by Bill Dooks, Minister responsible for Conserve Nova Scotia, at the ENERhouse 2007 conference in Halifax.

“The houses we build today will have the same energy requirements 15, 30 even 50 years down the road,” said Mr. Dooks. “We can help consumers save on long-term energy costs and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by improving our energy building codes today.”

Under the Proposed “80 by 11” initiative, new homes could be required to display an EnerGuide rating by 2008. The EnerGuide rating system is measured on a scale of 1 to 100. No minimum standards exist, but the average energy rating of a home in Nova Scotia is 67.

Beginning in 2009, all new homes could be required to achieve an energy rating of 72. In 2010, the minimum rating would increase to 77. In 2011, the minimum would be 80.