About R-2000: Every Home Should Be This Good!
R-2000 is operated by Natural Resources Canada's (NRCan's) Office of Energy Efficiency.
It promotes the use of cost-effective, energy-efficient building practices and technologies. The R-2000 Standard demands a high level of energy efficiency, beyond what building codes require. R-2000 houses are also healthier houses – they incorporate a whole-house ventilation system and low-emissions building materials and finishes to ensure superior indoor air quality.
Participation in the initiative is voluntary. Home builders who build to the
R-2000 Standard do so because they consider an R-2000 home to be a better home. Buyers choose R-2000 homes for their superior quality and comfort, as well as energy savings. R-2000 includes the following:
- an energy-efficiency standard for new houses that is continually upgraded
- ongoing education and training courses for home builders
- testing and certifying of new R-2000 houses
The R-2000 Standard is based on an energy consumption target for each house and a series of technical requirements for ventilation, airtightness (to ensure less drafts), insulation, choice of materials, water use and other factors. Ongoing research ensures that the R-2000 Standard remains at the leading edge of affordable energy-efficient construction technology.
Since R-2000 began, almost 10 000 R-2000 homes have been built and certified. Close to 900 builders have been licensed to build R-2000 homes. While new housing quality has improved as a result of R-2000 and other builder training programs, R-2000 builders still lead the industry in the quality of their homes – quality the Government of Canada stands behind with its R-2000 certificate.
R-2000 also has a wide range of partners across Canada, including provincial/territorial home builders' associations, provincial governments, product manufacturers and energy utilities. The Canadian Home Builders' Association has been a partner in the initiative since day one. It remains an active supporter of NRCan's goals and activities.
As a result of R-2000, manufacturers have developed many unique building products, such as heat recovery ventilators (now a $50-million-per-year industry in Canada), high-performance windows, and integrated mechanical heating and cooling systems.
R-2000, a world leader in energy-efficient housing technology, has generated a lot of interest beyond Canada's borders. It is licensed for use in Japan and several American states.
R-2000 is an official mark of Natural Resources Canada.
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