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What Are Regional Residential Energy Efficiency Initiatives?
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Regional residential energy efficiency initiatives are building standards that have been set up across Canada to help you get the most from Natural Resources Canada's EnerGuide rating scale.
These initiatives set up guidelines and standards for home builders to meet so that they can reach a minimum EnerGuide rating. Through these initiatives, builders are able to create homes that are consistently more energy efficient. Once a home has been built according to the initiative's specifications, the homeowner receives a certificate and/or home label that identifies the home as being built to the regional energy efficiency standard.
All of the initiatives have the united goal of increasing the energy rating and energy efficiency of new homes in Canada. However, each initiative is created independent of the others and has a unique and creative way of encouraging energy efficient home building that is tailored to the new housing market in their region.
What is the difference between the EnerGuide rating system, R-2000 and the regional initiatives?
- The EnerGuide rating service is a national initiative that allows builders to work with an energy advisor to increase the energy efficiency of a home by making energy conscious adjustments to the house plan before it is built. Implementing these energy efficiency changes is voluntary and the house does not need to meet a minimum EnerGuide rating.
- R-2000 is a national initiative that requires homes to be built using environmentally friendly and renewable products. It includes comprehensive training and certification for homebuilders, as well as quality assurance inspection, testing and certification of new houses to guarantee that they meet the R-2000 Standard. R-2000 homes are about 30 percent more energy efficient than conventional new homes and must achieve a minimum energy efficiency rating of 80 on the EnerGuide rating scale
- Regional initiatives provide options for builders who would like to increase the EnerGuide rating of new homes by following an energy efficient building standard other than R-2000. Each initiative is created independent of the others and encourages energy efficient home building in a way that is tailored to the new housing market in their region.
Can a home be built using more than one initiative?
Yes. A home can receive certification for more than one initiative if the homebuilder has followed the requirements to have the home built under those initiatives and if the initiatives are available in that region. Homes are often built so they receive the national EnerGuide rating label and the regional ENERGY STAR for New Homes label. There are also homes that have received the national R-2000 label and the regional ENERGY STAR for New Homes label.
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