What Is The ENERGY STAR^® for New Homes Initiative?

The ENERGY STAR for New Homes initiative promotes energy efficiency guidelines that enable new homes to be approximately 30 percent more energy efficient than those built to minimum provincial building codes. The increased efficiency of these homes translates into reduced energy costs for homeowners.

The ENERGY STAR for New Homes initiative is currently available in Ontario and Saskatchewan and is managed for Natural Resources Canada by regional service organizations. If you want to buy an ENERGY STAR qualified new home in Ontario or Saskatchewan, contact your provincial service organization.

For energy-efficient home building in other provinces, consult your EnerGuide service organization.

Within This Page

• What is an ENERGY STAR qualified home?
• Features of an ENERGY STAR qualified home
• Benefits of owning an ENERGY STAR qualified home
• How energy efficient is my ENERGY STAR qualified home?

What Is an ENERGY STAR Qualified Home?

An ENERGY STAR qualified home is a home that has been built by a licensed ENERGY STAR for New Homes builder who incorporates energy efficient features into the home so that it can meet the ENERGY STAR for New Homes technical specifications.

Upon completion of the ENERGY STAR qualified new home, an independent (not employed by the builder) ENERGY STAR for New Homes evaluator verifies that the home has been built to ENERGY STAR for New Homes technical specifications. After the verification process is complete, Natural Resources Canada issues an ENERGY STAR for New Homes label and certificate to the homeowner. The label is usually placed on the home's electrical panel and includes a regional service organization seal of authenticity.

The ENERGY STAR for New Homes technical specifications have been customized to meet the needs of each province it is available in. Contact your provincial service organization for detailed information on the technical specifications in your area.

Potential homebuyers will be amazed to learn how much less they will have to spend for heating, cooling and hydro in energy-efficient homes.

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Features of an ENERGY STAR Qualified Home

Some of the features that builders typically incorporate to meet the ENERGY STAR for New Homes technical specifications are:

Heating and cooling systems – All furnaces, heat pumps, thermostats and fireplaces are ENERGY STAR qualified. The annual fuel utilization efficiency rating (AFUE) of furnaces complies with rigorous Canadian minimum efficiency requirements. As a result, you use less fuel and save money.

Ducts – Ducts gain efficiency by providing heating and cooling to designated areas only. In addition, there is less leakage at duct joints because all supply and return trunk ducts and all take-offs are sealed. This means that less heat is lost as air moves from the furnace to the living areas of your home and air conditioning is evenly and properly distributed.

Windows, patio doors and skylights – All windows, glass doors and skylights comply with Canada's requirements for ENERGY STAR qualified windows. This feature alone could cut more than 10 percent off your energy costs.

Walls and ceilings – There is more insulation in the ceilings and walls of an ENERGY STAR qualified home than is required by building codes. This reduces heat loss, puts less strain on your heating and cooling systems and keeps your house more comfortable.

Ventilation and air leakage – ENERGY STAR qualified new homes must meet rigorous airtightness targets. Reduced air movement through the building envelope, as revealed by an air leakage test, means less draftiness for the homeowner. Inclusion of a heat recovery ventilation system (HRV) creates improved air quality.

There are additional homeowner savings if builders supply ENERGY STAR qualified appliances and lighting.

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Benefits of Owning an ENERGY STAR Qualified Home

You can be assured that your ENERGY STAR qualified new home has been built to strict technical specifications by a licensed ENERGY STAR for New Homes builder and that it has been verified by an independent energy evaluator to ensure state-of-the-art performance. You will benefit from it in a variety of ways.

Lower cost

You will be pleased to see the monthly energy savings in an ENERGY STAR qualified new home. If you pay a mortgage, these savings will more than compensate for any additional costs that may be charged initially for the energy-saving features.

Improved air quality = health and comfort.

Air movement in your house, especially in winter, causes drafts that make you feel uncomfortable. You will quickly notice the difference in an ENERGY STAR qualified home. Higher levels of air tightness and a heat recovery ventilation system (HRV) give you a greater sense of coziness as they keep indoor air fresh and maintain humidity at the level you find comfortable.

Less energy expended = fewer pollutants.

Homes account for 17 percent of all energy use in Canada. As ENERGY STAR qualified homes are more energy-efficient than standard code built houses, they can help reduce air pollution and lessen other environmental problems, such as climate change.

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How Energy Efficient Is My ENERGY STAR Qualified Home?

Builders and homeowners can determine the efficiency of an ENERGY STAR qualified house with an EnerGuide label.

The label is affixed to the home's electrical panel by trained energy evaluators after they conduct tests to rate the home's energy efficiency. These evaluators also prepare a report for the homeowner, which outlines the home's level of energy efficiency. Most new houses receive an energy rating of 68 or higher on the scale of 0 to 100, while the average ENERGY STAR qualified home in Ontario receives an energy rating of 78 or higher (minimum requirements will be 80 or higher as of April 1, 2007). ENERGY STAR qualified homes in Saskatchewan receive an energy rating of 80 or higher.

If you would like to obtain an EnerGuide rating on an ENERGY STAR qualified home, contact your service organization to find an energy evaluator in your area.

What's the difference between ENERGY STAR and EnerGuide?

• The ENERGY STAR for New Homes label is placed on ENERGY STAR qualified homes to indicate that these homes meet the ENERGY STAR for New Homes technical specifications.
• The EnerGuide rating system enables energy evaluators to determine the energy efficiency of a new home and affix an energy rating label to the home's electrical panel. This label helps homeowners understand how their home's energy efficiency compares with others and estimate how much energy they will use.
• An EnerGuide label on an ENERGY STAR labelled home tells homeowners what the specific energy rating is for their home.

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The ENERGY STAR name and the ENERGY STAR symbol are registered trademarks of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and are used with permission.