Energy Efficient Homes Made More Affordable

OTTAWA, July 27, 2005 — The Honourable Joe Fontana, Minister of Labour and Housing announced today several enhancements to mortgage loan insurance, that will promote energy efficiency and improve home affordability for many Canadians.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's Mortgage Loan Insurance Program for Energy Efficient Programs is based on Natural Resources Canada's EnerGuide for Houses rating system which rates the energy efficiency of houses. The minimum EnerGuide for New Houses rating requirement to qualify has now been reduced to 77 for a three-year pilot period.

This change in rating will make eligible existing energy-efficient building programs such as Built Green Society™ Alberta Gold, Novoclimat^MC (Quebec), ENERGY STAR^® (Ontario) and Power Smart™ (Manitoba).

"The Government of Canada is committed to offering affordable choices to ensure quality homes that are environmentally-friendly and energy-efficient are a real option for all Canadians," said Minister Fontana. "We are committed to housing strategies that support affordable housing and environmental sustainability."

In addition, CMHC is extending its energy-efficient flexibilities to all types of condominiums, allowing more Canadians to benefit from choosing to purchase an energy-efficient home. Effective July 27, 2005, CMHC has expanded its 10 per cent refund on its Mortgage Loan Insurance premiums for the purchase of Energy Efficient Homes to a broader scope of properties, including condominium units. The average premium saving would be about $350.

CMHC is also eliminating the premium surcharges associated with the longer amortization periods (25 to 35 years) offered under the Energy Efficient Homes policy effective August 12, 2005. These new changes will result in a one-time savings on CMHC's mortgage insurance premium of up to $500 on every $100,000 of the mortgage.

With these enhancements, about 14 per cent of new homes built in Canada could be eligible for the CMHC mortgage loan insurance premium refund.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) is Canada's national housing agency. For over half a century, CMHC has been contributing to improving the living conditions and the well-being of Canadians through four areas of housing activities—housing finance, assisted housing, research and information transfer, and export promotion. CMHC is committed to helping Canadians access a wide choice of quality, affordable homes, and making vibrant and sustainable communities a reality across the country.

1. Home Energy Analyser: Estimates energy-use. Your results will be determined by the information you provide, the weather data for your city or region, and information about local construction standards and styles.
   
   
2. EnerGuide Heating Cost Calculator: This calculator will help determine which heating system and which energy source will be most cost-effective for your home.
   
   
3. Grant calculator: With your EnerGuide for Houses report in hand, use the electronic calculator to estimate the grant amount you could be eligible to receive. Use the rating scale (usually on page 1 of your report) that shows your house's current rating and the potential rating after improvements.

1. What is an EnerGuide for Houses rating: An EnerGuide for Houses rating is a standard measure of your home's energy performance. If you're interested in buying a home, the EnerGuide for Houses rating allows you to compare the energy efficiency of comparable homes in your neighbourhood and across Canada.
   
   
2. Energuide for Houses Main page
   
   
   
   
   

   Green Real Estate is in the business of making energy conservation and a healthy environment an intrinsic part of everyday life. We do that by promoting the sales of Green Real Estate certified homes. Green Real Estate certified homes have received improved energy efficiency ratings over similar aged and constructed homes. This is achieved through development of a Home Energy Plan using the EnerGuide For Houses System in Canada and ENERGY STAR parameters in the United States. The EnerGuide system is under license with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and represents a new national Canadian standard for measuring the energy performance of houses. Energy Star is a government-backed program of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A) helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. At Green Real Estate, we believe that the smallest action is better than none atall. For instance, if you have replaced some of your old fashioned incandescent light bulbs with energy saving fluorescent type, we applaud you! You took one step; that will most likely lead to many more.  Green Real Estate is an organization that defies conventional labels. Although we promote nation wide energy self-suffiency and a movement away from reliance on offshore energy interests, we are not an energy/environmental advocacy group. Although we work in real estate sales , we are not your average real estate company. Although we strive to bring balance and thought-provoking energy conservation information to the public, we are not a news organization in any traditional sense The fact is that while our goals are clearly defined,our methods constantly evolve.

Ahead of the Wave is how we characterize our Green Real Estate. Someday, all progressive realtors will use the Green Real Estate program to market their properties. The cost of our finite energy resources has increased dramatically over the past few years. Most experts agree that energy costs will continue to escalate. The Government of Canada & the United States has responded to this by taking action to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. How can you combine a love of the built environment with that of the natural environment — Green Real Estate of course!  Green Real Estate understands the substantial economic benefits derived through the sale of environmentally sound homes. Green Real Estate recognizes that green homes represent the future. A significant amount of recent market research proves that homes sold through the Green Real Estate program will stand out in the crowd and provide a higher sale price. With that in mind, Green Real Estate has set up an innovative program whose goal is to market green homes. The Green Real Estate program starts on the ground level by assessing your home's environmental fitness. Your home is compared to other homes of a similar age and style. A rating of 0-100 is provided. Your home's strong and weak areas are identified. With the information compiled, a new owner may wish to implement some of the recommendations. Each recommendation has an associated savings associated with it with the objective being an overall net improvement.  Green Real Estate will market new & resale homes under the Green Real Estate seal of approval. Green Real Estate homes have undergone a vigorous assessment of their energy effiency. As a result, homes selling under the Green Real Estate brand command higher selling prices.