Καθημερινές άκρες εγχώριας ανακαίνισης

Is the Canadian Federal Conservative Government truly concerned about energy conservation and issues of global warming?

Launched on April 1, 2007 by Natural Resources Canada, the ecoENERGY Retrofit Program provides financial incentives and support to Canadian home owners, small businesses, public institutions, etc. to take action on reducing water, electrical and heating resources.  The intent, according to an official of Natural Resources Canada, is that the ecoENERGY Retrofit grant is expected to cover 10 to 15% of the cost where a home owner undertakes three to four energy conservation retrofit projects on their home.

Owners of single family homes are to pay out of their own pocket the cost of two energy audits (one prior to the home owner undertaking energy saving projects which reduce their home’s energy consumption) as well as the cost of these energy conservation projects. After the second audit, the home owner can be eligible for up to $5,000 of Federal grant money to help offset the costs energy saving projects.

Certain Provinces rebate a portion of the initial energy assessment (energy audit). There are various matching Provincial grant programs which differ from one Province to the next.

After almost 11 months since April 1, 2007, here are some statistics as of February 19, 2008 provided to Daily Home Renovation Tips by the Office of Energy Conservation within Natural Resources Canada (with our thanks) since the program commencement on April 1, 2007 :

• 9,991,450 - Estimated Low-Rise House Build Prior to 2000 in Canada
• 0.87% - Percentage of Homes Completing Initial Energy Audit
• 9,478 - Total Number of Incentives Paid 
• $9,547,000 - Toal Value of Incentives (i.e. Grants Paid)
• 31,120 - CO2 Savings (Tons Per Year)

Are the numbers impressive? Do they represent significant results? While owners of 86,752 homes built prior to 2000 have participated which could to some sound like a lot of homes, this represents less than 1% (0.87%) of the total number of estimated homes that are eligible to participate after almost 11 months of the program.

If 0.87% is low and disappointing, what could be done to increase participation? We have a few thoughts on how participation could be increased. Not all of it has to do with increasing monetary incentives to the home owner. Return next Monday when we share our ideas with you.