Daily Home Renovation Tips

Regular readers of our web site know that we are participating in the ecoENERGY Residential Retrofit program. If you didn’t you can read about our experiences here on the ECOENERGY page.

As well, our regular readers might also remember that we are amongst at least a few who believe that the program should be doing more to make it affordable for Canadians to procure costly energy conservation related home improvement products for their home.

We also have written about our disappointment in the participation in the program: 1.9% in the 1st of 2 required energy efficienty assessments after the first 18 months

So, will the announced $300 million expansion of the ecoENERGY program actually increase participation?

I am not confident.

First, where are the details? I contacted Natural Resources Canada asking for details to understand how this additional money would be spent in an ‘expansion’ of the program.

I was told that the details are being worked on.

I was told to check the www.ecoaction.gc.ca web site in the future to find out the details when announced for updates.

If the measures in the Federal Budget announced 27-JAN-2009 were meant to boost the economy in the short term, how can the details of this program’s $300 million expansion not be known?

If the additional $300 million is to simply expand the program’s current 4 year duration, how is this helping the economy right now?

If the addition is to increase the financial incentives, then yes it will help stimulate the economy in the short term.

Currently, program administrators and the Federal Government only expect 1.4% participation through the 2nd of 2 required energy efficiency assessments (energy audits) over the 4 year period ending 2011. Not very much. Not very economically stimulating.

The question has to be asked if the $300 million was simply allotted to the ecoENERGY program, with no details behind it, in an attempt to have at least something in the budget which could be identified as being ‘green’?

So, let’s see exactly what Natural Resources Canada will do with this additional $300 million and how it adds to the effort of immediately economic stimulation to the Canadian economy.

Expanding the duration of the program beyond 2011 won’t do it.

Increasing the financial incentives to Canadian home owners in the next year or two, in combination with home renovation tax credit, will.

Let’s wait and see … shall we? We have no choice.