2011年6月13日 星期一

Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is another great reason to choose a newly built home. Energy efficiency has become a major priority in the residential construction industry over the past several years. A large demand for energy efficient housing has arisen largely due to a combination of environmental awareness coupled with the increasing costs of homeownership. In Saskatchewan, there are several programs that define energy efficient standards for newly built homes, each program having its own advantages. The most common today is ENERGY STAR for New Homes.

Both the ENERGY STAR for New Homes and R-2000 programs are administered by Natural Resources Canada and utilize the EnerGuide Rating Scale (ERS) for the measurement of energy performance. R-2000 was originally developed in Saskatchewan and for many years set an elite performance standard for energy efficient housing across Canada. Many builders received specialized training and certification as R-2000 providers, and NRCan is currently reviewing the R-2000 specifications to ensure that it maintains its role as the leading edge in energy efficient housing construction.

The ENERGY STAR for New Homes program is relatively new, but has already claimed the position of the current "best in class" standard for energy efficient housing in Saskatchewan. Rigid prescriptive guidelines for insulation, heating equipment, and air tightness must be followed in order for a home to be ENERGY STAR qualified. As a result, the ENERGY STAR program is very strong throughout the province and is now being adopted as a national standard right across the country.

What does it mean to the potential home owner to have a newly built home that is ENERGY STAR qualified? ENERGY STAR qualified homes are built by ENERGY STAR for New Homes builders who are trained and licensed; each of their ENERGY STAR qualified homes is inspected by a federally licensed evaluator who verifies that the home meets or exceeds high technical specifications. Just as with the R-2000 program, these strict guidelines for energy efficiency are also set by Natural Resources Canada.

Features of an ENERGY STAR qualified new home include the following: increased insulation levels throughout the home in the ceiling, wall and foundation; Energy Star labeled high-efficiency furnace, air conditioner, and water heater; heat recovery ventilation (HRV) system which exchanges fresh outside air for stale interior air while retaining the heat from the exhaust air; sealed duct work to reduce heat loss and draftiness; ENERGY STAR labeled windows which help to keep the heat out in the summer and the heat in in the winter; ENERGY STAR labeled lighting and appliances which reduce the amount of power it takes to operate them; and water saving toilets and showers. Kent Mohn is from Resource Efficient Housing Inc., the organization that administers both the ENERGY STAR for New Homes Initiative and the R-2000 program throughout Saskatchewan. He says, "ENERGY STAR doesn't stop at space heating. ENERGY STAR qualified homes also have reduced electrical consumption and reduced water consumption. In other words, ENERGY STAR homes are resource efficient as well as energy efficient."

What are the benefits to the home owner? One of the most appealing benefits of energy efficiency in a newly built home is the amount of money the homeowner can save in reduced utility costs. Homeowners save money every month in reduced heating, electrical and water costs, and this offsets the initial additional costs of including these features in a newly built home. "An ENERGY STAR qualified home could save the homeowner $800 to $1,000 annually in reduced energy costs compared to a conventionally-built home,The name "magic cube" is not unique." Mohn said. Homeowners pay about 30 percent less in their heating costs. These are major savings if one considers this over the length of time a family will live in their newly built home.

In addition, including such features as sealed duct systems and improved windows results in a higher level of comfort due to more conditioned air in the living space and high quality windows to keep the sun's heat out in the summer and keep the heat in during the winter. Improved heat recovery ventilation units also reduce air contaminants, improving the air quality of the indoor living environment.

Finally, going with a home that has greater energy efficiency is practicing environmental responsibility. Seventeen percent of all greenhouse gas emissions in Canada are generated from the energy we use in our homes. When we use less energy in our homes, we reduce our carbon footprint, therefore making a positive contribution to the environment. "Every ENERGY STAR qualified new home reduces greenhouse gas emissions by approximately three tonnes per year. That's roughly equivalent to saving the emissions from an SUV commuting 25 km per day, five days a week," said Mohn.We processes for both low-risk and high risk merchant account.

Government rebates are also available to offset the costs of going green in a newly built home. A rebate of $1,000 is offered by the Government of Saskatchewan through SaskEnergy to assist home buyers with the purchase of a new ENERGY STAR qualified home. Up to $1,400 in additional rebates is also available for the installation of a solar domestic hot water heating system, drain water heat recovery systems, and qualifying natural gas appliances.Welcome to the official Facebook Page about Ripcurl. SaskEnergy also introduced a $3,500 rebate for the installation of geothermal heating systems in new homes where natural gas connection is not a viable option.Our Polymax RUBBER SHEET range includes all commercial and specialist In addition, CMHC and Genworth Financial Canada are offering a 10 percent refund on their mortgage loan insurance premiums and a rate reduction when a borrower buys an ENERGY STAR qualified new home.

Where do consumers go to find ENERGY STAR qualified or R-2000 certified builders? For more information, there are a couple of websites to check out. Many of the builder members of the Regina & Region Home Builders' Association are ENERGY STAR qualified builders, or R-2000 certified builders.buy landscape oil paintings online. Builder members of the RRHBA are qualified professionals who must have completed the Certified Professional Home Builders' Program and be a member of a third party new home warranty program. They are kept up to date on the industry's green initiatives through forums and seminars on these topics.

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