Home · Community
Action of Energy Efficiency · 
Residential
Residential Sector
Incentives for new homes
Other things you might want to know about Energy Efficiency and your home
Alternative Energy options for your Home
Energy Efficiency Tips
Revelent Articles and References
Contacts
Residential Incentives and Rebates
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) offers a 10% premium refund on its mortgage loan insurance premiums, as well as extended amortization to a maximum of 35 years, to individuals who use CMHC-insured financing to purchase an energy efficient home, purchase a home and make energy-saving renovations, or renovate their existing home to make it more energy efficient.
For home buyers, the refund and extended amortization are available
- when the house is R-2000-certified
- when the house has an EnerGuide for Houses (EGH) rating of 77 or above
- when houses with a rating of less than 77 are renovated to increase the
house’s at EGH rating by least five points and to a rating of at least
40.
The refund is also available for mortgages refinanced for the purpose of making energy-saving renovations to houses with an EGH rating of less than 80. The renovations must increase the house’s rating by at least five points and to a rating of at least 40.
EGH ratings are obtained through the EGH evaluation service. For those planning to build a new R-2000 home, it is recommended that an EGNH Advisor evaluate the building plans before the house is built. If the home is built to R-2000 standard or rated 77 or above on the EGH scale, the borrower is eligible for CMHC’s Mortgage Loan Insurance for Energy Efficient Homes.
Extended amortization is available through participating lenders for new CMHC mortgage insurance applications approved as of January 2005.
back to top
Home Renewable Energy Generation
The following renewable energy generating materials and equipment are exempt from provincial sales tax (Social Service Tax): wind-powered generating equipment; solar photovoltaic collector panels; solar thermal collector panels; and micro-hydro turbines and generators rated up to 150 kilowatts. In most cases, associated and necessary components of these systems, such as wiring, controllers, inverters, pumps, tubing and intake pipes (but not batteries), are also tax-exempt when purchased as part of the systems.
Incentives for New Homes Only
| Terasen Gas ENERGY STAR Natural Gas
Home Heating System Terasen Gas’s Residential New Construction Heating Program will pay $500 for installation of an ENERGY STAR® qualified natural gas space-heating system and any natural gas water heater in a new individually metered residential homes (note that the water heater does not have to be ENERGY STAR qualified). |
|
BC Hydro Power Smart Fridge Buy-Back Program
BC Hydro will pick up, free-of-charge, your old, inefficient, second refrigerator and give you a $30 payment. Eligible fridges must measure between 10 and 24 cubic feet and still be in working condition. There is a maximum of two refrigerators per customer account.
back to top
Other things you might want to know about Energy Efficiency and your home R-2000
The R-2000 initiative was developed by Natural Resource’s Canada (NRCan) Office of Energy Efficiency to promote the use of cost-effective energy-efficient building practices and technologies. The R-2000 Standard is based on an energy consumption target for each house and a series of technical requirements for ventilation, airtightness, insulation, choice of materials, water use and other factors. The requirements go way beyond the current building codes. The result is new houses that are more comfortable, quieter and with lower energy bills. An R-2000 home uses at least 30 percent less energy than conventional new houses.
R-2000 requires builders to have special R-2000 training. R-2000 homes must be inspected and tested during construction to ensure that it is meeting the Standard and to receive certification upon completion.
Links:
Natural Resources Canada - About R2000
The R2000 Website
|
Buying
household appliances, think ENERGY STAR. |
|
back to top
Energy saving Christmas lights - "SLED"
Energy-efficient seasonal light strings or Seasonal Light Emitting Diodes (SLED) use less energy than standard incandescent Christmas light strings. In addition to lasting up to seven times longer than conventional Christmas lighting, they are much less prone to breaking and do not produce a lot of heat, which reduces potential fire risk.
Lower your energy consumption, save money and reduce green house gases. This Christmas, look for SLED when purchasing seasonal lighting for your home.
Home Energy Analyser
Natural Resources Canada's (NRCan) Home Energy Analyser is an online tool to help you understand what you can do in your home to make it more comfortable and energy efficient. Upon completion of the online questionnaire, a report is provided that directs you toward the NRCan information sources that can assist you in making energy saving changes to your home. It is hoped the Energy Analyser will be able to model apartments in the near future.
Links:
Natural Resources Canada - Home Improvement Analyser
back to top
Alternative energy options for your home
| Solar Water Heating Water heating is one of the most cost-effective uses of solar energy. Solar hot water systems can be used in a variety of applications including residential homes, swimming pools, hotels, motels, restaurants and laundromats. Solar water heaters are designed for the Canadian climate and can last 20 years or more with minimum requirements for maintenance. Solar systems can be designed into new buildings or retrofitted into existing homes. Solar hot water systems can be built for seasonal or year round operation. Solar water systems supplement rather than replace a building's conventional water heater. A typical system involves the placement of solar collectors on a southerly facing roof. When there is enough sunlight, a heat transfer fluid is pumped through the collector. As the fluid passes through the collector it is heated by the sun. The heated fluid is then circulated to a heat exchanger which delivers the heat into an indoor water tank and then into the home's conventional water heat. If the solar heated water is not hot enough, such as when the day has been cloudy, the conventional water system will bring the temperature up to the desired temperature. For guidance on installing a solar hot water system in your home or business, go to Canadian Solar Industries Association website at www.cansia.ca and look under “Industry Directory”. The Canadian Solar Industries Association can be contacted at the following coordinates: Phone: (613) 736-9077 (toll-free 866-5CanSIA) Fax: (613) 736-8938 E-Mail: info@cansia.ca |
Did you know that 1/3 of the heat inside your home can escape through your window? If you have single pane windows, adding storm windows can cut your heat loss by as much as 50%. Low–e windows can save 30% to 50% more energy than standard windows. |
|
Solar Space Heating A solar space heating system may use the same components as
an SDHW systems, but ties into the heating distribution system
in your household. Distribution systems that can work with SDHW
include hydronic radiator and floor-coil systems. |
|
Earth energy systems or ground source heat systems use the earth’s temperature to provide heating and cooling to a building. A series of pipes transfers absorbed solar heat into a building. In winter, the heat is directed through the ductwork to warm the home. In summer, the system is reversed to transfer heat out of the building where it is can be disposed of in the ground. Ground source heat pumps can be a closed or open loop system with the loop installed vertically or horizontally. A closed loop system circulates fluid within the buried pipes; the open system circulates well or surface water.
Ground source heat pumps provide a number of benefits including a significant reduction in energy use compared to conventional heating systems, less maintenance and repair costs, significantly increased indoor air quality and reductions in GHG by 50% or more. Ground source heat pumps do not create heat through combustion but simply move solar heat from one place to another.
Ground sources heat pump systems have a strong potential application in both the residential and commercial sectors saving both energy and money.
Links:
Heat Pump Information
Ground Source Heat Pumps
BC Sustainable Energy Association
back to top
Energy saving tips for around the house
Keeping the Heat In:- Insulate your home – insulation is cheaper than energy. By insulating
your attic and basement you will increase your energy efficiency significantly.
- Install an energy efficient furnace.
- Draft proof your house. A well-insulated, well-sealed house keeps
cold air our, warm air in and controls moisture. Put weather stripping
on doors, windows and seals on exterior wall outlets. Put caulking
on window and door frames and seal around vents cable/wire wall entries.
- Service and clean your heating system.
- Add insulation to your water heater.
- Install a programmable thermostat. By programming your thermostat
to turn off when are sleeping or away you can save as much as 5 to
10% on your annual energy bill.
- Covert your incandescent bulbs to energy-efficient compact fluorescents.
They are much cheaper, brighter and smaller than in the past and last
10 times longer.
- Turn lights and equipment off when you leave the room.
- Use task lighting for close work rather than lighting the whole room.
- Turn off your computer when not in use. The monitor uses up to 75%
of the energy powering your computer. By activating the energy-saving
feature of your monitor, you will save energy. Look in the Windows
control panel under display settings for this feature.
- Buy Energy Star appliances. Consumers should consider not only the
initial price of the appliance but how much energy the appliance uses
over the life of the appliance. Check the EGH label to help you calculate
the costs and savings.
- Don’t run your dishwasher or washing machine until you have
a full load. Rinse clothes in cold water.
- Unplug your second fridge. Your fridge is the most expensive appliance
to run in your home.
Additional sources of information for your home
DRAFT PROOFING
BC Hydro - PDF FileUPGRADING THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF YOUR HOUSE
CMHC - About Your HouseNatural Resources Canada - Heating with Gas
CMHC - Renovating for Energy Savings
CMHC - Energy Efficient Upgrade - The Building Envelope
COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS
BC Hydro - Common questionsENERGY EFFICIENT WINDOWS
BC Hydro - Energy Efficient WindowsQuick Links
This site is ideal in Internet Explorer 6 or better with
javascript operational.
Contents © City of Quesnel · All
rights reserved
·
Telephone: 250.992.2111 · 410 Kinchant Street · Quesnel, BC · V2J
7J5