EnergyGuide is a rating tool that uses a scale of 1 to 100, and measures the energy efficiency of products. ENERGY STAR is the international symbol for the best in energy efficiency.
Research by JD Powers & Associates shows that 84% of homeowners say that energy efficiency is extremely or somewhat important to their home purchase decision. It is my experience that most homebuyers want to know what the yearly heat & hydro costs are for a house they are considering. Home, appliance and equipment energy efficiency are now important factors in a decision to purchase a house.
Effective this year, newly built homes will reach a 74 rating on the EnerGuide scale, due to changes in the Ontario Building Code. By 2012, the minimum Code requirement will be EnerGuide 80. ENERGY STAR requires this rating by April of 2007. This puts ENERGY STAR a full five years ahead of the general new homes market.
Current ENERGY STAR requirements include R40 ceiling insulation, 90% efficiency furnaces, full height basement insulation, ENERGY STAR rated windows, sealed ductwork and 1,000 kWh electrical deduction. New ENERGY STAR homes produce two to three tonnes less greenhouse gas emissions, and on average have an energy cost savings of 30-40%.
The international ENERGY STAR symbol is a simple way for people to identify products that are among the most energy-efficient on the market. Products must meet the ENERGY STAR criteria before they can label their products with this symbol. Choosing such a product could save you hundreds of dollars in energy costs and make your house more appealing to potential buyers. Going green is a good investment all around!
Home heating equipment such as furnaces or water heaters that burn fossil fuels directly will also produce less greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants if they are energy-efficient. If you have a wood burning fireplace or stove, check out what you can do to improve the efficiency of these appliances.
Look for the following ENERGY STAR symbol*:
*Ministry of Natural Resources
Tammy Dufault
Century 21 BJ Roth Realty Ltd.
