NEWS RELEASE
Energy Savings Plan Pilot launched to test impact of additional incentives toward more energy efficient buildings in BC
Pilot delivery team contract awarded to partnership of City Green, Sustainable Building Centre and Homeworks
Victoria B.C. – A new Energy Savings Plan pilot program (www.saveenergynow.ca) in B.C. will provide a one-stop resource for energy efficiency in buildings including an exciting new residential incentive in participating communities. Presenting the Energy Savings Plan is the partnership team of City Green, Sustainable Building Centre (SBC) and Homeworks Services (Homeworks), contracted by the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources as part of the Community Action on Energy Efficiency (CAEE) program.
The CAEE pilot is a $2.1 million program delivering a range of incentives to selected communities through to March 2007 in existing residential, small industrial, commercial and institutional buildings including a low-income housing component. The pilot is part of the B.C. government’s strategy, Energy Efficient Buildings: A Plan for B.C. to improve energy efficiency in new and existing buildings.
The existing residential portion of the program will provide additional incentives for homes that participate in Natural Resources Canada’s EnerGuide for Houses (EGH) program and matching the EGH retrofit incentive grant once retrofits are completed. “We are delighted that Homeworks will lead the delivery of the residential incentives component which is a natural extension of our existing one-stop service,” stated Rob Dean, Homeworks President.
The low-income portion of the pilot led by City Green will work closely with B.C. Housing, the B.C. Non-Profit Housing Association and Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation to ensure homes most in need can benefit from the additional funding. “This program will help those living in “energy poverty, that is, individuals who must spend 10 per cent or more of their annual household income on fuel and electricity,” explained Peter Sundberg, Executive Director of City Green. “As a social enterprise, City Green is keenly interested in bringing the social, economic and environmental benefits of energy efficiency to the low income housing sector.” City Green will also lead the delivery of the existing multi-unit residential buildings (MURB) component of the program.
SBC will administer the new building and non-residential aspects of the program and collaborate with the Urban Development Institute (UDI) and National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) as well as municipalities and local business groups to help developers and building owners identify and realize energy efficiency benefits. “The SBC will provide an accessible and simple, one-stop-shop point of service for all things to do with energy efficiency”, says Helen Goodland, Executive Director of the SBC. “This is a number one priority for everyone involved in the building industry.”
The project delivery team will also work with the Canadian Home Builders Association of B.C. to survey renovators and builders across the province on the delivery of industry–wide energy efficiency measures.
Background:
The Sustainable Building Centre (www.sustainablebuildingcentre.com) is B.C.’s hub for professionals and the general public on all aspects of sustainable design construction and operation for all building sectors, new and existing. The SBC is a non-profit joint program of SFU Centre for Sustainable Community Development and Ecotrust Canada located in Vancouver.
City Green (www.citygreen.ca) is an authorized service organization for the EnerGuide for Houses program as well as a provider of education programs aimed at supporting energy efficiency, capacity building, training and public engagement. City Green is located in Victoria.
Homeworks, (www.homeworks.ca) B.C.’s leading home improvement program, makes homes better places to live for their customers through one-stop access to quality home upgrades, utility and government grants and incentives, low interest financing and 100% quality assurance. Launched in 1997, Homeworks has reduced carbon dioxide emissions from Homeworks-improved homes by over 50,000 tonnes. Homeworks is in association with a href=”http://www.terasen.com” target=”_blank”>Terasen Inc. and part of the a href=”http://www.eagagroup.com” target=”_blank”>Eaga Group.