New home builds to receive energy efficiency support

Investing in infrastructure -

Islanders planning to build a new home will have help from the provincial government to lower their energy bills.

The New Home Construction Program will offer financial incentives of up to $5,000 to build energy-efficient homes. efficiencyPEI will host an information session at the PEI Brewing Company on February 27 at 4p.m. -  RSVP through efficiencyPEI.

“Prince Edward Island continues to see an increase in new housing starts and we, as a government, want to help meet the needs of Islanders,” Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy Minister Paula Biggar said. “Ensuring new homes are built to a higher standard of energy efficiency will help us work toward meeting the province’s greenhouse gas emission targets while building skills within the local workforce and reducing energy costs for Island households.”

Homes built to efficiency standards need less energy to operate, lowering the homeowner’s utility bills while reducing the home’s carbon footprint. Energy-efficient homes also provide improved comfort by minimizing drafts, temperature fluctuations, and improving air quality.

Through the New Home Construction Program, a certified energy advisor will review the building’s plans and provide guidance on how to improve the efficiency of the design.  After the home is completed, its efficiency will be verified and homeowners will be issued up to $5,000 in rebates.

“The Canadian Home Builders Association is pleased to see this initiative being introduced by the Government of PEI,” said Tim McHatten, Canadian Home Builders Association, PEI Chapter. “This is a great opportunity for our members to work collaboratively with efficiencyPEI and their partner organizations to begin building high quality, energy efficient homes across the province."

Media contact:
April Gallant
aldgallant@gov.pe.ca

Backgrounder

Evaluation of the home’s plans and the follow-up assessment will be offered by HomeSol Building Solutions Inc. – a certified energy advisor -- at a subsidized rate of $99 + HST.

Homeowners will be eligible for two tiers of rebates depending on the energy efficiency standards they achieve:

• homes that are built to the ENERGY STAR® for new homes standard (or achieve an EnerGuide rating of 20 percent better than code) will be eligible for a rebate of $2,000; and
• homes that achieve R2000 certification (or an EnerGuide rating of 50 percent better than code) will be eligible for a rebate of $5,000.