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All ratings in this program are conducted by trained energy efficiency evaluators from NRCan-approved companies. NRCan selected each participating company based on its ability to deliver the service over a wide geographic area--an entire province, at a minimum; on its background in the field of home energy assessment; and on its ability to deliver electronic data files that comply with NRCan's specifications. NRCan provides the training, technical support, database maintenance, and methodology for the program. The energy rating assessment begins with a site evaluation. Using a blower door test, an evaluator gathers data about the home's airtightness. He or she also conducts an exterior and interior visual examination of the home to get information on the heating system, the domestic hot-water system, the ventilation system, lighting usage, appliance usage, and mechanical systems. This information is then analyzed using the HOT 2XP software program, which was developed by researchers at the Canadian Mining and Energy Technology Centre (CANMET), to produce an energy efficiency rating based on the home's annual energy consumption. The ratings range from 0 to 100. A rating of 0 would indicate that the home has major air leakage, has no insulation, consumes an extremely high amount of energy, and is uncomfortable to live in. A rating of 50 denotes an average house with moderate air leakage and insulation in all the exterior walls. A house with a 100 rating requires no purchased energy--which is theoretically possible, but not very likely in Canada. A house built in compliance with Canada's Model National Energy Code would rate 70 to 75. A house that meets Canada's specifications for being the most energy efficient while still using readily available construction methods--a standard known as R-2000--would earn a rating of 80 to 85. The scale has a top end to allow for energy technology improvements and state-of-the-art energy applications that are not currently in common use. The evaluator provides the homeowner with the energy efficiency rating label and explains the rating. The evaluator also identifies and prioritizes energy efficiency improvements that can be made to the home to increase the homeowner's comfort, reduce the energy bill, and raise the home's rating. NRCan says that homeowners are particularly interested in this improvement advice. A second rating evaluation, to be done after the improvements are completed, can be included as part of a package. This second rating quantifies the invisible energy improvements, which may help the homeowner to sell the house at some point in the future. The homeowner is responsible for finding a contractor to complete any desired improvements. In some cases, the energy evaluator may provide renovation services, but NRCan requires all agents to advise their customers that they should obtain quotes from other sources before they use a NRCan agent as a contractor. NRCan uses the data from both evaluations to tabulate the CO2 reductions that can be expected to result from all of the potential improvements identified by the evaluation, and from the improvements that the homeowners actually choose to have done. The results provide important data on the program's actual and potential contributions to Canada's climate change strategy. Costs for the home evaluation vary, depending on the region. In the Yukon, for example, where the program is supported by provincial funding, the rating is free. Everywhere else in Canada, prices currently range from $50 to $175 Canadian. By supporting the development of a ratings industry in its early years, NRCan hopes to provide high quality information to homeowners that will lead to improvements in the energy efficiency of the Canadian resale housing stock. The rating label is voluntary, and NRCan has found that in the resale market, the label itself is of limited value--basically, it shows that the house is more energy-efficient than other, similar homes in the area. In the new housing market, where the rating is presently being pilot-tested, NRCan thinks it may have more influence. Through the program, energy efficiency upgrades could be developed as an option that consumers could purchase from builders. NRCan says that the more labels there are out there, the more people will look for them, and slowly awareness of the value of ratings will build. NRCan anticipates that after the first three-year
commitment, energy efficiency ratings will be established in the marketplace
as a Canada-wide program. EnerGuide for Houses is the fourth in a line
of EnerGuide products and labels that the government has developed to influence
the consumer market. The other three programs identify the energy use of
household appliances, HVAC equipment, and new vehicles, respectively.
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