Alberta government stalls in development of more energy efficient building code
Thursday, July 8th 2010 10:59:50am
A study commissioned by NAIMA Canada and the Consumer Council of Canada (CCC) has found that the more energy efficient a house is, the more affordable it is.
The costing analysis for upgrades of EnerGuide 80 homes in Alberta concluded that the total incremental renovation cost was approximately $6,000. When compared to a standard home, built to minimum energy efficiency requirements, the EnerGuide 80 homes boasted a positive net value between $6,600 and $11,000.
These findings come as the government of Alberta is struggling to define an interim building code that will raise energy efficiency standards for new homes, and create a building code that will save Albertans money on their heating and cooling costs.
This move will help ease the province’s transition to Canada’s new building code, coming in 2012. The new code will enshrine energy efficiency in its objectives, making the standard for all new homes much better than the current Alberta Code.
The building industry has expressed concern to the government that increasing energy efficiency will raise the price of a new home to such a degree that it would harm the economy. The NAIMA Canada/CCC commissioned study, however, clearly demonstrates that an energy efficient house is a more affordable house.
‘Energy efficiency is the right thing to do for all homeowners, ‘explains Steve Koch, Executive Director of NAIMA Canada. ‘Home owners will recoup the money they spend, and save more on utility bills almost immediately. It’s a good move by the government to ensure today’s building standards are incorporated into a home to make it more comfortable and affordable for the new homeowner.’
The commissioners of the study believe that energy efficient building codes will be a crucial part of Canada’s environmentally friendly, financially responsible future. The government of Alberta needs to recognize this, and take steps to make the transition easy for its building sector.
‘I hope Alberta now moves to take a leadership role for their citizens,’ Koch added. ‘This study clearly demonstrates the affordability of energy efficient homes. What we can’t afford, now, are homes that waste homeowners’ money unnecessarily. Alberta needs to move forward with an energy efficient building code.’