Federal Budget Introduces Home Energy Efficiency Grant Funding

For Immediate Release: June 6, 2011 (Victoria, BC)

$400 million in funding for financial incentives through the ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program was announced in the federal budget today in Parliament.

“Residential energy efficiency incentive programs have been proven to help homeowners reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, to stimulate the economy and job creation, and to generate tax revenue in excess of program costs,” says Peter Sundberg, Executive Director of City Green Solutions, a Victoria-based non-profit specializing in building energy efficiency.

With the current provincial grant program and the upcoming federal grant program BC homeowners are poised to benefit from two incentive programs, reduced energy bills, improved home comfort, increased home value, and that warm glow from knowing that they have done their part to reducing the environmental footprint of their home.

Tannice McKillop, a Saltspring Island homeowner, had a home energy assessment under the LiveSmart BC and ecoENERGY programs last year, and received nearly $1,500 in provincial and federal grants for her upgrades.

"My initial home energy assessment revealed that air was passing unhindered in and out of the house through tongue-and-groove wooden ceilings, which had been installed long before, without any kind of air barrier. I had icynene foam insulation blown into all areas with wooden ceiling. I also installed several new programmable thermostats. In addition, I replaced a number of single paned windows with low-e double paned window,” McKillop explains.

“My energy bills this winter, after doing the renovations, are half what they were at the same time last year. I have saved money, helped the environment, and have made my house much more comfortable."

The ecoENERGY program details have not yet been announced. Interested homeowners can contact City Green Solutions at 1.866.381.9995 for more information as it becomes available. Homeowners in BC can currently access LiveSmart BC grants of up to $7,000 through a home energy assessment with a Certified Energy Advisor.

Accessing the current provincial grants is a simple four step process: 1. Get an energy assessment with a Certified Energy Advisor to identify and prioritize upgrade opportunities; 2. Perform the energy efficiency upgrades of your choice; 3. Have a post-retrofit assessment to verify the work and apply for the grants (your Certified Energy Advisor handles the paperwork for you); and 4. Receive your grants and enjoy the savings in a more comfortable and efficient home.

-30-

Contact:
Peter Sundberg
Executive Director
City Green Solutions
1.866.381.9995