Chris Chopik
MyENERGUIDE - understanding Toronto's Home ...

I did this pilot to help the Federal Energy Rating Secretariat envision a consumer education program that would explain the value of ratings to home owners. I thought this would be fun to share here.

Green

HELP Home Energy Loan Program

The Home Energy Loan Program may suffer from unfortunate branding, but it is a great idea and a great benefit to home owners who are interested in saving money on home energy.

The Benefit to Home Owner:

The funded investments in home energy efficiency are created to be cash flow positive. The return is predictable and the improvements should cost less than the energy savings. The loan is attached to the tax roll of he house and is therefore not subject to the same kinds of approvals required by lenders.

Learn More about HELP here:  

 http://www.cbc.ca/m/touch/canada/toronto/story/1.2587466

HELP is a pilot project, available in specific neighbourhoods in Toronto. If the first three digits of your home postal code are listed below, HELP financing is available to you:

  • Black Creek: M3N
  • Toronto Centre/Riverdale/Beaches: M4E, M4L, M4M, M4J, M1N, M4C, M4K, M5A
  • Junction/High Park: M6P, M6S
  • South Scarborough: M1M, M1E, M1C, M1L, M1K, M4B

Visit the City of Toronto Website. 

Environmental Commissioner of Ontario on Mandatory Energy Audits

Those of you who have followed my work will know that I spent much of the first decade of the millennium working to achieve market transformation with Home Energy Labelling in the Real Estate marketplace in Canada. My work continues in this field today as an instructor to the Real Estate Industry, as writer and with www.KnowYourEnergyScore.ca. I am off to speak at the Appraisal Institute of Canada's National Conference about how to value energy in the Real Estate market.

As we hear from Gord Miller the impetus for Home Energy Labelling is growing and our effort to bring home energy efficiency to the Real Estate marketplace continues. While I am in favour voluntary labelling, Ontario's @EcoCommish shows a clear  argument for mandatory building labelling. 'Consumer protection happens on every other product - why not on your home.'

see more from the Gord Miller here: http://www.eco.on.ca/

Download the report: Restoring the Ballance

See the press conference

 

 For more information on Home Energy Labelling visit www.KnowYourEnergyScotre.ca.

Safe Drinking Water

Annie Leonard of the Story of Stuff does a great job of telling the story of Bottled Water. Consider how important water protection and conservation are in the context of designing a modern home. Think of your appliances. If you don't use bottled watter can you live with a more efficient, smaller fridge?

Translating Energy Efficiency Investments into Real Property Values

Do energy efficiency improvements affect property values – and how? Good question – and one that is getting more and more attention. Investing resources in energy efficiency, especially capital costs, typically raises concerns about the return on that investment. The return can be looked at from many perspectives, such as actual energy use, energy costs, air quality and occupant well-being, community image and corporate social responsibility. And, in a chicken-egg conundrum, property valuation influences lenders’ decisions for loans related to energy efficiency. So, another aspect is now being considered: real property value. There are no widely accepted standards or metrics – nationally or internationally – around this issue but the groundwork is being laid in several countries, including Canada, and through international networks, including the following: