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.
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.
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: