Archive for the ‘Program Updates’ Category
Further Support for the Renewal of EcoENERGY
SAWDAC/Window Wise (Siding and Window Dealers Association of Canada) is also throwing their support behind the renewal of the ecoENERGY Retrofit Program. They’ve sent a letter to the Minister of Finance, Minister of Natural Resources, Michael Ignatieff, MP and Jack Layton, MP. Comprised of 192 siding and window installation companies, 41 home renovation companies, 33 suppliers to the industry and 29 other types of members, SAWDAC reports that 92.9 % of their member companies reported a negative impact shortly following the cancellation of the program.
If you’d like to lend your support so that your friends and family can benefit from the program in the future, visit this blog and click the house.
Further Support for Renewing the Grant Program
The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute (HRAI) adds their voice to the call for renewal of the ecoENERGY Retrofit Program.
HRAI recently sent a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper asking him to keep the incentives coming. They point out that every incentive dollar is spent on local products and services, and they calculate that a renewal of the program would provide more than 350,000 person years of employment. The program created an average of 22% energy savings per house and three tonnes per year of greenhouse gas savings per house.
Remember, you too can help by contacting your local MPP and MP and urging him or her to raise this issue in parliament.
500,000 Homes
We just received some stats, thanks to a statement made by Tony Martin, MP for Sault Ste. Marie. Mr. Martin is calling for the immediate renewal of the ecoENERGY Program (renovation grants) that was put on hold in March of 2010. For those of you who didn’t know, there used to be an additional $5,000 in grants available making the maximum grant $10,000.
Mr. Martin points out that the program was very successful: “ecoENERGY helped retrofit 500,000 homes across Canada, saving an estimated 3 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) per home, or 1,500,000 tonnes of GHGs a year after 4 years of retrofits. The program cost $745 million over those 4 years and is estimated to have leveraged an additional $4 billion in retrofit investment by private individuals. Natural Resources Canada says that the average program claimant cut their home energy bill by 20%, a permanent saving for the family budget.”
How much did you save in your energy bills by retrofitting your home? We’d love to hear about it; comment below.
A Helping Hand
We know it’s overwhelming to take on a renovation project, especially the energy efficiency kind! Right now in Sudbury you can get some unbiased and educated help from reThink Green thanks to their reThink Homes program. They can provide you with a FREE in-home consultation after you complete your energy assessment with us. This consultation includes planning and prioritizing advice about your renovation projects. They are a not for profit group and they don’t sell you products or do the renovations themselves. It’s worth a call, especially if you feel overwhelmed and just want to know how to get started. 674-1685.
Tick-tock
Hey current clients, the clock is ticking on the deadline for the final assessment. Remember, we have to come back to your house before the end of March, 2011 to complete the final assessment, so be sure to book your appointment as soon as possible. We are calling you all to remind you of your 18-month deadline, and of the March 2011 deadline, but why not book your appointment today, even if you want the appointment months from now? We can do that! We really don’t want you to miss out on the final assessment, and as the deadline looms, our spaces fill up. You can reach us at one of these phone numbers.