The Federal Government ended the EcoEnergy program for new registrants on Jan 28, 2012.  No information is available regarding any new programs or initiatives to help  with the increasing costs of energy.  Information on the EcoEnergy site is here http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/residential/6551

This will affect many people in Canada.  Energy Auditors, Insulation, HVAC, window and doors, to name a few.

A group calledSave ecoENERGY Coalition is already working on the government – details are as follows:

To learn more about the Coalition:

• About us  – http://saveecoenergy.ca/about-us  
• Home Energy Action Plan — http://saveecoenergy.ca/action-plan  
• Save Energy First campaign — http://saveecoenergy.ca/save-energy-first  

As of July 13, 2011 the Federal government reinstated the EcoEnergy rebate program.  This program gives rebates for upgrading the energy effieciency of your home, cottage, multi unit building, with insulation, HVAC, water and windows/doors.

For an Envirotech Insulation recommended auditor please check out our links page.

For more information see the ecoenergy website

As stated the EcoEnergy rebate program will return at some point in 2011 as outlined in the Federal Budget.  There currently is no start date published yet.  More to come as we find out the details.

The Ontario Home Energy Savings Program (OHESP) is coming to a close as scheduled on March 31st, 2011.

Despite the federal government’s decision to cancel its contribution to OHESP in March, 2010, the Government of Ontario will continue its funding to help residents achieve their home energy efficiency goals until the scheduled close of the program in March of 2011.

Ontario’s updated long-term energy plan, Building Our Clean Energy Future sets ambitious North American leading conservation targets – calling for conservation of 4,550 MW by 2015 and 7,100 MW by 2030, the equivalent of taking 2.4 million homes off the grid. The plan also proposes providing continued support for home energy audits to help Ontarians identify areas where they can improve their energy efficiency.

A new suite of conservation programs for residential consumers is now offered by the Ontario Power Authority (OPA), offering incentives, rebates, and in-store coupons to help Ontarians conserve energy and save money. For more information regarding OPA conservation programs, please visit the OPA website at http://www.powerauthority.on.ca or contact your Local Distribution Company (Toronto Hydro for example).

It is common knowledge in the building science industry that all insulation systems perform at different levels depending on environmental conditions.  R-value performance can actually change as much as 50% or more.  Because Vermont, with its cold winters, is at the extreme end of this variation in thermal performance, the impact of climate cannot be ignored.  While all insulation materials have published R-values determined by laboratory testing, many of the materials we are using in our buildings have published R-values that apply to other climates, not Vermont. For example: if a particular insulation material or system performs at R=19 in a moderate southern climate, but at 9.5 in a cold Vermont climate, twice as much of that type of insulation should be used in Vermont if the code requires a real-world performance equaling R-19.

The test results from the U.S. Department of Energy verify that Fiberglas R-values are compromised when a 25° Fahrenheit temperature difference exists between the inside (70°) and the outside   (45°). When the test conditions reached an outside temperature of  -18°,  the R-values of the fiberglass insulation (both blown in and batts) decreased to less than 50% of the manufacturer’s stated R-value.

Cellulose R-values, on the other hand, went up. The R-value of Cellulose insulation began to rise when a 25° Fahrenheit temperature difference existed between the inside (70°) and the outside (45°).  When the test conditions reached the outside temperature of -18°, the R-values of the Cellulose Insulation continued to rise above the manufacturer’s stated installed R-value. It was so determined that cellulose insulation improves in R-value any time a temperature difference of 25° or more exists

U.S. Department of Energy Test Results

While this study only looks at two of the many types of insulation on the market, it is clear from this and a preponderance of other test data that changes in temperature can dramatically change the R-value of different insulation products in very different ways.

Treehugger.com published this article on airKrete in April 2009

Check out the article here – Treehugger.com

airKrete© retrofit spray foam insulation has been listed on the eco-giant building reference website, buildinggreen.com. The website is dedicated to best-in-class environmentally friendly construction practices, eco-friendly home building products, as well as education, support and industry news revolving around building with the environment in mind.

Check out BuildingGreen.com here.

A great article on home insulation, signs of problems, and solutions to those problems that was written and added to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporatation (CMHC) website.

“While previous generations may have been content to live in drafty houses, most people now want comfortable warm houses. A healthy house today is well sealed, well insulated and properly ventilated.”

See the rest of the article here.