Energy efficiency is recognized as one of the most cost-effective ways to help consumers save money by saving energy, making housing more affordable, and reducing GHG emissions. Home energy labeling can help boost demand for energy efficiency by revealing a home’s “hidden” energy performance, improving energy literacy, and creating an informed market that values better-performing homes.
With funding support from the Trottier Family Foundation, Clean Air Partnership gathered background information and conducted a national survey on homeowner preference for energy labeling. Key program design elements and considerations for both pilots and programs developed at scale were explored. A practical roadmap was developed to support jurisdictions with implementing residential energy labeling programs. As an outcome of this project, a report titled Advancing Energy Labeling in the Residential Sector – A Guide for Canadian Municipalities has been released.
Report Highlights
- Home energy labeling allows homeowners and potential buyers to understand the efficiency of their homes and make appropriate decisions around retrofits and purchase choices.
- Partnerships among stakeholders, including homeowners, government bodies, realtors, potential buyers, renovation contractors and utilities, are critical to the successful implementation of these programs.
- Information generated through home energy labeling paves the way for better policy and program creation for governments and utilities to address energy efficiency.
- The report includes key insights from a national survey of 1,005 potential homeowners and those considering home renovation. The survey found that 96% of respondents considered it important to know if a home is efficient. Over 80% of respondents are willing to get an energy audit, 70% of whom are willing to pay up to $500 for an audit. 94% of respondents preferred receiving energy performance information upfront on the listing or during their initial home visit while purchasing a home.
- The report provides municipalities and other levels of government with a range of program design elements and a four-step implementation framework for developing a home energy labeling program.
