EnerGuide

EnerGuide for New Houses – EnerGuide Rating System

The EnerGuide Rating System is a program created by Natural Resources Canada to provide a standardized measurement of the energy efficiency of new homes.

What are the benefits of an energy-efficient home?

• Cash savings: reducing the amount of energy (gas, water and electricity) you use means immediate savings in your utility bills.
• Peace of mind: you can rest at ease knowing that you are reducing the amount of greenhouse gasses you produce.
• Comfort: energy-efficient homes are healthier and more comfortable to live in because of better indoor air quality.

How does an energy evaluation make my home more energy efficient?

• Builders offering the EnerGuide Rating Service have their house plans evaluated by a Certified Energy Advisor (CEA) like Ecofinity.
• The builders then work with their CEA to develop energy upgrade packages – the upgrades chosen will determine how much money you’ll save every month.
• After the home is built the CEA performs a walk-through of the house to confirm that the upgrades have been applied.
• The Certified Energy Advisor then provides a label as proof of the home’s energy efficiency.

What does the EnerGuide label tell me?

An Energuide label acts as proof of how energy efficient a home really is. The rating gives an estimate of the amount of electricity, natural gas or oil consumed every year. However, please note that the estimate is based on a number of underlying assumptions, like the home being inhabited by a family of four, the thermostat being set to specific temperatures, etc.

A one-point improvement on the EnerGuide rating scale usually reduces your home’s energy consumption by 3 to 5 percent.

All EnerGuide homes are rated on a scale of 0-100. A home with a rating of 0 has enormous air leakage problems, minimal (if any) insulation and extreme energy consumption. A home with a rating of 100 is incredibly air tight and does not need to purchase energy from external sources.

For more information about the EnerGuide Rating Service, please visit Natural Resources Canada’s Office of Energy Efficiency here.