When buying or building a new home, it’s important to consider how energy efficient your new home will be. But how do you know how energy efficient your new home will be?
The Government of Canada has created a program under the Natural Resources Canada division to help people better understand the energy efficiency of their homes. Natural Resources Canada gives an EnerGuide rating to new homes that are made by registered builders. This EnerGuide rating will not only help you better understand your home’s energy performance, but it may also help you lower your energy use.
With all of the metrics on the EnerGuide, zero (0) is ideal. When you have a rating of zero, your home produces as much energy as it consumes. One of the most important metrics on the EnerGuide is the Rated Energy Intensity. This number tells you how much energy each square meter in your home uses each year.
Advantages in selecting a home with the lowest rating
- Become part of the solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing climate change.
- Investments you make in energy efficiency at the construction stage will pay off in lower energy bills.
- Adds value to your home to increase resale value.
To learn how Natural Resources Canada’s EnerGuide makes homes more energy-efficient, more valuable, and more comfortable at nrcan.gc.ca/homes