Energuide for New Homes
An EnerGuide rating shows a standard measure of your home's energy performance. It shows you and future buyers exactly how energy efficient your home is. The rating is based on standard operation assumptions so that you can compare the energy performance of one house against another.
The homes energy efficiency level is rated on a scale of 0 to 100. A rating of 0 would represent a structure like a nylon tent, with major air leakage, no insulation and extremely high energy consumption. A rating of 100 represents a highly efficient home that is so air tight and well insulated that it requires no purchased energy at all.
Most code built homes score between 65 and 72. Homes with some energy efficiency improvements will score between 73 and 79, and an Energy Star home must score 80 or over to qualify.
Before a home can be tested, a Natural Resources Canada (or NRCan) certified energy advisor will work with the builder to analyze the new house plans, noting components that will affect the energy efficiency of the house (ie. mechanical equipment, windows, building envelope, insulation levels, etc.). The energy advisor inputs this information into NRCan’s energy simulation software to determine the estimated annual energy usage and EnerGuide rating for the house as per the plans. After construction is complete, the energy advisor will return and test the homes performance and label the house.
Learn more about the Energuide program for new homes at: http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca
