The C.D Howe Institute of Canada reaches this conclusion in a recent report, that assesses the effectiveness of the federal government of Canada’s ecoEnergy program “the lowest cost subsidy with the greatest impact, by far, is energy retrofits of homes and buildings”. While the big picture story is about the impact of biofuels, it seems to me that the focus could have been more on the positive side.
Right now homeowners can save thousands of dollars, increase the value of their homes, improve their standard of living and lower their energy costs by reducing their use of energy.
The ecoEnergy program provides $60 dollars for each replaced window or door that qualifies after the energy audit is done. When you add to that amount, the $1350 dollars available this year in the Home Renovation Tax Credit, homeowners have a unique opportunity to make a green impact and help the Canadian economic recovery at the same time. The average homeowner will save thousands of dollars right now and see a continuing discount on their energy costs.
So that is the good news story that hopefully will play out and grab peoples attention, instead of another finger pointing exercise that only finds fault and ignores the real successes that this initiative has accomplished.
By the way, in addition your furnace and air conditioner will last longer if it is new or extend the time before they need to be replaced.
Tags: C.D. Howe, energy reduction, green energy, HRTC, new air conditioner, new doors, new furnace, new windows, retrofit homes
[...] Benjamin Davis who is opposed to the program, yet the same institute called the program the “the biggest impact, by far, is the energy retrofit of homes” when it comes to Green energy [...]