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The Issue:
The Issue:
Most Canadians are concerned about energy efficiency related to their homes. And Canadian governments are, too, with initiatives such as the Kyoto Protocol.
Canadians for Properly Built Homes would like to commend the Canadian Federal Government for programs such as:
However, governments need to make sure that new homes have appropriate energy efficiencies from the outset. And this action is needed now. While Environment Canada has announced its goal to enable provinces to incorporate the R2000 standard or equivalent level into building codes by 2010, actions must be taken by governments immediately to ensure that new homes are appropriately energy efficient when built.
It is fundamentally wrong to allow poor energy efficiencies in new homes being built, and then to use tax dollars to incent the homeowners to fix the problems after they take possession of their new homes, e.g., through the EnerGuide Program.
Provinces need to take a much stronger stand with builders as well. While the Ontario provincial government's "smart" meter and its call for reducing showers to five minutes may help conserve energy, Dalton McGuinty's liberals need to attack this problem at the source as well, and ensure that builders take appropriate steps to conserve energy when constructing new homes.
While R2000 homes may be the ultimate goal, Canadians cannot afford to wait until 2010 for appropriate action by governments relating to appropriate energy conservation in the new homes that are being built across Canada. Less lofty goals than R2000 homes need to be introduced in the interim as governments work their way to R2000 homes in 2010. Small steps are better than no steps between now and 2010.
Canadians for Properly Built Homes Position:
Canadians for Properly Built Homes is calling for all governments across Canada to ensure that homes are properly built from the outset, thereby ensuring appropriate energy efficiencies, and negating the need to use Canadian's tax dollars to fix the homes after they have been built.
What can concerned citizens do?
- Write or telephone your provincial/territorial Member of Parliament
- Write or telephone the appropriate Ministry within your provincial/territorial government
- Write or telephone the Federal Minister of the Environment, the Honourable Stephane Dion at Les Terrasses de la Chaudiere, 10 Wellington St., 28th Floor
Hull, Quebec, K1A 0H3, E-mail: stephane.dion@ec.gc.ca telephone: (819) 997-1441
- Write or telephone the Federal Minister of Natural Resources: The Honourable John Efford, MINO/MINO,580 Booth Street, 21st Floor, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1A 0E4, E-mail:john.efford@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca telephone: (613) 996-2007
- Write or telephone the Federal Minister of Labour and Housing: The Honourable Joe Fontana, Room 365, West Block, House of Commons, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0A6, E-mail fontaj@parl.gc.ca telephone: (613) 992-0805
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