| The ecoENERGY Retrofit Grant Program, | | | | government rebates part of the initial audit fee), |
| according to statistics from the Office of Energy | | | | which is less than much of the energy efficiency |
| Efficiency of Natural Resources Canada, has less | | | | grant money available. Personally, I would rather |
| than 1% (0.86%) of homes built prior to 2000 had | | | | see a story on the backlog of homeowners |
| participated in the ecoENERGY Retrofit residential | | | | waiting for their home energy assessment than |
| grant program since it began on April 1, 2007 | | | | to see less than 1% participation. |
| (almost 11 months). | | | | Fourth, the average home owner is already |
| The intent of this program is to encourage | | | | stretched financially. If there is any money left |
| Canadian homeowners, through a combination of | | | | over after the mortgage, car, food, clothing, |
| education and financial incentives, to reduce the | | | | utilities and other typical home owner expenses, |
| amount of consumption of non-renewable | | | | for years the average home owner has been told |
| resources by their home activities. | | | | to contribute to an Registered Retirement |
| The Honorable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural | | | | Savings Plan, and then to a Registered Educational |
| Resources announced the $220.0 million | | | | Savings Plan. Where are they going to find the |
| ecoENERGY Retrofit program on January 21, | | | | money to (A) pay for the energy assessments |
| 2007. | | | | and (B) to pay for the costs of the energy |
| $220 million. | | | | conservation related renovations without |
| From April 1, 2007 to February 19, 2008 $9.6 | | | | significant government assistance? |
| million incentive / grant money has been paid to | | | | $220.0 vs $9.6 million. |
| home owners (again, according to information we | | | | Is it reasonable to think that the average home |
| received from Natural Resources Canada with our | | | | owner will be motivated to divert excess cash |
| thanks). | | | | from their day-to-day living expenses to home |
| $220.0 vs $9.6 million. | | | | renovations where they will only receive up to 10 |
| We believe that these above numbers (especially | | | | to 15% rebate under the ecoENERGY Retrofit |
| the participation rate to date) is very disappointing | | | | grant program (the current target of the |
| and represents ineffective action on behalf of the | | | | program) when they can receive anywhere |
| Federal Conservative government to reduce CO2 | | | | between 30 and 45% income tax rebate in the |
| emissions and non-renewable energy consumption | | | | form of reduced income taxes from an |
| by Canadian homes. | | | | Registered Retirement Savings Plan contribution, |
| While our belief can be debated by those who | | | | depending on their marginal income tax rate? In |
| feel that it does represent remarkable progress, | | | | some opinions, the grant money should be |
| we offer some suggestions which we believe, as | | | | doubled or tripled if the Federal Conservative |
| an average home owner, could be taken to | | | | Government of Canada is serious about climate |
| increase the participation of Canadian home | | | | change issues. |
| owners. | | | | The ecoENERGY Retrofit program has only paid |
| First, increase publicity by local and national media | | | | $9.6 million from April 1, 2007 to February 19, |
| outlets. When was the last time the Toronto Star | | | | 2008 per information provided by the Office of |
| or Globe and Mail had an article the ecoENERGY | | | | Energy Efficiency. Is doubling or tripling that |
| Retrofit program specifically as it relates to | | | | number per year over the approximate 4 year |
| homes? When was the last time those in charge | | | | life of the ecoENERGY Retrofit program really |
| of the ecoENERGY Retrofit program proactively | | | | going to impact the Federal Conservative |
| provided information to the media on the | | | | Government's financial position? |
| program's progress? | | | | However, in the proposed Federal budget of late |
| And, when was the last time you remember | | | | February 2008, I believe they announced the |
| seeing an advertisement on TV, radio or print | | | | planned discontinuation of the $2,000 grant to |
| media from Natural Resources Canada on the | | | | purchasers of certain 'eco friendly' vehicles. Let's |
| ecoENEGY Retrofit program? | | | | take the savings from the discontinuation of that |
| Some say that the government should be | | | | 'eco friendly' grant and use it to increase the size |
| proactively doing more, much more, to gain the | | | | of grants under the ecoENERGY Retrofit grant |
| attention of, and to motivate, the average home | | | | program. |
| owner, who has an already sufficiently busy life, | | | | $220.0 vs $9.6 million |
| to participate in the ecoENERGY Retrofit program | | | | It sounds like election time may be just around |
| . | | | | the corner for the Canadian Federal Government. |
| Second, not all actions taken by a home owner | | | | One can only hope that the media and all political |
| are eligible for grant money under the | | | | parties pay more attention to the ecoENERGY |
| ecoENERGY Retrofit program. In general only | | | | Retrofit program for Canadian homes. At least |
| those actions or projects undertaken by the | | | | the increased attention might make more |
| home owner relating to proven, off-the-shelf | | | | Canadian home owners participate in what could |
| technologies which can be adopted in large | | | | potentially be a very good approach to energy |
| numbers are eligible for grant money. | | | | conservation from both a global warming and a |
| So, for example, a wind-power generation | | | | non-renewable energy resource conservation |
| system, a solar wall system to supplement a | | | | perspective. |
| home's heating and photovoltaic (solar panels) | | | | Wouldn't it be nice if we saw a press release |
| system to supplement a home's electricity are | | | | from Natural Resources Canada on April 1, 2008, |
| not currently covered by the ecoENERGY Retrofit | | | | the one year anniversary of the program, which |
| program. Is it a coincidence that these are also | | | | pro-actively provided the various participation |
| amongst the most expensive energy | | | | statistics? |
| conservation related renovations for a home | | | | Wouldn't it be nice if the major national and local |
| owner? | | | | newspapers, television stations, radio stations, |
| $220.0 vs $9.6 million. | | | | magazines and such media outlets gave front |
| Third, one could ask why the home owner has to | | | | page status to a story on the effectiveness, or |
| pay for the energy assessment of their home | | | | lack thereof, of the ecoENERGY Retrofit grant |
| which is required for a home owner to participate | | | | program? Wouldn't it be nice if one of them, even |
| in the ecoENERGY Retrofit program? The cost of | | | | just one, ran a series of articles every three |
| the two assessments approximates $450 in total | | | | months on different home owners' ecoENERGY |
| (reduced in some provinces where the Provincial | | | | Retrofit participation experiences? |