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CThe hottest trend in -new home construction us solar power z (NC)-As more and more Canadians become aware of the environment and look for ways to reduce their ecological-footprint, z the benefits of incorporating renewable ener- S gy into new homes is irrefutable. If you are planning to build a new home in the coming Z months, some recent developments may help you with your research. Solar power, for example, is the hottest trend in new home construction these days; in fact, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)'s Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE), responsi- ble for licensing builders to construct energy- efficient homes, has completed an 18-month pilot project in Ontario to fund the construc- tion of 100 new "SolarReady" homes. The project was a huge success and now the OEE is encouraging all Canadians to incorporate Solar Ready features into their building plans. Basically, a Solar Ready home is equipped for the future use of solar power for necessi- ties such as hot water or electricity When you choose the Solar Ready option, your builder or contractor will design cost-effective adjust- ments for your home so you can install solar equipment in the future. Solar power is a cost-effective upgrade you can choose for your new home - an upgrade that could help you make big savings in ener- gy costs and put you in line for environmen- talist of the year on your block. A Solar Ready home must meet five basic requirements for the installation of solar ener- gy systems: • A roof location of suitable size, pitch and orientation; • Labeled conduits from the mechanical room to the attic; • Extra plumbing valves and fittings on the water heater; * An clectrical outlet ai the planned solar tank location: • Construction plans that indicate the future component locations. It's a good idea to read up on the federal government's Solar Ready technical guide- lines, programs and research on solar power and other renewable energy sources. You can find all the latest information at the OEE web- site at www.newhomes.nrcan.gc.ca. - News Canada Study shows majority of homebuyers will choose energy efficiency for next home (NC)-A new trend is emerging among those Canadians thinking of buy- ing or building a new home. According to a survey by EnerQuality Corporation, a home energy training and consulting firm licensed to deliver Natural Resources Canada's (NRCan's) Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE's) new housing initia- tives, nine out of 10 buyers will be look- ing for energy efficiency features in their next home. A full 90 per cent of respon- dents also said they were willing to spend more for homes that deliver better indoor air quality and are more energy-efficient. The findings could help explain the explosion in the number of homebuilders lining up to become licensed in delivering OEE's new housing programs - EnerGuide Rating System (ERS), ENER- GY STAR for New Homes and R-2000. 'The homichuilding industry is undcrgoing onc of its inost significant transforma- tions in recent years as it responds to higher consumer demand for greener homes and more energy-efficient building practices. In order to satisfy the demand, home- builders are implementing a number of federal and regional programs across Canada designed to provide a consistent, cohesive approach to building energy- efficient homes. Its important to under- stand the available initiatives so take note. The ERS determines the home's level of energy efficiency on a scale from 0-100. Tools such as the ERS and R-2000 Standard are used in support of regional energy-efficiency initiatives such as ENERGY STAR for New Homes, Power Smart New Homes, Built Green, Yukon GreenHome, and Novoclimat. The R-2000 standard reflects the best in technology development by the federal government and the homebuilding indus- try. Homes built to the R-2000 standard achieve a miriimum energy efficiency rat- ing of 80 on the EnerGuide scale. This translates to a home that uses approxi- mately 30 percent less energy than an average newly built home. In addition, there is a series of technical requirements for vcniilattion, airtightness, insulation, choice of iaterials. wvater use and other factors... If you plan to build or buy a home in the coming months, you should brush up on the latest trends, terminology and technology, and look into R-2000 and other regional housing energy efficiency initiatives, at www.newhomes.nrcan. gc.ca. - News Canada ~IuiJb If~IJD ~UBuïfli MAISEUUU1Ï SIUUUU.S1/~X11SUMSIlUSTSOK £2,#!jrjý tINIu:à1infuf