Barrier Sciences Group Supports Mandatory Energy Labels in Climate Change Action Plan

WOODSTOCK, On., October, 17 2016 – Starting in 2019, Ontario’s Climate Change Action Plan will introduce mandatory energy labelling of all homes for sale. Beginning in 2017, the Government plans to boost public access to climate change tools to reduce carbon emissions. The mandatory energy audits required for energy labelling will be funded through the Greenhouse gas reduction account, and provided free to Ontarians.

Barrier Sciences Group (BSG), one of 28 service organizations licensed by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), believes that energy labelling for new and existing homes is crucial to sustainability. BSG plans to help educate homeowners on the importance of energy auditing, and to raise awareness about carbon emissions reduction.

“Helping homeowners understand exactly why an energy audit is important is necessary to implementing mandatory energy labelling,” said Steve Reesor, President of BSG. “We don’t just want homeowners to know what an energy audit is. We want them to be knowledgeable about where energy goes into, and leaks out of, their homes.”

Ontario Home Builders Association found that 4.8 million existing homes will be affected by the plan and likely need retrofitting after receiving energy audits.

“There is an obvious fear and concern by some organizations that there will be a burden of cost when a home on the market needs retrofitting,” said Matthew Mulligan, VP of BSG. “However, Ontario will be funding the energy audits and investing in some of the retrofitting through rebates. Ontario is the first to implement mandatory energy labelling in Canada and we plan to lead with it.”

Enhanced by the Green Investment Fund from the Ontario Government, Union Gas is currently offering $5,000 in rebates for retrofitting homes. Enbridge Gas and The Home Energy Program provide similar rebates to Ontarians in certain regions. Homeowners concerned about future energy labelling can use these rebates to get a head start.

For more information on rebates, click here.