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EnerQuality celebrates 75,000th Energy Star home

The organization started off with just 96 homes in 2006, the first year of labelling Energy Star for New Homes (ESNH) and today EnerQuality says it labels more than 6000 homes a year.

“It’s a brand our buyers recognize and appreciate,” Tartan Homes owner/manager Bruce Nicol explains.

In 2005, the home building industry, through EnerQuality—in partnership with Natural Resources Canada—developed ESNH for the Canadian market. ESNH homes are on average 20% more energy efficient than typical Code-built ones, the organization says.

“Energy Star has been the most effective tool in the government’s box to influence the marketplace towards greater energy efficiency and less carbon,” EnerQuality president Corey McBurney said.

Mattamy Homes, one of the early adopters of ESNH, is also the builder of EnerQuality’s 75,000th ESNH home.

Vice-president of sustainable development Subhi Alsayed says Mattamy realized from the start what an important program sit would turn out to be.

“Early on, Mattamy recognized Energy Star as a framework for quality control of energy performance and an industry leadership indicator. For that, we are proud to have been one of the early adopters of ESNH in this market.”

A 2015 Environics-Genworth survey found 72% of first-time home buyers said energy efficiency is an important factor in home buying. The emphasis on energy efficiency falls even higher than proximity to schools or public transit, the survey went on to say.

EnerQuality’s long-term involvement in ESNH was recognized just last year, with two federal Energy Star Canada Awards – Participant of the Year and Sustained Excellence.