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GTA building professionals, industry partners and homebuilders win majority of energy efficiency awards - Environmental Communication Options/Huff Strategy

GTA building professionals, industry partners and homebuilders win majority of energy efficiency awards

Jan 12th, 2007 8:14 AM

PHOTOS AVAILABLE Record number of energy efficient homes built in Ontario during 2006 (Markham, Ontario, January 12, 2007) During a year when Ontario had a 255% jump in new, energy efficient homes, 6 GTA building professionals, industry partners and homebuilders can claim title as industry leaders. EnerQuality Corporation gave them Awards of Excellence today at the Ontario Building & Renovation Forum in Markham (see winners chart). "The EnerQuality Awards of Excellence winners, through their dedication, skill and enthusiasm, have transformed the new housing market. They have educated consumers, motivated change, and improved building techniques," said Michael Lio, President of EnerQuality Corporation. "This has resulted in an exponential growth in the number of energy efficient homes in the GTA." EnerQuality manages three popular energy efficiency initiatives in Ontario targeting new housing: ENERGY STAR® for New Homes, R-2000 and EnerGuide for New Houses. These three initiatives have a total of 354 participating homebuilders including the largest builders in the country and the support of government and private sector partners including Natural Resources Canada, Ontario's Conservation Bureau, Enbridge Gas Distribution, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, DuPont Tyvek, Icynene, Owens Corning, and OZZ Corporation. ENERGY STAR is internationally recognized as the highest energy efficiency standard on the market, making it best-in-class. The ENERGY STAR label is earned only by homes that have met strict requirements, allowing homebuyers to rely on the performance tested, third party verified, government backed ENERGY STAR label to know they are buying the most efficient house on the market. New homes that receive this label are approximately 30 percent more energy efficient than those built to the minimum Ontario Building Code standards. R-2000 certified homes offer both energy efficiency and green building features. Only licensed R-2000 builders who have been trained and certified can build R-2000 homes. EnerGuide for New Houses is a rating system that informs consumers and supports choice by measuring the energy use and efficiency of a new house. In this initiative, blueprints are analyzed to assess a house's energy efficiency and generate a rating out of 100. For every point rise on the scale, more money is saved on utility bills. In 2006, there were 1,616 new, energy efficient homes completed and labeled; 802 homes ENERGY STAR qualified, 78 homes R-2000 certified, and 736 homes EnerGuide rated. Compared to 2005, there was a 255% growth in new, energy efficient homes, due to the massive number of ENERGY STAR homes completed in 2006. Energy efficient homes are quickly becoming the norm in Ontario. In 2006 alone, builders either started or committed to building 5,011 homes among the three initiatives "The changes to the Ontario building code in 2006 will require all new homes started in December 2011 to be built to EnerGuide 80. Builders already constructing homes at this level have established a head-start and will easily adapt," said Corey McBurney, Managing Director of EnerQuality. "None of the progress that has been made would have been possible without the hard work of so many. We are very happy to present these Awards of Excellence to the companies and people who are leading Ontario into an environmentally sustainable future." -30- For individual media releases, background on the individual award winners, high quality photos of projects and recipients, and information about ENERGY STAR for New Homes, R-2000 and EnerGuide for New Houses, contact Brent Kulba at 416-972-7401. The ENERGY STAR mark is administered and promoted in Canada by Natural Resources Canada and used with permission. R-2000 and EnerGuide are official marks of Natural Resources Canada and used with permission. EnerQuality Awards of Excellence Winners January 12, 2007 Best Marketing Program Sponsored by Owens Corning Recognizes a builder that has delivered an outstanding marketing program which integrates ENERGY STAR for New Homes, EnerGuide for New Houses or R-2000. Presented by Andy Goyda, Owens Corning Mattamy Homes North Halton Division Mattamy North Halton maintained a consistent advertising program focused on ENERGY STAR® for New Homes and made an outstanding contribution to energy efficiency through their Green Initiative program and two demonstration homes. Mattamy North Halton is Canada's largest ENERGY STAR builder, having sold 1,300 ENERGY STAR qualified homes in less than a year in its Coates Crossing II and Coates Common neighbourhoods at Hawthorne Village, and Hawthorne Village on the Escarpment community in Milton. Industry Partner of the Year Sponsored by the EnerQuality Builder Council Recognizes a manufacturer or supplier which has gone above and beyond to support energy efficiency in new home construction. Presented by Bernie Torchia, Eden Oak Homes, EnerQuality Builder Council Enbridge Gas Distribution Enbridge Gas Distribution has been an early and active supporter of ENERGY STAR for New Homes and EnerGuide for New Houses. Enbridge provides extensive marketing support to builders and has a team of eight New Housing Market Consultants in the field promoting new home energy efficiency. Enbridge has also initiated builder/trades training, is involved in consumer research, and continues to reward builders with a financial incentive for building energy efficient homes. Leader of the Year Sponsored by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Recognizes leadership in promoting energy efficiency in new home construction by increasing awareness and motivating change. Presented by Peter Friedman, CMHC Andrew Bowerbank, Canada Green Building Council, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Andrew Bowerbank was instrumental in facilitating Ontario's largest ENERGY STAR community, the City of Vaughan's Block 39 Sustainable Community Initiative. This community will comprise 1,600 ENERGY STAR qualified homes, in addition to energy efficient schools, community centres and retail spaces. Mr. Bowerbank is also managing the development of The Living City Campus in Vaughan where 300 hectares of land at the Kortright Centre for Conservation will be transformed into a Campus for sustainable development. It will contain the largest concentration of green buildings in North America and Canada's largest renewable energy training centre, showcasing to industry leaders the latest concepts and technologies for developing healthy communities. Leader of the Year Sponsored by Enbridge Gas Distribution Recognizes leadership in promoting energy efficiency in new home construction by increasing awareness and motivating change. Presented by Kathleen Hunt, Enbridge Sean Mason, Mason Homes Sean Mason has committed himself and Mason Homes to building and promoting energy efficiency in new home construction and, in the process, has influenced his homebuilder peers and consumers alike. He frequently makes presentations to municipalities, associations and interested groups on energy efficient building and is currently building one of Canada’s first LEED H Case Study projects in North Toronto. Mason Homes was the first ENERGY STAR for New Homes builder in Canada, and in October 2005, they were the first to make ENERGY STAR qualification a standard in all of their homes. Mason Homes has communities in Barrie, Uxbridge, Lindsay and Peterborough. ENERGY STAR for New Homes Builder of the Year Sponsored by the Conservation Bureau Recognizes a builder that exemplifies commitment to energy efficiency in new home construction and labels the most ENERGY STAR qualified new homes. Presented by Peter Love, Chief Energy Conservation Officer, Conservation Bureau, OPA The Daniels Corporation The Daniels Corporation had 175 homes qualified as ENERGY STAR in 2006 with another 275 homes scheduled for ENERGY STAR qualification in 2007. During the summer, the company finished construction on its Daniels FirstHome™ Erin Mills community in Mississauga, which is comprised of ENERGY STAR-qualified, stacked condominium townhomes geared toward first-time homebuyers. This was the largest ENERGY STAR community in Canada built with first-time buyers in mind. In the fall, construction was completed at the next FirstHome™ community in Markham. Daniels is one of Canada's most prominent residential builder/developers, offering communities throughout the GTA, Markham and Oakville. EnerGuide for New Houses Builder of the Year Sponsored by OZZ Corporation Recognizes a builder that exemplifies commitment to energy efficiency in new home construction and labels the most EnerGuide for New Houses qualified homes. Presented by Glen Leis, OZZ Corporation Empire Communities Empire Communities labeled 141 homes with an EnerGuide for New Houses rating, more than any other Canadian builder in 2006. They provide EnerGuide labeled homes company-wide and have communities in Brantford, Binbrook and Cambridge, each with the option of upgrading to ENERGY STAR qualification. Their new community in Uxbridge, the Estates of Wyndance, has 125 homes that will come with ENERGY STAR qualification as a standard feature -30- For individual media releases, background on the individual award winners, high quality photos of projects and recipients, and information about ENERGY STAR for New Homes, R-2000 and EnerGuide for New Houses, contact Brent Kulba at 416-972-7401. ENERGY STAR® for New Homes is a label earned only by homes that have met strict requirements, allowing homebuyers to rely on the performance tested, third party verified, government backed ENERGY STAR label to know they are buying the most efficient house on the market. New homes that receive this label are approximately 30 percent more energy efficient than those built to the minimum Ontario Building Code standards. The ENERGY STAR mark is administered and promoted in Canada by Natural Resources Canada and is used with permission. R-2000 certified homes offer both energy efficiency and green building features. Only licensed R-2000 builders who have been trained and certified can build R-2000 homes. R-2000 is an official mark of Natural Resources Canada and is used with permission. EnerGuide for New Houses is a rating system that informs consumers and supports choice by measuring the energy use and efficiency of a new house. EnerGuide is an official mark of Natural Resources Canada and is used with permission.