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EnerQuality and Ontario home builders raise $10,000 for Habitat for Humanity Canada - Environmental Communication Options/Huff Strategy

EnerQuality and Ontario home builders raise $10,000 for Habitat for Humanity Canada

Jan 30th, 2008 6:27 AM

*High-Resolution photo available Builders accept challenge and help push ENERGY STAR for New Homes initiative past the 10,000 home mark (Toronto, January 30, 2008) A watershed moment was recently celebrated in energy efficient and sustainable home building in Ontario. At the recently held 2007 EnerQuality Awards, representatives from EnerQuality Corporation and Tartan Homes met with Habitat for Humanity Canada to present a cheque for $10,000 in recognition of the 10,000 ENERGY STAR® for New Homes initiative qualified home enrolled in the province. It confirms the momentum that energy efficiency is gaining with homebuilders across the province. We are thrilled to be able to share this success with Habitat for Humanity Canada. EnerQuality is a proud partner with HFH. This makes sense as energy efficiency embodied in ENERGY STAR plays a critical role in making housing more affordable. A HFH house built to ENERGY STAR qualification will now be even more affordable to own for the deserving families. “Today represents a historic milestone in the life of ENERGY STAR for New Homes. It symbolizes another unique circumstance where we are able to give back to our community, to the environment, and to families who are seeking an opportunity for renewal,” said Corey McBurney, Managing Director of EnerQuality Corporation, which delivers the Energy Star for New Homes initiative. Low income families living in poverty often consume more energy for home heating because of poor housing conditions. This represents a disproportionate share of household spending and is tremendous burden. In fact, low-income households in Ontario spend six times the proportion of their household income on electricity alone when compared to the highest income earners. "Close to a million families in Canada are forced to make serious sacrifices because the cost associated with owning a home is overwhelming,” said David Hughes, President & CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada. "Thanks to the generosity and efforts of EnerQuality Corporation and Tartan Homes, we are working to alleviate those pressures and give struggling families a hand up." New homes that receive the ENERGY STAR for New Homes label are approximately 30 percent more energy-efficient than those built to the minimum Ontario building code standards. Typical energy saving measures in an ENERGY STAR qualified home include higher levels of insulation in basements, walls and attics, ENERGY STAR qualified windows and doors, tighter building envelopes, programmable thermostats, sealed ducts, ENERGY STAR qualified appliances, and high-efficiency heating, hot water and air conditioning systems. The donation to 'Habitat for Humanity' is a great way to give back to the community and is an expression of our commitment that 'housing' should be accessible to everyone,” Bruce Nicol, EnerQuality Corporation along with Air Solutions, are proud to support Habitat for Humanity Canada as leaders in building Energy Efficient Sustainable Housing. -30- For more information, contact: Jonathan Laderoute, e|c|o, 416-972-7401, laderoutej(at)huffstrategy.com Since 1998, EnerQuality has managed R-2000, the EnerGuide Rating Service and the ENERGY STAR for New Homes initiatives in Ontario on behalf of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). Through certification, training and consulting, EnerQuality promotes energy efficient housing in Ontario. They are committed to transforming Ontario’s housing into the most energy efficient and sustainable in the world. ENERGY STAR® for New Homes is a label given to homes that meet balanced, whole-house energy-efficiency standards, guaranteeing their owners significant energy savings. New homes that receive the ENERGY STAR label are approximately 30 percent more energy-efficient than those built to the minimum Ontario building code standards. The ENERGY STAR mark, used with permission, is administered and promoted in Canada by Natural Resources Canada. Habitat for Humanity Canada is a national, non-profit, faith-based organization working for a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. The mission of the organization is to mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting homeownership as a means to breaking the cycle of poverty. Habitat for Humanity Canada was founded in 1985, consists of over 35,000 volunteers and 72 affiliate organizations from coast to coast, and is a member of Habitat for Humanity International which spans 93 countries, has built over 225,000 homes, and is now building a new home every 21 minutes.