An EnerGuide Report is Sure to Benefit Your Home

Published on February 27, 2018

Accredited by the Government of Canada, EnerGuide is the energy performance standard for homes, vehicles, and appliances. Regardless of the size of your home, energy consumption and energy efficiency should be at the forefront. With the EnerGuide Rating System (and EnerGuide Report) it's easy to understand energy consumption patterns and consider viable improvements.

An EnerGuide Report must be issued by a Certified Energy Auditor, and is recognized by Natural Resources Canada. The aim of an EnerGuide Rating is to give you, the homeowner, a basic "game plan" to improve home energy efficiency, consume less energy, and save on utilities. By 2019, every home will need an EnerGuide Rating prior to sale - a better rating means added value.

A professional EnerGuide Report will target specific energy improvements

Every home can benefit from a professional home energy assessment and a formal EnerGuide Report. The fact is, a home that is performing poorly is simply wasting energy and money. With the majority of energy being used for heating and cooling, poor performance can result in many thousands of dollars of waste. The good news is that energy efficiency can be markedly improved.

For the benefit of the homeowner, a Certified Energy Auditor will recommend energy solutions based on the EnerGuide Report findings. Using advanced diagnostic tools, a range of issues are assessed and evaluated - everything from air leakage, to HVAC system performance, to insulation capacity. Better still, attainable outcomes are illustrated based on each improvement that's made.

Homeowners can determine which upgrades and retrofits to undertake

A comprehensive EnerGuide Report allows a homeowner to decide on home energy upgrades without having to entirely rely on contractor recommendations. And while a Certified Energy Auditor can recommend potential upgrades (like HVAC, air tightness, or insulation) the final decision is for the homeowner to make. Oftentimes, there are rebates and incentives available.

When material improvements are made to enhance energy performance, the savings are almost immediate. So much so, that the cost of improvements is offset by the seasonal dollar savings.

• increasing insulation performance in the attic/roof
• boosting the R-Values in different areas of the home
• effectively air sealing and weatherizing weaknesses
• re-installing high-performance basement insulation
• retrofitting the exterior walls with better insulation

With EnerGuide, before/after scenarios show the benefits of upgrades

If you're looking to cut home energy costs, the EnerGuide approach is the way to go forward. It's about making the upgrades that will best improve energy efficiency, while reducing energy usage. From start to finish, EnerGuide reporting/rating identifies performance issues and offers fixes and remedies that deliver the best return-on-investment (all done with a professional touch).

EnerGuide labeling and performance scores can increase home value

Once energy improvements have been made, a home will be "labeled" according to EnerGuide guidelines and standards. As an official record of a home's energy performance, the EnerGuide Label will be required for all homes, and mandatory for home sales. Needless to say, a good rating will add value to a home, and may well increase resale value. As a homeowner, it's important to contract professionals who are recognizedand registered with Natural Resources Canada.