Written by MARK NIELSEN
Citizen staff
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Thursday, 24 April 2008 |
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Starting Sept. 5, the minimum standard for insulation in ceilings and attic space will rise to RSI 9.0 from RSI 7.7 for homes in northern and central B.C., according to information issued by the provincial government's office of housing and construction standards.
According to provincial government estimates, construction costs will rise from 0.3 to 1.3 per cent depending on the location. Jim Wallace of Durawall Construction Ltd. said the figures appear accurate and may be closer to 0.3 per cent for Prince George.
Provincial government officials also estimate the additional cost will be offset by savings in energy costs over four to nine years.
The new standard will also apply to renovations after that date while projects underway by Sept. 5 can proceed as planned without having to meet the new requirements.
Home builders will also have the option of achieving an EnerGuide rating of 77, however, achieving the rating requires an analysis and testing of the house's overall energy efficiency by a certified expert.
Wallace said that could be cumbersome for a subdivision projects made up several houses.
But Rod Croome of Hometech Energy Solutions Ltd. suggested the EnerGuide approach may be worthwhile for those building their own homes and especially for those upgrading an existing one.
According to figures provided by Croome, it would cost about $12,000 to bring a 1,000-square-foot bungalow built in to a rating of 76 from one of 58, but the project would also qualify for a government grant of $4,000 which would lower the total cost to $8,000.
In return, the homeowner would save about $970 a year in energy costs and reduce the amount of greenhouse gas it would emit by 4.1 tonnes a year. The upgrading would include installing an improved heating system, and installing higher-rated insulation, windows and doors.
Raising the rating to between 75 and 79 would make the house equal to an energy-efficient new house, while 80-90 would make it equivalent to a highly-efficient new house. A house with a rating of 90 to 100 is an advanced house that uses little or no purchased energy.
To find a certified advisor in the Prince George go to Natural Resource Canada's office of energy efficiency website and type in your postal code: http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/residential/personal/new-home-improvement/contact-advisors.cfm.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 08 October 2008 )
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