LONDON’S NEW HOME BUILDERS EMBRACE

NEXT GENERATION TECHNOLOGY

PHOTOS

London, ON -- January 18, 2012 - A select group of London Home Builders’ Association (LHBA) member home builders are taking energy efficiency to the next level by building new ‘Discovery Homes’ in the London area. The homes will incorporate a number of new innovative energy-efficient technologies as part of a new Technology Adoption Pilot (TAP) coordinated by EnerQuality Corporation. The Ontario Power Authority (OPA), Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), Enbridge Gas Distribution and Union Gas are also contributing to this initiative.

The innovative selections are the culmination of NRCan’s Local Energy Efficiency Partnership (LEEP) next-generation technology identification and selection process. Through LEEP, local home builders have found, assessed and selected the energy conserving technologies that could work best for them in their construction processes. The aim is to find the technologies that can be more regularly incorporated into mainstream construction as builders move towards higher performance housing.  

“This project is an example of Government of Canada researchers partnering with industry to introduce new, energy efficient technologies into the marketplace faster, smoother and more effectively,” said Ed Holder, Member of Parliament for London West on behalf of the Honourable Joe Oliver, Minister of Natural Resources. “This Discovery home will be an essential demonstration project that helps keep our country at the forefront of home innovation.”

“We are excited to see the launch of TAP,” said Andrew Pride, Vice-President of Conservation for OPA. “We have aggressive electricity conservation targets in Ontario and we are confident TAP will speed up the process of getting some of these great new technologies into new homes, in London and eventually across the province.”

Both the TAP and LEEP pilot initiatives are being coordinated by EnerQuality Corporation, an organization that designs and delivers energy-efficiency programs to the residential construction industry. “What’s different about these TAP ‘Discovery Homes’ is that builders worked together to review and select which technologies would work best in their particular region,” said EnerQuality President Corey McBurney, who added, “London builders, along with municipal building officials gained confidence in these next-generation technologies and installation methods through their participation in the LEEP process. Through TAP, they will further increase their confidence that these technologies will be successful in their market and result in energy savings for their customers.”

Ontario Home Builders’ Associations in London, Sudbury, Hamilton-Halton, Niagara and the Greater Toronto Area, have embraced the LEEP and TAP initiatives. “Code 2012 is bringing advanced construction methods to the norm,” said Toby Stolee. Sifton Properties Limited and LHBA President Elect “participating in LEEP and TAP advances knowledge and building techniques to another level. The technologies / products we chose are cost effective and tangible for the new home purchaser.”

Building consultants, product suppliers and trade contractors are working together with TAP builders to ensure the technologies are successfully installed. “For over a decade, Union Gas’ energy-efficiency programs have helped our business customers make smart investments in energy-efficient equipment and technologies,” said Mel Ydreos, vice-president of marketing and customer care at Union Gas. “The TAP initiative is a great example of moving energy efficiency to the next level by identifying the next generation of technologies that can help customers significantly reduce energy costs while also reducing their environmental footprint.”

“TAP is a brilliant program and Enbridge is proud to partner with Ontario builders to not only share what we know, but to accelerate the introduction of some pretty cutting-edge technology,” said Mary Harinck of Enbridge Gas Distribution.

Funding for the LEEP and TAP initiatives has been provided by Natural Resources Canada, the Ontario Power Authority, Enbridge Gas Distribution, and Union Gas. 

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