Natural Resources
April 7, 2010Provincial
Energy Efficiency Program Continues Despite Federal Changes
The Provincial Government will continue its
program to assist homeowners across Newfoundland and Labrador increase the
energy efficiency of their homes and reduce home heating costs despite the
suspension of the federal ecoEnergy Retrofit-Homes Program.
"In the absence of the federal program, we want to clear up any confusion that
people may have as to the status of the provincial program or the status of
their applications," said the Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Minister of Natural
Resources. "The provincial EnerGuide for Houses program is continuing. The
program has received a positive response from individuals in the province and it
is assisting home owners in making energy efficiency improvements, which help
the environment and the economy."
The Federal Government announced last week that the ecoEnergy Retrofit-Homes
Program is not receiving any new applications for federal incentives, and those
currently in the system have until March 31, 2011, to complete their renovations
before the program ends completely.
Homeowners already accepted into the federal ecoEnergy Retrofit-Homes Program
will still receive both federal and provincial grants until March 31, 2011. New
applicants will still be eligible to receive a provincial grant through the
EnerGuide for Houses program. The Federal Government is continuing to provide
the administrative function to allow the provincial portion of the grant program
to continue.
The provincial EnerGuide for Houses program provides $300 towards the cost of a
complete home energy evaluation and it was designed to top up the federal
ecoEnergy Retrofit Program grant to a maximum of an additional $1,500 for
energy-saving home improvements.
Minister Dunderdale also clarified that the cancellation of the federal
ecoEnergy Retrofit Program will not impact the province's Residential Energy
Efficiency Program (REEP), which is designed to reduce energy consumption and
ensure affordable home heating costs for low-income households. REEP is
administered through Newfoundland Labrador Housing (NLH). NLH will continue to
pay for home energy evaluations and grants up to a maximum of $3,000 per
household on the island and $4,000 in Labrador.
For more information on the Newfoundland and Labrador EnerGuide for Houses
program, please contact the Department of Natural Resources at 1-866-440-4044 or
by e-mail at SavingEnergy@gov.nl.ca.
For more information on REEP, please visit
www.nlhc.nl.ca.
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Media contact:
Tracy Barron
Director of Communications
Department of Natural Resources
709-729-5282, 690-8241
tracybarron@gov.nl.ca
2010 04 07
9:45 a.m. |
