EnerGuide Rating Service Audit

Nowadays, what is one of the common selling points you see in car commercials on TV? Horsepower? Top speed? Actually, if you watch closely, most manufacturers are using a metric known as “fuel consumption”, which is the amount of fuel that vehicle requires to travel a specified distance. In Canada, we use litres per 100 km (L/100km); in the United States it’s miles per gallon (MPG). Regardless of format, the fuel consumption metric lets you know the approximate operating cost of a particular vehicle (its efficiency) and compare it to another. Useful!

The homes in which we live also have varying levels of efficiency. However, since each house is slightly different (be it in size, shape, orientation, or location), the efficiency measuring tool needs to be that much more sophisticated. The leading energy efficiency metric for houses in Canada is the EnerGuide Rating Service . Available for both newly built and existing homes, the EnerGuide rating service analyzes the house for energy efficiency using tools like computer-aided energy modelling, plan reviewing, mechanical equipment analysis, and on-site verification and testing.

The Program requires that an EnerGuide rating service audit be carried out by a Certified Energy Advisor , and that the completed Energy Efficiency Evaluation Report be submitted to the Chief Building Official before the final inspection with the District Building Inspector. This will require the following steps:

1. After getting a building permit from the City, contact a local EnerGuide Energy Advisor. They will review the building schematics, perform energy modelling and analysis, and offer advice on ways to modify the building’s design to conserve energy and save money.
2. Decide which modifications and suggestions to incorporate, and build the home.
3. Once construction is completed, the Energy Advisor will perform a site visit to review the construction work and perform a Blower Door Test , which measures the building’s air-tightness.
4. The Energy Advisor will provide you with the final Evaluation Report, as well as an official label to display the rating on the home’s furnace or electrical box.

Currently, the Program does not require that a specific score be reached on the EnerGuide rating system. Rather, City staff will use the information from each Report to analyze the effectiveness of current Building By-law requirements, which will help to determine what can to be addressed in future updates to the Green Homes Program.

By-law Language:

12.2.2.8. Energuide Rating System Audit

1) At the time of final inspection, the Chief Building Official shall be provided with an Energuide Rating System Audit, as defined by the EnerGuide Rating Service of Natural Resources Canada.

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