Campaign Helps Nova Scotians Cut Energy Bills

Nova Scotians will learn how to permanently cut their energy bills and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions through a new consumer awareness campaign.

Conserve Nova Scotia is partnering with more than 135 home-improvement stores across the province to educate customers about the EnerGuide for Houses program. Through the EnerGuide program, homeowners could qualify for up to $6,500 in federal and provincial rebates, depending on the work completed.

"It's never too early to think about conserving energy, and with the heating season just around the corner, we're reaching out to consumers where they make purchase decisions to educate them about how they can use less energy," said Richard Hurlburt, Minister responsible for Conserve Nova Scotia. "Through the EnerGuide program, homeowners could save up to 30 per cent on their energy bills and reduce their greenhouse-gas emissions by 4.6 tonnes a year, on average."

Starting the week of June 23, participating home-improvement stores will feature promotional materials to identify products that make a home more energy efficient and help people qualify for rebates. Installation of promotional materials will take place over the next couple of weeks. Home-improvement stores provincewide were invited to participate in this program.

"People often ask us about how they can make their home more energy efficient and use less energy," said Randy VanZeumeren, retail manager, Enfield Home Hardware. "Educating our customers about the EnerGuide for Houses program is a great way to help them make informed decisions about energy upgrades to their home."

Research shows that 39 per cent of Nova Scotians intended to make energy-efficiency upgrades to their homes last year.

To participate in the EnerGuide for Houses program, homeowners can schedule a home energy evaluation by calling the EnerInfo toll free number 1-800-670-4636. After the evaluation, homeowners receive expert advice and a detailed report about ways to make their home more energy efficient. Homeowners then have 18 months to make energy upgrades.

Homeowners could qualify for a rebate of up to $6,500, depending on the work done to their home. This includes a $5,000 maximum rebate from the federal government's ecoENERGY Home Energy Retrofit program and up to $1,500 from the provincial government's EnerGuide for Houses program. Conserve Nova Scotia also sends participants an energy savings kit with products that can help save up to $100 per year in energy costs.

More information about the campaign, including a list of participating retailers, is available online at www.conservens.ca or by calling the toll-free EnerInfo line at 1-800-670-4636.

Under the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act, Nova Scotia has a goal of reducing greenhouse-gas emissions by 2020 to at least 10 per cent below 1990 levels.