Conserve Nova Scotia's EnerGuide for New Houses and R-2000 programs are home energy analysis tools developed by the federal government. It helps homeowners make better energy choices when they build a new home. Homeowners can compare monthly energy savings against the extra monthly mortgage costs of making energy efficiency upgrades in order to make an informed choice that will provide them with the best overall long term value.
The EnerGuide rating is based on a scale of 1-100. The higher the EnerGuide rating is, the more efficient the home.
Through Conserve Nova Scotia, a completed home that achieves an EnerGuide rating of at least 80 is eligible for a rebate of the program’s $250 registration fee. A completed home with an EnerGuide rating of 83 or more qualifies homeowners for an additional $500 rebate. An R-2000 registered home that achieves an EnerGuide rating of 83 qualifies for a $1,000 rebate.
Rebates will be paid once the home has received its final EnerGuide rating following the final inspection and blower door test. Rebates will be issued by Conserve Nova Scotia.
For more information on the EnerGuide for New Houses program click here.
How the program works:
- After the home is registered in the program, a certified energy evaluator models the energy performance of your new home based on the building plans.
- The EnerGuide analysis will estimate the home's future energy costs and provides an initial EnerGuide rating. Potential upgrades to improve your new home’s energy efficiency will be recommended.
- In consultation with your builder, you decide which upgrades make sense to you.
- After your home is built, an EnerGuide evaluator does an on site inspection to test the home's air tightness and verify its energy features. This determines the home's final EnerGuide rating and rebates.
To be eligible for rebates, homeowners and/or builders must enroll in the program before construction of the home begins.