Build Green Pilot Project Launched

Thursday, July 30, 2009 10:31 AM

Prince George, B.C.- The City of Prince George is now rolling out the details of a program aimed at creating more energy efficient housing in the city.

City Council approved strategies for implementing a pilot incentive program to encourage energy efficient houses in the City of Prince George. “This pilot project will help promote green buildings at the residential level, as well as help develop and access tools that could be considered in the longer term to encourage more energy efficient homes”, said Mayor Dan Rogers. “This small project fits well our desire to create one of the most sustainable cities in Canada.”

In part, grant funding will be used to increase the number of home builders in Prince George certified to build energy efficient houses to the Built GreenTM standards. This provides added assurances to customers wanting energy efficient new homes. The local office of the Canadian Home Builders Association is holding a Built GreenTM certification course this August 10th and 11th. Builders wishing to take this course can register on-line at http://www.chbabc.org/content.php?id=29

For more information on the rebates for this course and becoming registered, local builders can contact the local Northern Chapter office at 250-563-3306.

Funding will also be provided directly to the first few new home customers to help offset their added costs of building a Built GreenTM home with an EnerGuide rating of 80, 81 or 82. Allen Creuzot, a certified Built GreenTM home builder and President of the Northern B.C. Chapter of the Canadian Home Builders Association, said today that, “We wanted to work with this incentive program to benefit home purchasers by putting money directly back into their pockets”.

Up to $7,500 is available for rebates towards building an EnerGuide rated 82 home, $5,000 for an EnerGuide 81 rated home, and $3,500 available for EnerGuide 80 rated homes. Its first come, first serve until the funding runs out.

The City is also working with the BC Northern Real Estate Board on using incentive funding to encourage home sellers to undertake a home energy audit and provide the audit report information to the REALTOR® as part of the information for prospective buyers. This will start to create an interest in seeing this kind of information when people are looking to buy a house.

Details and applications for the various components of the CAEE Gold pilot incentive program will be released next month.

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