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Feds Terminate Popular ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes Program Early

Harper Government invests less than half of $400 million promised in Budget 2011 - industry braces for job losses

VANCOUVER, BC - (January 30, 2012) - Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver closed the popular ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes program to any new registrants on Sunday, January 29. The sudden closing of the program comes two months before its official end date on March 31, 2012. The government has limited participation to 250,000 registered homeowners.

Industry estimates show that by capping registration the federal government will invest at most $192 million in total ecoENERGY home retrofit grants. This investment is less than half of the $400 million the federal government committed in Budget 2011.

"With the Harper government focused on creating jobs and securing Canada's energy future, we are surprised that Minister Oliver closed such a successful program early," says Jeff Murdock, vice-president of Building Insight Technologies, a Vancouver-based energy audit company and Save ecoENERGY Coalition supporter. "We are shocked that the federal government is cutting back its investment in job-creating and energy saving retrofits at a time of global economic, environmental and energy uncertainty."

Home retrofit incentive programs save energy, help families, and are proven low-tax job creation measures, generating $2 in tax revenue for every $1 invested in homeowner grants. These programs are extremely popular with Canadians. For example, according to the Ontario Real Estate Association, 92 per cent of Ontario homeowners think government should create more incentives for homeowners to make environmentally friendly and energy efficient renovations to their homes.

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Thursday, February 09, 2012

Save Energy First! Extend ecoENERGY!

Federal Conservatives axe popular energy-saving program???
An early end to ecoENERGY grants program closed two months ahead of schedule, with an estimated less than 1/2 of the $400 Million set aside in Budget 2011 used. We need to Save Energy First!

Energy efficiency should be the first item on Canada’s energy agenda. Canada is about to spend billions on new oil sands projects, pipelines, nuclear and fossil-fuel power stations, hydroelectric dams, solar projects, and wind farms. But as we prepare to generate more energy, it makes sense to save energy first.

We need to get serious about energy efficiency. The global economy is struggling and governments want to create jobs. This is a huge opportunity for Canadian governments to help Canadian families save energy. Making our homes more energy-efficient creates jobs in all communities. http://www.SaveEnergyFirst.ca

The Save ecoENERGY Coalition (at http://saveecoenergy.ca/about-us) urges Canadians to send a clear message to decision makers that it’s time for Canada to save energy first before spending billions on more energy.

Canadians can send this message using the Save ecoENERGY Coalition form at: http://saveecoenergy.ca/save-energy-first

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