Friday, March 9, 2012 NewsLeader A29
Buy a Power Smart home, save three ways Save now, and save later: not many homes can promise you that. But when you buy a home from a Power Smart New Home Builder you’ll save money, including reduced mortgage insurance and lower monthly bills. An EnerGuide label is your assurance that the home is independently rated to be energy-efficient. And don’t forget, an energyefficient home is more comfortable too. Layout, amenities, and those much-promoted granite countertops. There’s a lot to think about when you’re buying a new home. But there’s one feature that can make a positive difference to your wallet when you purchase, and every month that you own your home. Choosing a Power Smart New Home gives home buyers an easy way to find a home that is designed and built to save energy. “Buying an energy-efficient home is one of the best ways to maximize your home budget,” says Doug Overholt, representative for BC Hydro’s Power Smart New Home program. “If you save on expenses, you can afford more mortgage. But many new homes are not built with energy efficiency in mind - so looking for the EnerGuide label is wise.” An EnerGuide rating is a standard measure of a home’s energy performance, rated on a scale of 0 to 100. A rating of 0 represents a home with major air leakage, no insulation and extremely high energy consumption. A rating of 100 represents a house that is airtight, well insulated, sufficiently ventilated and requires no purchased energy. The first benefit you’ll find is on your mortgage insurance: Power Smart New Homes qualify for a 10 per cent refund on Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation Mortgage
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Buying an energy-efficient home is one of the best ways to maximize your home budget,” says Doug Overholt, representative for BC Hydro’s Power Smart New Home program. “If you save on expenses, you can afford more mortgage.”
Insurance. You’ll also save on your monthly bills. Homes that are rated EnerGuide 80 use at least 30 per cent less energy than an average new home. That’s money in your pocket every month – especially great when energy costs are only expected to rise. Buy a home with a rating higher than EnerGuide 80, and save even more. The third benefit is resale value; as energy costs rise and green building continues to gain popularity, a home that demonstrates its efficiency will likely hold its value as compared to one that is inefficient with high monthly operating costs. There are other benefits as well, Overholt says. “Builders who are smart about energy efficiency are adopting improved building practices and making use of new technologies. Their homes are more comfortable – cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter – while using less energy overall. It’s hard to add energy efficiency later; you need to get it built in from the start.” The Power Smart New Home program gives you an easy way to find houses, townhomes, and condos that are designed to save energy. For more information and to find your energy efficient dream home, check out the full listing of Power Smart New Home Builders and featured developments at bchydro.com/pshomes.
WE MAKE IT EASY TO FIND A HOME THAT’S BUILT TO SAVE. NOT ALL NEW HOMES ARE BUILT WITH ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN MIND. That’s why it pays to look for a Power Smart New Home Builder when shopping for your next home. Power Smart New Homes are independently rated EnerGuide 80 or higher, which means they use at least 30% less energy than an average new home. And since they’re built the smart way, they stay cooler in the summer and cozier in the winter—all while saving you money for years to come.
Find your Power Smart New Home Builder at bchydro.com/pshome