Government of Yukon

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FOR RELEASE     #07-156
July 19, 2007

Yukon Housing Corporation Supports Energy Conservation

WHITEHORSE - Yukon Housing Corporation is introducing substantial program changes and enhancements to promote the conservation of energy in residential buildings. The new initiatives will assist existing home owners, people looking at new home construction and owners of rental properties.

The corporation's Home Repair Program, which provides funding for eligible home owners to repair their homes, will now offer a 0% interest rate for all energy efficiency improvements. The same approach will enable rental property owners access to 0% financing of energy efficiency improvements through the corporation's Rental Rehabilitation Program.

"I hope Yukoners will take this opportunity to make energy-saving improvements to their homes and rental properties. These program changes and enhancements are designed to help save money at the front end of an investment although the real pay-off is in reducing on-going energy costs and environmental impacts," Jim Kenyon, minister responsible for the Yukon Housing Corporation (YHC), said.

YHC will continue to offer homeowners a grant up to $400 to offset the cost of energy evaluations. These evaluations, which provide information on the types of improvements that affect the consumption of energy. "The opportunity to assist Yukoners to build or upgrade to GreenHome standards is a strategic investment that will produce positive environmental benefits throughout the life of the home," Kenyon added.

In addition, eligible Home Repair Program clients can receive a 5% grant on the cost of their improvements if their home is certified as a GreenHome. YHC will now also provide 0% financing for the first 10 years to homeowners who install alternate energy systems such as heat pumps and solar energy. Each file is reviewed on a case-by-case basis to ensure an acceptable pay-back period.

"The goal for the YHC board was to create a number of incentives for Yukoners to make the required investments in their homes and rental properties so that they will conserve energy, reduce environmental impacts, save money on energy bills and improve their overall comfort levels," Larry Chalifour, deputy chair of the YHC board of directors, said.

In collaboration with the Energy Solutions Centre, YHC is introducing a package of grants valued up to $5,750 to offset the cost of building a new home to YHC's energy standards. Upon certification as a GreenHome, clients can access a $4,500 grant to offset the additional capital costs of construction; a $750 grant to offset the design, inspection and certification processes; and an Energy Solutions Centre grant to offset the cost of purchasing ENERGY STAR® appliances.

"Our department, through its Energy Solutions Centre, is pleased to be a part of this announcement," Energy Mines and Resources Minister Archie Lang said. "Programs such as this one emphasize the critical need to have energy efficiency begin in the home. We are proud to join the Yukon Housing Corporation in order to give Yukon citizens the necessary financing tools to enable such changes."

The new program offerings will be available until March 31, 2009. To learn more visit the Yukon Housing Corporation website: http://www.housing.yk.ca/.

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Attachment: Descriptions of the new residential energy programming.

Contact:
Roxanne Vallevand  
Cabinet Communications   
(867) 633-7949 
roxanne.vallevand@gov.yk.ca  
Doug Caldwell  
Communications, YHC
(867) 667-8065
doug.caldwell@gov.yk.ca     
Darren Butt
Communications, Energy Mines & Resources
(867) 667-5307
darren.butt@gov.yk.ca


ATTACHMENT: Yukon Housing Corp. Residential Energy Programming (2007)

There are six new programming initiatives currently being implemented by Yukon Housing Corporation (YHC) to enhance the energy efficiency performance of Yukon's housing stock:

1- 0% interest rate for the Home Repair Program (HRP) and Home Repair Enhancement (HRE) programs energy efficiency items.

  • Eligible HRP clients will be able to access up to $35,000 financing amortized up to twelve years to repair their homes at 0% interest rate if those repairs improve the energy efficiency of the home.
  • Low income earners are potentially eligible for a subsidy to offset the cost of their HRP loan. The subsidy is based on variables such as family size, location and disposable income. Payments on a $35,000 loan can be as low as $25 per month.
  • Eligible Home Repair Enhancement program clients will be able to access up to $30,000 financing, amortized up to ten years to repair their homes at 0% interest rate if those repairs improve the energy efficiency of the home.
  • Eligible clients whose homes repair costs exceed the HRP financing limit can access the HRE program.
  • There is no subsidy available for the HRE loan.
  • YHC's Health and Safety guidelines apply to both programs, therefore clients may be required to complete health and safety improvements before they can access financing for energy efficiency items.

2- Alternate Energy Systems under the Residential Energy Management program.

  • Eligible clients can access financing up to $30,000, amortized up to 25 years, to install alternate energy systems in their home.
  • The interest rate is set at 0% for the first ten years and 1% below the existing HRP rate at the renewal date. This rate will continue for the remaining term of the loan.
  • Alternate energy systems include, but are not restricted to, electrical power systems which harness energy primarily from sunshine, wind and flowing water (micro hydro) and can also be a heating or cooling system which does not use fossil fuels for combustion, such as heat pumps and heat exchangers.

3- Home Energy evaluations

  • Homeowners can access a grant up to $400 for energy evaluations performed on their homes.
  • Energy advisors perform on-site assessment of the client's home and provide the homeowner with a personalized report with recommended repairs to improve the energy efficiency of the home.
  • The client can do the recommended repairs based on pre-calculated energy savings.
  • Clients contact their energy advisor to conduct a post-retrofit evaluation and provide a new energy efficiency rating label that indicates the home's improved energy use.
  • The clients provide a copy of this energy rating label and receipts paid to the energy advisor. YHC will then issue the client a grant up to $400 (matching the receipts provided). 
  • This grant is potentially available to owners of rental properties based on the size of the building and the cost of evaluation.
  • Homeowners who want to access the ECO-Energy initiative available from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) may do so through the energy advisor.

4- 0% interest rate for the Rental Rehabilitation program (RRP) energy efficiency items.

  • Eligible Owners of rental units can access funding through the RRP to repair or improve their rental units at 0% interest rate for energy efficiency items.
  • Clients can access up to $30,000 per unit, amortized over 15 years.

5- GreenHome Incentive for existing homes.

  • Eligible Home Repair Program clients who want to upgrade their homes to meet GreenHome standards are eligible for a grant of up to 5% of the cost of each energy related upgrade.
  • The maximum total clients can receive is $1,750 (5% of the HRP financing maximum of $35,000).
  • Clients work with a YHC Technical Officer to meet the established GreenHome standards following the established certification process.
  • Once the home is certified as GreenHome the clients receive the grant. The grant will be issued to the client by cheque.

6- GreenHome incentive for new dwellings.

  • A $4,500 grant to offset the cost of construction
  • A $750 grant to cover the costs of design, building permits, inspections and certifications of the GreenHome
  • For more information on the Yukon Housing energy saving programs, please call 667-5759 or 1-800-661-0408 extension 5759.
  • Starting August 30, 2007, the Energy Solutions Centre will be offering a grant of up to $450 for the purchase of approved Energy Star appliances (including refrigerators, dishwashers and clothes washers). For more information contact the Energy Solutions Centre at 393-7063 or 1-800-661-0408 extension 7063.