ENERGY STAR® Certification Now Available for New Multifamily High-Rise Buildings in Ontario

News release

October 23, 2018 - Ottawa, Ontario - Natural Resources Canada

Energy efficiency cannot be seen at a glance, but we feel its benefits in our homes, neighbourhoods, environment, economy and wallets. Federal investments in innovative energy-efficient projects and programs drive economic growth, contribute to our clean energy future and create high-quality jobs for Canadians.

Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, today announced that ENERGY STAR® certification is available for Ontario’s new mid- and high-rise residential buildings for the first time, a designation that reduces energy consumption and costs while creating good middle-class jobs for Canada’s clean energy future.

The announcement comes on the third annual ENERGY STAR Day in Canada, which raises awareness of the important role that energy efficiency plays in helping Canadians combat climate change and celebrates the great strides our participants, stakeholders and citizens have made together in saving energy.

In collaboration with EnerQuality and the home building industry, the ENERGY STAR Multifamily High-Rise (New Construction) Pilot Program will help builders adopt energy-efficient practices when constructing new mid- and high-rise buildings in Ontario. The program will create jobs in the areas of skilled construction, consulting and design.

The five-year pilot program will recognize buildings that are designed 15 percent more energy-efficient than those built to the provincial building code, along with other program requirements. The buildings will be registered with the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager benchmarking tool to monitor and manage energy performance.

For builders and building owners, certification means lower operating costs, increased rental value and occupancy rates, and greater engagement with clients and their communities. For homeowners and tenants, it means superior energy performance and lower energy costs.

Through Canada’s national energy dialogue, Generation Energy, Canadians made it clear that clean energy solutions are not a luxury but a necessity for Canada’s low-carbon future. Canada will continue to support clean energy projects that create jobs, support investment and industry competitiveness, advance our clean future and help realize our global climate change goals.

Quotes

“With the increased construction of stacked townhouses and high-rises, I am proud to see ENERGY STAR certification being extended to multifamily high-rise buildings. This pilot program will not only contribute to the Government of Canada’s greenhouse gas emission targets, it will also reduce consumers’ energy costs, create good jobs and stimulate innovation in the housing sector.”

Amarjeet Sohi
Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources

”Trusted by consumers and respected by builders, ENERGY STAR Multifamily is a natural extension of ENERGY STAR for New Homes in a market rapidly shifting to higher-density housing. EnerQuality is proud to partner with Natural Resources Canada to demonstrate that innovation happens when industry and government work together to lead.”

Corey McBurney
President, EnerQuality

Quick facts

  • ENERGY STAR Canada is a 17-year-long energy efficiency success story. The program is a voluntary partnership between the Government of Canada and more than 1,500 organizations working to use our natural resources more wisely through greater energy efficiency. The program is administered and promoted by Natural Resources Canada.

  • Behind each ENERGY STAR label is a product, home, building or industrial facility that is independently certified to use less energy and cause fewer of the emissions that contribute to climate change. ENERGY STAR is Canada's simple choice to save energy and money and protect our environment.

Associated links

Contacts

Natural Resources Canada
Media Relations
343-292-6100
NRCan.media_relations-media_relations.RNCan@canada.ca

Vanessa Adams
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Natural Resources
343-543-7645
Vanessa.Adams@canada.ca

Follow us on Twitter: @NRCan (http://twitter.com/nrcan) @ENERGYSTAR_CAN (https://twitter.com/energystar_can)

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