CALVERT GOVERNMENT PROVIDES MORE WAYS FOR SASKATCHEWAN HOMEOWNERS TO SAVE ENERGY AND MONEY

The Calvert Government announced today it is enhancing the Saskatchewan Energy Share program to help more homeowners reduce energy consumption and save money on home heating.

"Our government strongly encourages homeowners to take advantage of the Saskatchewan Energy Share program to make their homes more energy efficient," Agriculture Minister Mark Wartman said on behalf of Crown Investments Corporation Minister Maynard Sonntag. "By expanding our Saskatchewan Energy Share Program, our government is offering homeowners of all incomes ways to reduce energy consumption in their homes, and the opportunity to save money."

As part of Saskatchewan Energy Share program, the Government of Saskatchewan will continue to offer the EnerGuide for Houses provincial grant program until March 31st, 2007.

This move follows the Federal Conservative Government's decision to cancel the federal EnerGuide program as of May 12th, 2006. "We are very disappointed that the province of Saskatchewan is once again being called upon to back fill for programs because of lack of federal government support," Wartman said.

Under Saskatchewan's EnerGuide for Houses program homeowners can qualify for grants of up to $2,000 for energy efficiency upgrades based on the EnerGuide for Houses evaluation.

The province will subsidize the portion of the evaluation audits formerly paid for by Natural Resources Canada. Homeowners will continue to pay $150 for the "A" audit and up to $50 for the "B" audit. SaskEnergy will be administering the Saskatchewan EnerGuide for Houses program on behalf of the Province.

The Calvert government is also providing additional help for low and moderate-income homeowners and rental property owners housing low-income tenants through the Saskatchewan Home Energy Improvement Program (SHEIP).

SHEIP will provide retrofit grants of up to $4,000 ($4,700 in the North) for homeowners with a combined gross income of no more than $45,000 ($57,500 in the North).

"With this program we're providing long-term solutions to help people reduce their energy use," Community Resources Minister Buckley Belanger said. "The benefits include reduced housing costs, enhanced home values, and a greener, more prosperous economy. The program also creates better quality housing for Saskatchewan people, which is a goal of HomeFirst, our five-year provincial housing strategy."

Through Saskatchewan Energy Share programs, Saskatchewan people can also benefit from a $45 rebate on an ENERGY STAR® qualified programmable thermostat, a PST exemption on ENERGY STAR® qualified furnaces and boilers, and the Share the Warmth™ Home Energy Efficiency Project to assist lower-income families in making simple energy efficiency changes.

To find out more about Saskatchewan Energy Share programs please visit www.skenergyshare.com or call toll-free 1-866-409-9770.

Low and moderate income homeowners should call Saskatchewan Housing for more details at 1-866-388-8433.

For more information on the Saskatchewan EnerGuide for Houses program or to book an evaluation, please contact one of the Saskatchewan service organizations:

Sun Ridge Group
In Regina, Saskatoon and throughout Saskatchewan
Toll Free: 1-800-667-3700
Book Online at www.sunridgegroup.ca

AmeriSpec
Regina & south of Davidson
Phone: (306) 565-1703
Saskatoon & north of Davidson
Phone: (306) 652-8779
The Battlefords & Lloydminster
Phone: (866) 871-8111

Prince Albert Grand Council
Vince Genereaux - Technical Resource Officer/Inspector for Housing Services
Phone: (306) 953-7242

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: MINISTER MARK WARTMAN WILL BE AVAILABLE TO SPEAK TO REPORTERS ON THIS ISSUE TODAY, AUGUST 2ND AT 10:30 A.M. IN FRONT OF HIS OFFICE, ROOM 302, LEGISLATIVE BUILDING, REGINA.

-30-

For More Information, Contact:

Karen Schmidt CIC Regina Phone: (306) 787-5889	Linda Saliken Community Resources Regina Phone: (306) 787-0246
Linda Lawrence SaskEnergy Regina Phone: (306) 777-9228