SASKATCHEWAN ENERGUIDE FOR HOUSES EXTENDED AND ENHANCED

Saskatchewan’s EnerGuide for Houses Grant Program will be enhanced and extended for four more years to encourage homeowners to make retrofits that will help them save energy and money and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

“We are committed to helping Saskatchewan homeowners find long-term solutions to reduce energy and water consumption and save money on home utility costs,” Premier Lorne Calvert said.  “The Saskatchewan EnerGuide for Houses program has proven to be very popular and effective, so we are extending it to March 31, 2011.”

The maximum grant available under the program will increase from $2,000 to $5,000 per homeowner.  The list of eligible improvements is being expanded to include geothermal, solar, electrical, and water initiatives, in addition to heating and insulation improvements which already qualify.  As well, government will subsidize half the cost of the pre-retrofit and post-retrofit home evaluations.

“We believe these enhancements to the program will encourage more homeowners to make upgrades,” Crown Investments Corporation (CIC) Minister Maynard Sonntag said.  “We estimate that up to 20,000 households could participate in the program over the next four years.  The renovations to their homes could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 75,000 tonnes annually, which would be like permanently removing close to 19,000 cars from the road.”

The Saskatchewan EnerGuide for Houses program was introduced in November 2005 as part of the Saskatchewan Energy Share plan.  It complemented the Federal program that was in place at that time by providing up to an additional $2,000 in grants per homeowner.  More than 6,000 households have received the provincial grant to date.  On average, each of those homeowners is expected to save about $715 a year on home energy costs.

“The Saskatchewan EnerGuide for Houses program is an example of our Government’s commitment to protecting the environment and leading the country in energy conservation practices, while building a green and prosperous economy in Saskatchewan,” Calvert said.  “In the coming weeks, we will unveil our full Green Strategy and our long-term response to climate change.”

SaskEnergy will continue to administer the Saskatchewan EnerGuide for Houses program on behalf of Government.  CIC will pay for the program through quarterly grants to SaskEnergy.  Total estimated cost is $28 million, or $7 million per year.

For more information about the Saskatchewan EnerGuide for Houses program, visit www.saskenergy.com or call toll-free 1-866-409-9770.

To book a home evaluation/audit, please contact one of the Saskatchewan service organizations:

Sun Ridge Group in Regina, Saskatoon and throughout Saskatchewan, call toll-free 1-800-667-3700 or book online at www.sunridgegroup.ca.

AmeriSpec Regina and south of Davidson, call 306-565-1703; Saskatoon and north of Davidson, call 306-652-8779; the Battlefords and Lloydminster, call 866-871-8111.

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For more information, contact:

Karen Schmidt
Crown Investments Corporation
Regina
Phone: 306-787-5889