What’s in a Home?

When you think of home, what comes to mind? Is it a special room your family can kick back and relax in or is it the thought of an exciting new kitchen or bathroom? The word home evokes a wide range of different thoughts in everyone’s minds.
 
Imagine the possibilities you will find when you visit the Real Home Show 2013 taking place March 1 – 3 at the Halifax Forum. There will be everything from land to new home builders, designers, interior and exterior finishes - everything from your foundation to your roof and everything in between.
 
Gathering ideas and talking to those who work with people who are building and renovating their homes everyday allows you to gain information that will make it easier for you to make the right decisions for you and your family.
 
You may find the right layout for your new home, the perfect location, the contractor to meet your building or renovation needs, or a great new product you hadn’t considered or known about before seeing it at the show. You won’t know what nugget you will find until you visit and talk to the pros.
 
There really is something for everyone – mark your calendar, you don’t want to miss out on this opportunity to realize the possibilities for your home.

Efficiency Nova Scotia Demonstration Homes Last Weekend for Open House

Energy efficiency is top-of-mind when homeowners are considering building or buying a new home. This year, the Nova Scotia Home Builders’ Association, in partnership with Efficiency Nova Scotia presented two of the most energy efficient homes in Nova Scotia – the Efficiency Nova Scotia Demonstration Homes to demonstrate what is possible for homeowners who want to make energy efficiency a priority in new home construction

There have been several questions in regards to photovoltaic (PV) panels and solar thermal panels throughout the weeks the homes have been opened. The homes are close to net-zero, which means the home is able to produce as much energy as is required to operate, which is large part due to the on-site renewable energy sources the homes use. The reason two different panel systems are used on the demonstration homes is because they each have a different purpose. The PV system generates electricity and the solar thermal water panels heat hot water.

When speaking with Caleb Howden from Denim Homes, one of the Efficiency Nova Scotia Demonstration Homes builders, he explains the two systems and how they tie into net metering as follows:

Solar Thermal Water

The solar thermal water panels do not generate electricity, they are there to specifically heat water. Many homes use electric water heaters to create hot water, which accounts for approximately 20% of the home’s electricity demand. The water panels absorb the sun’s energy and transfers it into a liquid (usually glycol), and this liquid is circulated through a heat exchanger in your hot water tank, heating the water rather than electrically heating cold water from the street (or well). When the sun is shining, you are provided with sufficient hot water for your home, and will probably only need the heating element in your tank on the coldest days of the year.

Photovoltaics

Photovoltaic (PV) systems generate electricity. The Sackville home has the PV system Grid-Tied interacting with the utility. The PV panels mount on your roof, converting sunlight directly into electricity. That electricity is used to power the house and whatever is not used is directed to the grid. This is called a grid-tied PV system, utilizing Net Metering.

Net Metering

Net metering allows Nova Scotia Power customers to connect their home to the utility’s distribution grid through a meter that measures electricity flows in two directions. In such a system you have a meter that allows the electricity your panels are generating to flow on to the grid, crediting your account. Net metering customers will receive payment for the amount of excess electricity generated. The Net Metering program provides Nova Scotians with a risk-free way to meet their own energy needs from renewable sources while still having the security of being able to draw from the grid when needed.

This is the last weekend the homes will be open to the public. For more information on the details and locations of the homes visit www.demonstrationhomes.com or phone 450-5554.

An Open House of Energy Efficiency

If a new home is something you have been thinking about, you will want to check out for yourself some of the latest advances in energy efficiency with the EnerGuide for New Houses Open House weekend taking place September 25 – 26. The houses will be open each day from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm and will show homebuyers a number of options, which are available to them in new home construction.

Each of the homes are EnerGuide rated through the Energy Rating System’s EnerGuide for New Houses program and will provide homebuyers with an understanding of the energy options that were chosen for each of the homes.

“This Open House is a great opportunity for people to see how to incorporate energy efficiency choices in their new homes,” says Paul Pettipas, chief executive officer of the Nova Scotia Home Builders’ Association. “The EnerGuide for New Houses is an excellent option for homebuyers to be able to compare the energy efficiency of one home to the next.”

EnerGuide for New Houses is a program developed by Natural Resources Canada. The Nova Scotia Home Builders’ Association (NSHBA) manages the program in Nova Scotia. There are now a number of new home energy efficiency rebates available through the province’s PerformancePlus program (www.conservens.ca/performanceplus) and through Nova Scotia Power Inc.

A list of the houses and locations of the builders participating in the EnerGuide for New Houses Open House weekend will be available on-line next week at www.nshomebuilders.ca.

Partners for this event include Nova Scotia Power Inc., RBC – The Royal Bank, Conserve Nova Scotia, BellAliant and EnerGuide for New Houses.

Performance Plus – A great opportunity for your new home

When it comes to building your new home the choices you will make throughout the entire process are extensive, from choosing your builder, the house location and design, what products and features you want to include, to name but a few. One new option, which will be of great benefit to your home’s energy savings, is the opportunity to participate in the Performance Plus program.

The Province of Nova Scotia announced its Performance Plus new home energy efficient rebate program on Tuesday, September 7th which provides new home buyers with an opportunity to incorporate greater energy efficiency into their home and to receive rebates based on the home’s energy performance.

“Anytime there are programs that further the education and awareness of energy efficiency while rewarding consumers for their commitment to making the changes, it is a win for everyone,” says Paul Pettipas, chief executive officer of the Nova Scotia Home Builders’ Association. “This program helps to continue to advance the way homes are built in Nova Scotia and challenges others to continue to make energy efficiency a priority.”

The rebate amounts for the new Performance Plus program include:

EnerGuide rating of 83 or 84 - $3000
EnerGuide rating of 85 to - $5000
EnerGuide rating of 88 and above - $7000

An additional $200 rebate is available for Performance Plus homes that are Solar Ready and a rebate of $1000 is available if solar equipment is installed.
Nova Scotia Power Inc. also has various rebates for homes that reach an EnerGuide rating of 83 or higher.

Applications for the EnerGuide program can be found on the Nova Scotia Home Builders’ website at www.nshomebuilders.ca and the eligibility criteria for the Performance Plus program can be found on Conserve Nova Scotia’s website at www.conservens.ca/performanceplus


Getting ready for Fall Weather

September has typically been known as hurricane season in Nova Scotia and with the threat of Hurricane Earl looming in the distance it is important for homeowners to be prepared. This is just the start of the season, but it is important to make sure steps are made to keep everyone and your property safe in the event of inclement weather.

This is even more important if you are building or renovating a home as there tends to be more materials on site and debris that could create damage to your home, or your neighbours.

A few tips to consider to help keep your site safe during the weather include:

• Arrange to have dumpsters removed or emptied off your site
• Ensure all debris around your house or construction site is removed
• Secure or remove unnecessary materials or equipment from the site
• Reschedule material deliveries so you won’t have extra material onsite which may cause damage if not secured
• Make sure you have important numbers available to reach your contractors if damage does occur
• If you are working with a contractor, make sure you communicate with them to gain a better understanding of what they are doing to keep your site safe

“It is important to be prepared in advance of bad weather and the result will mean potentially less damage than if you wait until the last minute,” says Paul Pettipas, chief executive officer of the Nova Scotia Home Builders’ Association. “Understanding ways to keep your home safe is an important tool for everyone.”

For more information on building or renovating contact the Nova Scotia Home Builders’ Association at 450-5554 or visit our website at www.nshomebuilders.ca.