This spring, Alberta home builders were encouraged to rethink their standard building practices in hopes of meeting provincial goals and the One-tonne Challenge. An event hosted by Enervision on the Sait Polytechnic campus last month, offered builders a chance to see just how these goals can be met. Experts were available to answer questions and provide information on just how these changes will affect the builders, the new home buyers and provide greener choices in building new homes.

Kevin Gunn, Executive Director of Enervision, explained how the Energuide for New Houses, Built Green Alberta, R-2000, and Building Canadian programs were working together in setting the standards for building more environmentally efficient homes. He and Grant Ainsley, President of Enervision and Executive Director of the Alberta Home builders Association (AHBA) also unveiled Enervision’s new image. Enervision’s new logo says it all; Greener Home Solutions.

In existence since 2001, Enervision is a not-for-profit organization owned soley by the AHBA.  Funded by NRCan, the AHBA, and SAIT Polytechnic, doing what’s right is what is important to this organization, and educating homebuilders on how to achieve greener building is its goal. Enervision’s mission is “To promote energy efficient and healthy housing in Alberta through the delivery of residential programs, including R-2000 and Energuide for New Houses.” As well, the organization educates home buyers on how building green will save money as well as the environment in the future. “If a new home buyer can save 30-40 per cent on their energy bills, and realize all of the other great benefits, why wouldn’t they do it?” asks Gunn. “We provide solutions that make sense.”

Today, more and more home buyers are becoming aware of the programs that are striving to help produce more energy efficient homes and provide a healthier future. Often these potential home buyers are asking questions like “Is it Built Green?” Enervision is making great strides in providing homebuilders with the opportunity to say yes to these questions, and join a growing number of companies in the industry dedicated to achieving the One Tonne Challenge. Of course it will take education and informed choices on the part of both the home industry and home buyers to achieve these goals. People have to be made aware of how their choices will have an impact on the future of our environment.

Many people already do things like recycling or purchasing more energy efficient appliances in an effort to do their part in helping the environment. Yet, these same people may not realize just how important it is to produce environmentally friendly homes. It’s easy enough for people to recognize the importance of energy efficient windows in their homes, as it generally equates to dollars saved. However, there is so much more to consider when developing an energy-efficient, environmentally healthy home from the start, and it will all mean dollars saved in the future. Enervision is working hard to educate everyone in order to secure a healthier future. For more information on Enervision and Greener Home Solutions, visit http://www.enervisionalberta.com and the links there will help you get a better idea of what this organization is all about, and what you can do to become a part of a better future.