<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)">  <title>Green Communities - News from Canada's Green Communities</title> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="Street"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="address"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"/>  <link rel=Stylesheet type="text/css" media=all href="http://www.gca.ca/newsletter/style.css"> <style>  </style>  </head> <body bgcolor="#C7D7BB" lang=EN-US link="#B78315" vlink="#326C26"> <div class=Section1> Dear friends,<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I was told that my article on Al Gore and Stephen Harper last week was premature in announcing the demise of federal support for the Energuide for Houses (EGH) program.  Well, the official news is in, and it’s not good.  The Harper government has officially announced it is canceling its support for the EGH program, including low-income housing support and the popular rebate program for residential homes.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> EGH incentive program was one of the leading lights in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Canada</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s energy conservation strategy.  I have often used it as an example of the effective use of federal funding.  It rewards individuals for voluntary leadership, it supports community-based outreach, advisory services for homeowners, and it supported the development of a conservation industry.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Even better, EGH was a made-in-Canada solution.  It was <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Canada</st1:place></st1:country-region> at its best.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Fortunately, the federal government can’t cancel home energy audits altogether, and as you’ll read below our friends at Green Communities Canada will do all they can to make sure this essential program is continued!<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Please support EnerGuide for Houses by writing the minister of Environment, Rona Ambrose, the Minister of Natural Resources, Gary Lunn, and the Prime Minister. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> The Hon. Stephen Harper Office of the Prime Minister <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">80 Wellington Street</st1:address></st1:Street> <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ottawa</st1:place></st1:City> K1A 0A2 Fax: 613-941-6900<o:p></o:p> e-mail to <a href="mailto:pm@pm.gc.ca" target="_blank">pm@pm.gc.ca</a><o:p></o:p> The Hon. Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment Les Terrasses de la Chaudi�re 10 Wellington St., 28th Floor <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Gatineau</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">Quebec</st1:State></st1:place> K1A 0H3 Tel.: (819) 997-1441 Fax: (819) 953-3457 E-mail: <a href="mailto:Rona.Ambrose@ec.gc.ca">Rona.Ambrose@ec.gc.ca</a> <o:p></o:p> The Hon. Gary Lunn,<o:p></o:p> Minister of Natural Resources<o:p></o:p> House of Commons<o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Ottawa</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">Ontario</st1:State></st1:place><o:p></o:p> K1A 0A6<o:p></o:p> Telephone: 613-996-1119<o:p></o:p> Fax: 613-996-0850<o:p></o:p> EMail: <a href="mailto:Lunn.G@parl.gc.ca">Lunn.G@parl.gc.ca</a><o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> With thanks,<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Chris Winter<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <a href="http://www.weconserve.ca/">weconserve.ca </a><o:p></o:p> <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ontario</st1:place></st1:State>'s conservation movement<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> -----Original Message----- From: gcanews-owner@lists.gca.ca [mailto:gcanews-owner@lists.gca.ca]On Behalf Of Julia Esrom Sent: Monday, May 15, 2006 5:26 PM To: managers@gca.ca; advisors@gca.ca; gcanews@gca.ca Subject: [Green Communities News] Green Communities Special Bulletin - <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Ottawa</st1:City></st1:place> Pulls Out Of Energuide For Houses<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div align=center> <table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=640 style='width:480.0pt'> <tr> <td rowspan=2 bgcolor=white style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'> <a href="http://www.gca.ca/indexcms/index.php"><img border=0 width=266 height=92 id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image001.gif@01C678E4.84873D50" alt="Green Communities Canada" name="pageheader2_r1_c1"></a><o:p></o:p> </td> <td colspan=4 bgcolor=white style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'> <a href="http://www.gca.ca/indexcms/index.php?news"><img border=0 width=374 height=26 id="_x0000_i1026" src="cid:image002.gif@01C678E4.84873D50" alt="News From Canada's Green Communities" name="pageheader2_r1_c2"></a><o:p></o:p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan=4 bgcolor=white style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'> <img border=0 width=374 height=66 id="_x0000_i1027" src="cid:image003.gif@01C678E4.84873D50" name="pageheader2_r2_c2"><o:p></o:p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor=white style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'> <a href="http://www.gca.ca/indexcms/index.php?members" target=None><img border=0 width=266 height=31 id="_x0000_i1028" src="cid:image004.gif@01C678E4.84873D50" alt="About Our Members" name="pageheader2_r3_c1"></a><o:p></o:p> </td> <td bgcolor=white style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'> <a href="http://www.gca.ca/indexcms/index.php?aboutus"><img border=0 width=65 height=31 id="_x0000_i1029" src="cid:image005.gif@01C678E4.84873D50" alt="About Us" name="pageheader2_r3_c2"></a><o:p></o:p> </td> <td bgcolor=white style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'> <a href="http://www.gca.ca/indexcms/index.php?news"><img border=0 width=95 height=31 id="_x0000_i1030" src="cid:image006.gif@01C678E4.84873D50" alt="News & Events" name="pageheader2_r3_c3"></a><o:p></o:p> </td> <td bgcolor=white style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'> <a href="http://www.gca.ca/indexcms/index.php?programs"><img border=0 width=94 height=31 id="_x0000_i1031" src="cid:image007.gif@01C678E4.84873D50" alt="Our Programs" name="pageheader2_r3_c4"></a><o:p></o:p> </td> <td bgcolor=white style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'> <a href="http://www.gca.ca/indexcms/index.php?join"><img border=0 width=120 height=31 id="_x0000_i1032" src="cid:image008.gif@01C678E4.84873D50" alt="Become a Member" name="pageheader2_r3_c5"></a><o:p></o:p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <div align=center> <table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=640 bgcolor=white style='width:480.0pt;background:white'> <tr> <td width=10 style='width:.1in;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'>  <o:p></o:p> </td> <td style='padding:0in 15.0pt 0in 15.0pt'> <table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%'> <tr height=661 style='height:495.75pt'> <td height=661 bgcolor=white style='background:white;padding:6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt; height:495.75pt'> 15 May 2006 <o:p></o:p> Special Bulletin: <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">OTTAWA</st1:place></st1:City> PULLS OUT OF ENERGUIDE FOR HOUSES. PLEASE HELP.<o:p></o:p> Dear friends of Green Communities<o:p></o:p> Over the past two weeks, we have received shocking news: the federal government has summarily dropped out of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Canada</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s EnerGuide for Houses (EGH) programs, including programs serving both low-income and the able-to-pay households.<o:p></o:p> This decision by the new minority government in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ottawa</st1:place></st1:City> – imposed without warning or consultation – will have serious implications for residential energy efficiency in this country. It will also have serious implications for Green Communities, many of whom deliver EGH, and for Green Communities Canada, which has administered a federal EGH contract on behalf of its members since 1998. EGH is our flagship joint program, providing substantial revenues and full- or part-time direct employment to well over 100 people among our membership.<o:p></o:p> Although resources to deliver EGH come from many sources, federal funding is critical.<o:p></o:p> SAVING ENERGUIDE FOR HOUSES <o:p></o:p> In the coming days and weeks Green Communities will work hard to address the federal government’s sudden withdrawal from a long-established program. Together with our supporters we are publicizing the government’s action and its impacts, and calling on the government to restore support for EnerGuide for Houses. Friends of Green Communities are urged to join in, by communicating with your local MP and the Prime Minister, and writing letters to the editor. (See the Green Communities Canada <a href="http://www.gca.ca/indexcms/index.php?news">website</a> for additional information.) Please let us know what you do, and what you hear.<o:p></o:p> We will also pursue other ways to continue delivering residential energy efficiency services, including user-pay offerings, and various options involving initiatives by provincial governments and energy utilities. Both <st1:State w:st="on">New Brunswick</st1:State> and <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Quebec</st1:place></st1:State> have already announced plans to continue with EGH-based programs; other provinces are considering their options. <o:p></o:p> THE STORY UNFOLDS <o:p></o:p> News of the government’s action began to emerge on budget day, 2 May, when we learned informally that funding for the recently launched low-income program, EnerGuide for Low-Income Houses (EGLIH), had been cancelled. <o:p></o:p> In addition, it appeared at first from a CBC report that a non-fatal cut had also been made to the EnerGuide for Houses Retrofit Incentive, which serves able-to-pay customers. However, grim rumours continued to circulate, and at end of work last Thursday we received a terse email from Public Works directing that no further EGH A labels would be honoured as of midnight Friday (i.e. no “new” customers). In effect, funding for the program has been killed (although existing customers already in the system can continue to receive post-retrofit B labels and incentives until March 2007, or until the money runs out). <o:p></o:p> IMPACTS <o:p></o:p> Until now, the federal government has provided a subsidy to increase the affordability and accessibility of EnerGuide for Houses. To date, over 300,000 EnerGuides have been completed Canada-wide by all 50 contracted service organizations. Prior to federal withdrawal from the program, one million more EnerGuides were projected over the next four years.<o:p></o:p> In addition, under the EGH Retrofit Incentive, 52,000 Canadians have received a cheque from the federal government as a reward for improvements to the energy efficiency of their homes. The cancellation of federal participation in this incentive will deprive 200,000-300,000 more Canadians of the opportunity to participate in the incentive program. (Other implications are elaborated in backgrounders on our website).<o:p></o:p> GREEN COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP <o:p></o:p> For Green Communities, the government’s withdrawal from EGH is particularly bitter given our leadership in program delivery and development. Green Communities initiated, designed, and tested the retrofit incentive, which generated a major expansion in program results when it was adopted by the federal government in 2003. Green Communities also led the nation-wide call that resulted (if briefly) in a low-income energy efficiency program, so that Canadians with limited incomes could share in bill reductions and other program benefits.<o:p></o:p> The federal drop-out from EGH was unanticipated. Although the Harper government had clearly targeted <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Kyoto</st1:place></st1:City> and associated programs like the One Tonne Challenge, they said they supported effective, accountable energy efficiency programs. Since EGH is effective and accountable, non-advocacy, and delivered by private contractors and entrepreneurial social enterprises like Green Communities, we believed it would be spared. Instead, EGH was simply lumped in with other programs the government doesn’t support. (See our backgrounder for our response to specific allegations regarding the effectiveness and administrative costs of EGH).<o:p></o:p> NO REPLACEMENT <o:p></o:p> The government’s official position is that it will develop its own “made-in-Canada” energy efficiency programs and announce them in the fall. Meanwhile, however, they have pulled the plug on existing programs with nothing to replace them. If the government eventually decides that EGH is the right answer after all, the infrastructure of delivery organizations, skilled staff, and partnerships will need to be rebuilt. Immediate action is needed to protect the delivery system that has taken years of hard work to create.<o:p></o:p> On behalf of Green Communities, thanks for your support.<o:p></o:p> <a href="mailto:cmaynes@greencommunitiescanada.org">Clifford Maynes</a>, Executive Director Green Communities <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Canada</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor=white style='background:white;padding:6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt'>  <o:p></o:p> </td> </tr> </table> <o:p></o:p> </td> <td width=10 style='width:.1in;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'>  <o:p></o:p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <div align=center> <table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=640 bgcolor=white style='width:480.0pt;background:white'> <tr> <td rowspan=2 style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'> <img border=0 width=60 height=100 id="_x0000_i1033" src="cid:image009.gif@01C678E4.84873D50" name="base_r1_c1"><o:p></o:p> </td> <td width=520 valign=top style='width:390.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:12.0pt'> <hr size=1 width="100%" noshade color="#326c26" align=center> </div> News from Green Communities is published weekly by Green Communities Canada, founded 1995. Contact: <a href="mailto:news@greencommunitiescanada.org">News</a>, Member Services, (705) 745-7479. <a href="http://www.greencommunitiescanada.org">www.greencommunitiescanada.org</a> <a href="http://www.gca.ca/indexcms/index.php?archive">past issues</a>  |  <a href="http://www.gca.ca/indexcms/index.php?subscribe">subscribe</a>  |  <a href="http://www.gca.ca/indexcms/index.php?unsubscribe">unsubscribe</a><o:p></o:p> </td> <td rowspan=2 style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'> <img border=0 width=60 height=100 id="_x0000_i1035" src="cid:image010.gif@01C678E4.84873D50" name="base_r1_c3"><o:p></o:p> </td> </tr> <tr height=2 style='height:1.5pt'> <td height=2 style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:1.5pt'> <img border=0 width=1 height=2 id="_x0000_i1036" src="cid:image011.jpg@01C678E4.84873D50"><o:p></o:p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <o:p> </o:p> </div> </body> </html>