Photo courtesy EnerQuality

As public awareness (and appetite) continues to grow about the importance of energy efficiency, an increasing number of designers and builders are including green aspects into residential projects.

A new survey shows a rapid rise in demand for highly energy-efficient homes in Ontario—both on the part of homebuyers and builders. The study—gleaned from the responses of 2200 new home purchasers in the Toronto and Ottawa areas—found about 87 per cent of homebuyers value energy efficiency when making a new home purchase decision. Reasons cited included:
• cost savings (92 per cent);
• healthier indoor spaces (68 per cent); and
• protection of the environment (68 per cent).

Homebuilders have responded to this demand, according to the survey. Approximately 52 per cent offered 'green' features in homes last year, which more than doubled the 2007 figure. Further, 60 per cent of new homebuyers purchased at least one energy-efficient feature as part of the builder's offering; this figure was up from 48 per cent the year before.

Of those that did not select green components, the main reason given was the builder did not specify the availability of such options. The implication is when builders educate buyers about the potential of, for example, energy-efficient fixtures, even more new homebuyers would choose them. (On average, buyers stated they are willing to pay a builder $9877 more for an energy-efficient new home.)

The survey suggests architects and design professionals will increasingly be working with more clients that want to understand how to build and identify energy-efficient living spaces.

The survey was conducted by EnerQuality Corp., a service organization responsible for delivering Energy Star for New Homes, EnerGuide Rating System initiatives, the Canada Green Building Council's (CaGBC's) new LEED Canada for Homes program, and other initiatives.