Nova Scotia is the first Canadian test site for the home energy report card, a project that will have consumers taking a closer look at their power bills.
A program manager for Efficiency Nova Scotia says he considered himself to be an expert on energy conservation, but he was shocked when he received a test home energy report.
“I had a lot to learn,” says Donald Dodge. “It turns out that my home energy report was very bad and that my family used more electricity than the average family in this neighbourhood, so that was a real eye opener for me.”
Starting this week, 90,000 homes and apartments across the province will receive their own report card. A spokesman for Efficiency Nova Scotia says he hopes it will motivate consumers to change their habits.
“I think a lot of us get a bill and just look at it and think ‘this is a fixed cost and I can’t do anything about it,’” says Hugh Fraser. “Well, the trick is, you can, and the home energy report helps you do that.”
Selected homeowners will receive an energy report every two months for the next three years.
If your home isn’t chosen to take part in the program, Efficiency Nova Scotia is also offering an online program anyone can use.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Marie Adsett
