January 10, 2012

North American Insulation Manufacturers Association makes 2012 energy predictions

National building code changes among 2012 energy drivers

OTTAWA

The North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA) has issued its 12 energy-related predictions, within an insulation context, for 2012 in Canada.

The predictions are as follows:

• Rising energy costs will make the payback period for installing insulation even quicker.  

Despite a slower new home construction market and a slowing of insulation for these applications — it will be a record year for insulation used for home and industrial retrofits to deal not only with new homes but to upgrade the vast amount of under insulated existing homes.

• More Canadian communities will adopt “solar ready” new home construction regulations like Campbell River B.C.

This will make the future installation of solar hot water appliances, for instance, easier and less expensive.

• More real estate agents will increasingly educate themselves on energy efficiency. 

Take the Calgary Real Estate Board who has an on-line directory on its Go Green website listing agents who have passed a series of courses to help inform consumers of choices and rebates offered by governments.

• A record year for homes to meet higher energy efficiency standards in Canada than ever before.

This is in large part because the new Ontario Building Code, which came into effect Jan. 1, 2012.

Also across Canada more and more home builders are adopting ever higher standards of green building.

One of the easiest ways to meet this standard is through the intelligent application of various cost effective insulation products.

• As companies faced with flat sales results will be forced to focus more on cost controls, reviews of energy efficiency practices will become more frequent.

Expect more utilities and provincial governments to expand incentive programs for the commercial and industrial sectors especially where they can be demonstrated to reduce peak period electricity load.

• White or reflective roofs and green roofs will be increasingly embraced across the country to combat summer cooling bills.

• Adoptions of technologies used to remotely control energy consumption when demand is highest, while at the same time allowing customers to individually manage their electricity costs in real-time.

The speed of adoption will be dependent on smart meter deployment and will be controlled by phone based applications.

• Banks and financial institutions will see the reduced operating costs for more energy efficient homes and buildings.

These incentives will help offset the upfront costs of retrofits and help provide more disposable income for the building or home owner. “Green” mortgages can be expected to proliferate.

• A rise in small businesses doing customized installations of weatherization, insulation and caulking.

• Discussions about “energy independence” or “energy security” at the community, provincial and national levels will continue to grow.

• In 2012 for the first time, we expect the national building code to include energy efficiency measures for homes.

This will make it much easier for provinces to adopt a building code that will help reduce operating costs for the home owner.

• An increased profile for energy conservation in the public policy debate.

It will shift from thrift to how conservation can offset demand and reduce the need for investment in new generation and peak consumption.

NAIMA Canada is a trade association for North American fibre glass, rock wool and slag wool manufacturers. To learn more about NAIMA Canada visit www.naimacanada.ca

DCN NEWS SERVICES

Print | Comment