Join the New Home Research Project
The New Home Research Project is a pilot program offered through Efficiency Nova Scotia to help collect information on the efficiency of newly built homes that will help the building industry across the province.
This pilot project is open to homes in more rural parts of Nova Scotia where many of the province’s qualifying single-family homes have been built. Eligible homes will get a free Home Energy Assessment, including an EnerGuide home energy evaluation and receive their nationally recognized EnerGuide ratings.
The data and information collected through homeowners’ participation will help our government and industry leaders improve future building codes and energy efficiency for new builds in Nova Scotia.
Who Can Participate?
Eligible single-family homes must be located outside the Halifax urban core and within 6 months of the occupancy permit date to be considered new construction.
Eligibility is limited to one unit within a row-style or duplex dwelling. Multiple units within the same dwelling, duplicate site plans, and additional projects by the same building designer and/or contractor may not be eligible due to the building’s repetitive nature.
Over under style multi-unit buildings, mobile and manufactured homes are not eligible for this pilot.
Ineligible Postal Codes include:
· B2R, B2T, B2V, B2W, B2X, B2Z
· B3A, B3B, B3E, B3G, B3L, B3M, B3P, B3S, B3T, B3V, B3Z
· B4A, B4B, B4C, B4E, B4G
Click here to read full project terms and conditions.
New Home Research Project FAQs
To participate, your newly constructed single-family home must be within six months of the occupancy permit date and located outside of the urban Halifax catchment area identified below.
The pilot is seeking information on a diverse range of single-family homes, so only one unit of a row-style or duplex dwelling may be permitted and duplicate plans may be excluded. Homes with multiple units within the same dwelling and over-under style multi-unit residential buildings are ineligible. Mobile and manufactured homes built off site are also excluded.
Efficiency Nova Scotia may cap participation by builder or region at its discretion to ensure research goals are achieved.
Ineligible postal codes include:
- B2R
- B2T
- B2V
- B2W
- B2X
- B2Z
- B3A
- B3B
- B3E
- B3G
- B3L
- B3M
- B3P
- B3S
- B3T
- B3V
- B3Z
- B4A
- B4B
- B4C
- B4E
- B4G
The goal of this pilot program is to learn more about how the home builder industry is incorporating energy efficiency into homes constructed outside of urban Halifax. Performance levels within urban Halifax are well understood so this pilot is targeting projects in more rural areas.
The following postal codes are ineligible:
- B2R, B2T, B2V, B2W, B2X, B2Z
- B3A, B3B, B3E, B3G, B3L, B3M, B3P, B3S, B3T, B3V, B3Z
- B4A, B4B, B4C, B4E, B4G
Participants receive a no-cost EnerGuide home energy evaluation from a Natural Resources Canada Registered Energy Advisor, followed by a report and EnerGuide label. This helps you better understand the home’s energy usage and how it compares with other new homes. You will gain a better understanding of the home’s annual operating costs. The nationally recognized EnerGuide rating may also improve the sale or resale value of the home.
If your home is energy efficient, this process will formally document that for you, and homeowners may qualify for a 25% partial home insurance premium refund through the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Eco Plus program. This could save homeowners thousands of dollars!
Click here for more details.
If you own a home that is less than six months old, you can contact one of the Service Organizations listed above to explain your situation and purchase an assessment.
If your own a home that is more than six months old, you may qualify for a subsidized evaluation through our HomeWarming or Home Energy Assessment programs.
To discuss your options, please contact one of our Energy Solutions Advisors at 1-877-999-6035 or info@efficiencyns.ca.
If you own and permanently occupy a home that is six months or older, you may qualify for a subsidized evaluation through our HomeWarming or Home Energy Assessment programs. HomeWarming is an income eligible program that may also offer participants no-cost home upgrades, like insulation and heat pumps. Home Energy Assessment has an income qualified component and eligible participants can access higher incentives on eligible upgrades.
If your home is also heated with oil, and you are interested in installing a heat pump system, you may be eligible for additional federal Oil to Heat Pump Addordability rebates delivered through Efficiency Nova Scotia.
To discuss your options, please contact one of our Energy Solutions Advisors at 1-877-999-6035 or info@efficiencyns.ca.
No, this is not a replacement. We are currently designing a program that will incentivize very efficient new home construction. That program will be different from this pilot and will have separate eligibility requirements. More information will be shared at a later date. In the meantime, you can continue to monitor our website for updates and sign up for our newsletter to receive updates on our programs and services.
This pilot is expected to provide 700 EnerGuide home energy evaluations and will be available until funding runs out. This website will be updated to indicate when enrollment has closed.
Efficiency Nova Scotia is collecting home performance data, such as air leakage rates and insulation levels. This information will be used to identify performance gaps compared to the 2020 National Building Code and develop educational strategies to help prepare industry for the adoption of future Code enhancements.
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