INDUSTRY NEWS. More Cash for Retrofits, Say Feds

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1 INDUSTRY NEWS The Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources, at the announcement of the ecoenergy Efficiency Initiative. More Cash for Retrofits, Say Feds The ecoenergy Efficiency Initiative, a federal program designed to promote smarter energy use (see HPAC Jan/Feb 2007 pg. 12), will improve upon past initiatives according to Natural Resource Minister Gary Lunn. Lunn said the biggest improvement with ecoenergy compared to the cancelled EnerGuide programs would be the amount of money accessible for actual retrofit work. When we had a look at all the data upon taking office we saw that around 50 cents of every dollar was going towards audits and administration, said Lunn, referring to the EnerGuide for Houses Retrofit Incentive. Of the people who had audits done, only 30 per cent went on to do any kind of retrofits. Seventy per cent of people did nothing, he added. With the ecoenergy Initiative the consumer will have to pay for the audit on the front end and we ll only subsidize the actual work, said Lunn. The average ecoenergy Retrofit program grant is expected to be $1,000 up to a maximum of $5,000. When asked if there was anything in the works to take the place of the cancelled EnerGuide for Low-Income Households program, Lunn replied That was a proposal put out by the old Liberal party but they never got it off the ground. They never spent a dollar. We have programs available through the CMHC (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) for low-income people to retrofit their homes. This program is primarily focused on where can we get the greatest greenhouse gas reductions? We didn t want to exclude anyone, so low-income, middle income it s available for everyone. Although the ecoenergy programs will not officially start up until April, Minister Lunn is encouraging Canadians to get the ball rolling on energy efficient upgrades. People can go off and get an audit done tomorrow. They can get the work done, follow up with an inspection and receive the check in the mail, he said. He qualified this statement by adding that it would likely take a few months to get the work done and by this time the grant program would be up and running. I know we have our critics out there who are saying, well you ve wasted a whole year, but that simply is not true. The old EnerGuide program is just being wound down and cheques are still going out as we speak, said Lunn. For additional details on the ecoenergy Initiative visit www. ecoenergy-ecoenergie.gc.ca. Victory Declared on Bill Access Issue After years of petitioning Enbridge to either strip Direct Energy of its exclusive access to the utility bill or set up a new, non-discriminatory billing structure, the HVAC Coalition has finally settled the issue. Contracting companies of any size CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 HVAC/IAQ On The Bill At Builders' Conference Robert Bean expressed a disdain for the catch phrase thinking outside the box at the Ontario Building and Renovations Forum in January. Bean, who is an HPAC columnist, noted that the phrase and its popularity have created a generation that thinks rather than does. He attracted a full house to his session titled The Human Factor in Home Heating. James Scott, founder of Sporometrics and a professor of occupational hygiene and mycology at the University of Toronto, shared his perspective on the importance of the Three Little Pigs project in terms of mould research. The project focuses primarily on wind simulation tests but will provide invaluable data on how failures in the building structure will influence mould development, explained Scott. I am impressed when I see roofs flying off buildings but wind and rain can create less dramatic but far more damaging results, said Scott. He added that there are objective mould problems in about 20 per cent of housing stock. New homes are as susceptible as old ones. Presented by The Ontario Home Builder s Association, the forum was held in Markham, ON and included awards presentations by the Energy Star, Ener- Guide and R2000 programs. Robert Bean (left) shares his insights into healthy home heating at the Ontario Building and Renovation Forum. Mould expert James Scott (right) noted that although historically the concern was with mushrooms attacking wood and dry rot, changes in building materials in the last 50 to 60 years have introduced microbes that attack everything but wood. HPAC MARCH 2007

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3 INDUSTRY NEWS c o n t i n u e d f r o m P A G E 6 will now be permitted to put certain customer payments, such as service contracts or financed purchases, on the utility bill for a fee. The billing service will also allow companies to include logos and bill messaging. Contractors do not need to be part of Enbridge s Energy Link program to access bills. Enbridge hopes to accommodate additional parties on the bill by late fall of this year. Companies interested in finding out more about potentially including their charges on the Enbridge Gas Distribution bill should contact Kerry Lakatos-Hayward at CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 VISIT Quebecers Clean Up At Technology Awards Several Quebec-based projects were recently recognized at the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Technology Awards for their ability to incorporate elements of innovative building design in the areas of occupant comfort, indoor air quality (IAQ) and energy conservation. First place in the new industrial facilities or processes category went to Pierre Roussel, P.E., vice president of Jacques Lagace, P.E., accepts his award from ASHRAE president Terry Townsend, P.E. the mechanical division, and Jacques Lagace, P.E., vice president of innovation and major projects, at Bouthillette Parizeau & Associates for their design of the thermal plant at the Pierre- Elliot Trudeau Airport in Montreal, QC. Daniel Pare, project manager for IBM in Bromont, Quebec, Canada, received first place in the existing industrial facilities or processes category for his design for an IBM semiconductor packaging facility in his hometown. Meet the family of Weil-McLain heating products: clean, quiet, dependable, trusted and efficient. Always in hot water Role model From our family to yours. Patriarch Strong, silent type Clean freak Visit for more information. Fax: Tel: info@weil-mclain.ca HPAC MARCH 2007 Circle #5

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5 INDUSTRY NEWS co nti n u e d fro m PAG E 8 Possible Certification Reprieve For Manufacturers In previous issues HPAC has reported on the adoption of the 2007 Supplement to the CSA B149 Natural Gas and Propane Code Series that was published January 1, As a refresher, changes to B149.1S1-07, which most provinces will adopt by July of this year, mean that if you install gas-fired appliances that are approved for plastic venting, that Ontario Plumber Wins A Hummer Mario Fattore of University Plumbing in North York, ON accepts the keys to his new Hummer H3 from Gordon Wuthrich of Kohler and Adrien Pilon of Emco. Fattore was the grand prizewinner of Kohler Canada s The Great Plumbers Love Hummer H3 promotion. Plumbers across Canada purchased eligible products at local Emco branch- venting must be certified as such by ULC. It must be clearly marked and bear an orange warning label. The vent must also be exposed for visual inspection. An exception to the rule has been recommended that would extend the deadline to July 1, 2008 for certification of special fittings/systems that are supplied by the appliance manufacturer. According to a letter from the Interprovincial Gas Advisory Council (IGAC) to the Standards Council of Canada (SCC), it applies to special fittings that are supplied with the appliance and cannot be purchased as typical vent parts. It involves fittings such as transitions (with or without condensing lines) and termination kits. The letter to the SCC notes There are some, not typically, entire vent systems supplied with the appliance that are not comprised of standard vent sizes and components. As to who makes the determination whether an appliance falls into the special category, IGAC chair Sandra Cooke replied, These furnaces will come as a package with the venting assembly so it will be self evident. es and redeemed points for rewards or a draw ballot for the Hummer H3. CONTINUED ON PAGE HPAC MARCH 2007 Circle #7

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7 INDUSTRY NEWS c o n t i n u e d f r o m P A G E 1 0 Decision on Electrical Issue Favours AC Mechanics The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) has challenged a recent decision by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) in Ontario to extend the scope of refrigeration and air conditioning trades to allow for limited access to electrical panels for the installation of new refrigeration and air conditioning systems. According to the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI), the MTCU decision was very important to HVAC contractors in the province who were facing a deadline to register as electrical contractors with the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) under its newly formed Electrical Contractor Registration Authority (ECRA). The MTCU hosted a meeting on February 5 in an attempt to resolve this conflict. According to HRAI, the electricians expressed their frustration with the whittling away of their scope of trade by various other trades and business sectors that involve electricity in some way. They view this adjustment in the scope of AC mechanics as just another example of that erosion. The HVAC representatives argued that the focus of the discussion should be limited to the question of whether or not AC mechanics can perform this limited electrical work in a safe manner. According to the MTCU, the answer is yes. A report has been filed with the MTCU director of apprenticeship as a result of this meeting, but in the meantime the ESA has agreed to extend the deadline for HVAC contractor registration with ECRA indefinitely. Site Set on Hydronics The recently formed Hydronics Industry Alliance (see HPAC September/October 2006) has launched a new website to provide homeowners, builders, architects and contractors 12 HPAC MARCH 2007 with information about residential hydronic heating. The site, www. myhomeheating.com, details the benefits and applications of hydronic heating and answers frequently asked questions. Program To Turn Out More Technicians A $4-million training program is underway that will help vulnerable women develop new skills, find employment, and achieve economic independence. Ten organizations across Ontario will receive funding over the next two years through the Employment Training Pilot Program to administer and deliver programs offering skills training, education, support and counseling. Each program consists of a threeway partnership between a women's organization, a training organization and an employer. George Brown College of Applied Arts and Technology in Toronto is delivering a six-month residential air conditioning systems mechanic - level 1 training program in partnership with Direct Energy Essential Home Services and Nellie s Shelter. Minister Responsible for Women s Issues, Sandra Pupatello (left) gets a lesson from George Brown College student, Viviana Marinacci, on conducting a diagnostic test of a residential air conditioning system. Meeting and Trade Show Draw Crowds to Dallas More than 47,000 visitors attended the AHR Expo in January, which featured 1,789 exhibiting HVAC/R companies displaying their wares across 354,057 square feet of exhibit space. The ASHRAE winter meeting Industry insiders flocked to the International Air Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating (AHR) Exposition and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air- Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) winter meeting; two recent events held concurrently in Dallas, TX. also drew an impressive crowd with more than 2,634 industry professionals in attendance. Our meetings are an integral part of our Society, providing attendees with a first-hand look at the latest technology and allowing them to advance their education, network with fellow members from all over the world and influence technology, said ASHRAE president Terry Townsend, P.E. The next AHR Expo will be held from January 22 to 24, 2008 concurrent with ASHRAE s winter meeting, which will take place from January 19 to 23, ASHRAE will hold its 2007 annual meeting in Long Beach, CA from June 23 to 27, For more details on these events visit Housing Starts Soared in 2006 New home starts rose to 227,400 in 2006, surpassing record starts seen in 2005, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). Despite a cooling in December, in 2006 starts reached their second highest level in nearly two decades. See www. cmhc-schl.gc.ca for details.

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