Free Car and Upgrades with Purchase of Home - 10/25/08 11:29 AM
I don't think it's the start of a trend, but sooner or later, someone in Canada was going to borrow this incentives idea from the Brits.
Country Wide Homes took out a half page ad in the weekend Toronto Star. The builder is offering a 2010 fuel efficient vehicle (ok, it's a Kia … (1 comments)
Privacy vs Prospecting Expired Listings - 10/24/08 07:54 PM
Back at the start of 2004, REALTORS in Ontario (members of the Ontario Real Estate Association, OREA) were required to comply with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). As a result, MLS systems later introduced an opt-in field indicating whether or not the sellers consented to be contacted after expiry … (10 comments)
ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes Program Stats - 10/20/08 01:30 PM
Since the inception of the ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes program (on April 1, 2007), the Office of Energy Efficiency (a part of Natural Resources Canada) reports that:
195,000 'D' audits (pre-retrofit assessments) performed
46,000 'E' audits (post-retrofit assessments) performed
$48.9 M in incentives (grants) paid out
average grant: $1060
NRCAN doesn't … (1 comments)
Higher Heating and Cooling Costs Due to Drafts and Poor Insulation - 10/17/08 08:39 PM
I've been researching polyurethane spray foam (or spray polyurethane foam, SPF) insulation (for the rim joists and pony wall in my basement), and I'm feeling a bit mixed about the idea.
A bit of background: Polyurethane spray foam insulation is mixed at the nozzle from two liquid components (proprietary to each … (0 comments)
Canadian Banks Cut Rates - 10/10/08 12:56 PM
I should also point out that Canadian banks are tightening up in other ways. Gone is the "prime minus discount" rate (e.g., "prime minus a quarter"), and expect to hear more "prime plus" quotes.
Keep this in mind if you're seeking a new or second mortgage or considering to re-finance. … (1 comments)
What's My Home's EnerGuide Rating? - 10/10/08 12:46 PM
All homes are not created/constructed equal. According to the pre-retrofit energy evaluation for my home, it only rates 65 points on the EnerGuide scale. For comparison, the average energy efficiency rating for a house of the same age (3 years) in Ontario is 74! This is overshadowed by the highest rating … (0 comments)
Floor Plans of Your Home - 10/04/08 06:25 PM
Following up on my ecoENERGY audit, I obtained a copy of the mechanical drawings and heat loss calculations for my home, from the City of Brampton.
Since it's a reference plan for a model, it isn't necessarily accurate for my "as built" home. Differences include site elevation (percentage below grade), construction … (0 comments)
What's My Credit Score? (Free Credit Report) - 10/03/08 08:15 PM
Your credit score is a measure of your credit risk at a certain point in time. The higher your score, the more favorable lenders may be. A proprietary version of the credit score by Fair Isaac Corporation is the FICO score which ranges between 300 and 900.
If you want to … (1 comments)
Buy a Bulb, Plant a Tree - 10/02/08 03:09 PM
One of the "Every Kilowatt Counts" coupons is $4 off a decorative or covered CFL bulbs. Until October 24th, if you use your coupon at Canadian Tire on a 2 pack of Blue Planet energy saving bulbs, your net price is $3.99, roughly $2 per bulb, and comparable in pricing to … (0 comments)
My Basement Leaks ... Air - 10/02/08 10:47 AM
While I haven't seen the final 'D' audit report, this much is clear: my basement leaks air like a seive. The main reason is because the basement is unfinished. Sure, there's batt insulation in the rim joists -- there just isn't enough, and there are gaps. (There's a little breeze in … (1 comments)
Happy "Every Kilowatt Counts" Day! - 10/02/08 09:05 AM
No, not really. The "Fall Every Kilowatt Counts Power Savings Event" runs from October 1st, 2008 to November 16th, 2008.
Visit Every Kilowatt Counts for more information. You can download coupons, get energy efficiency tips, and find contests and educational activities for your kid.
I kicked off the day with … (1 comments)
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I don't think it's the start of a trend, but sooner or later, someone in Canada was going to borrow this incentives idea from the Brits.
