NRCan Closes ecoENERGY to New Registrants
On Sunday January 29th, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) Minister Joe Oliver announced via the NRCan website and by way of a news release that the federal government would be officially closing the popular ecoENERGY Retrofit-Homes program to new registrants. The sudden closing of the program comes two months before its official end date on March 31, 2012. The government has limited participation to 250,000 registered homeowners.
The NRCan website states the following:
The program has successfully reached its goal of 250,000 registered homeowners. As planned, the program is no longer accepting new registrations. To help ensure registered homeowners have time to get their post-retrofit evaluations and receive a grant, the Government of Canada is extending the deadline to June 30, 2012, for homeowners to complete post-retrofit evaluations and apply for a grant. All retrofit renovations must still be completed by March 31, 2012.
For more information, click on the following:
- NRCan website notice -- http://ecoaction.gc.ca/ecoenergy-ecoenergie/retrofithomes-renovationmaisons-eng.cfm
- News release -- http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/media-room/news-release/2012/3709
Along with its partners in the Save ecoENERGY Coalition, HRAI will continue to encourage the federal government to extend the ecoENERGY Retrofit program for an additional three years as part of the Coalition's five-part Home Energy Action Plan.
Industry estimates show that, by capping registration, the federal government will invest at most $192 million in total ecoENERGY home retrofit grants, amounting to less than half of the $400 million the federal government committed in Budget 2011.
Register Now for CMX/CIPHEX 2012 and Save!
The 2012 CMX/CIPHEX Trade Show and Learning Forum is fast approaching and HRAI members should register now and save $10.00! The registration fee also includes entry to most of the Learning Forum sessions!
The show is being held March 22-24, 2012 and will once again feature more than 400 exhibitors and more than 900 booths containing the latest in HVACR and plumbing products and services. The location of the show is the North Building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and includes the “Learning Forum” of more than 20 educational sessions.
Register online at www.cmxciphexshow.com. Plan to attend CMX/CIPHEX 2012 “One Show. The Entire Industry.”! For more information, contact the CMX/CIPHEX show office at 1-800-282-0003 or 416-444-5225. Also follow the 2012 CMX/CIPHEX show on Twitter!
CMX-CIPHEX 2012 Learning Forum Includes Feature Events
In a departure from previous shows, the CMX-CIPHEX 2012 Learning Forum will include several unique, packaged sessions on topics of special concern to the industry. These will be held on the Thursday and Friday mornings of the show, will begin at 8:00 am and end at 11:00 am, allowing attendees to participate without taking away too much time from attending the show floor.
The Roundtable on Renewable Energy
Thursday, March 22, 2012 8:00 am to 11:30am
Renewable energy sources reduce greenhouse gases, cut carbon footprints and help reduce demand for energy. HVAC applications, including solar thermal and geothermal, are ideal conduits for implementing renewable energy sources in homes and businesses. The Roundtable on Renewable Energy will provide unique insight into the future of renewable technology and its applications.
David Miller, Counsel for International Business & Sustainability at Aird & Berlis and former Mayor of Toronto, will moderate a panel of top executives from the solar and geothermal industry, including:
- Dan Ellis, President, Climatemaster
- Suni Bell, General Manager, Enerworks
- Glenn Kaye, President, Maritime Geothermal
- Harald Prell, President North America, Viessmann Manufacturing
- Richard Conkling, Director of Commercial Sales, Waterfurnace
The session will also include the following individual presentations:
- The Future of Renewables: Christian Vachon – CEO, Enerconcepts
- Innovative Geothermal Installations: Nuno Duarte, Associate Stantec Consulting
- The Future of Incentives and the Regulatory Perspective: Marion Fraser – President, Fraser and & Company
Tickets $40 per person + HST – Includes light breakfast
Purchase when you register online - Click Here to Register Now
The Symposium on Smart Controls
Friday, March 23, 2012, 8:00 am to 11:30 am
All indicators suggest that the next big opportunities in energy efficiency to hit the HVACR and Plumbing sectors won't come from further incremental improvements in equipment technology. They'll come from the implementation of controls technologies designed to maximize the efficiency of existing systems. Key elements are available today, but they need to be adopted, implemented and promoted more effectively by our industry. Contractors who can successfully demonstrate the substantial benefits and the cost-saving potential of Smart Controls to their customers will reap the rewards.
The Symposium on Smart Controls brings together the ideas, the information and the tools to connect advancement with opportunity.
This session starts with keynote speaker, Andrew Pride, Vice President of Conservation with the Ontario Power Authority and former VP of Minto Green Team. Andrew explains how the OPA is supporting innovation in smart controls with examples of leading-edge initiatives supported by the Conservation Fund.
Other topics and speakers include:
- An Overview of Controls Technology: Meli Stylianou, NRCan
- Smart Controls Case Studies:
- Andre Patenaude, Emerson
- Mike Miller, Uponor
- Julio Londono, Belimo Aircontrols
- The Climate Talk Initiative: Mark Malchiondo, EcoBee
- Smart Zoned HVAC: Jeremy Sager, NRCan
- The Future of Smart Controls: Joe Klotz, Johnson Controls
Tickets $40 per person + HST – Includes light breakfast
Purchase when you register online - Click Here to Register Now