- kiu kiu online - January 09, 2020, at Brisbane, Queensland St
- 6 Upcoming Events...
Recent Articles
- City Proposal to Restart Ant-Racism Centre Ignores Racialized Voicesby Anthony Marco, published December 09, 2019 in Commentary
(0 comments)
- There's No Place Like Home: The Possibility Of Theatreby Kevin Somers, published December 06, 2019 in Entertainment and Sports
(0 comments)
- Hamilton Hit With Freezing Rainby Isabella Lopes, published December 02, 2019 in Local News
(0 comments)
- Hamilton's Secret Council and the Financial Penalties for Speaking Outby Cameron Kroetsch, published November 24, 2019 in Commentary
(2 comments)
- The Environmental Urbanist Podcastby Jason Allen, published November 21, 2019 in Hardy to Zone 6
(0 comments)
- A Recipe For Mass Murderby Kevin Somers, published November 21, 2019 in Opinion
(0 comments)
- City of Burlington Shares Options for Official Plan Reviewby Roland Tanner, published October 29, 2019 in Commentary
(0 comments)
- Carbon Pricing a Small-Government Solution to Climate Changeby Lauren Stephen, published October 28, 2019 in Special Report: Climate Change
(6 comments)
- Alberta's Oil Tantrum Masks a Desperate Cry for Helpby Ryan McGreal, published October 24, 2019 in Special Report: Climate Change
(7 comments)
- AGH Film Festival Review: There Are No Fakesby Doreen Nicoll, published October 24, 2019 in Reviews
(0 comments)
- AGH Film Festival Review: Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Amby Doreen Nicoll, published October 24, 2019 in Reviews
(0 comments)
- AGH Film Festival Review: Pain and Gloryby Doreen Nicoll, published October 24, 2019 in Reviews
(0 comments)
- PPC Candidate for Hamilton Centre Promoting Anti-Semitic Conspiracy Theoriesby Alton Byrne, published October 20, 2019 in Special Report: Extremism
(0 comments)
- The Staggering Mediocrity of Andrew Scheerby Ryan McGreal, published October 18, 2019 in Federal Election 2019
(8 comments)
- Hamilton is Joining the Extinction Rebellionby Nicole Smith, published October 16, 2019 in Special Report: Climate Change
(6 comments)
- Time for a National Basic Incomeby Doreen Nicoll, published October 16, 2019 in Healing Gaia
(0 comments)
- Art Gallery of Hamilton Film Festivalby Doreen Nicoll, published October 16, 2019 in Healing Gaia
(0 comments)
- Remembering the Legacy of Hate as Council Considers Partnering With a Homophobic Political Action Committeeby Shawn Selway, published September 25, 2019 in Commentary
(2 comments)
- Book Review: My Year of Living Spiritually by Anne Bokmaby Doreen Nicoll, published September 25, 2019 in Healing Gaia
(0 comments)
- Kanesatake Crisis Still Unresolved 29 Years Laterby Doreen Nicoll, published September 25, 2019 in Healing Gaia
(0 comments)
Article Archives
Blog Archives
Site Tools
Feeds
By arienc (registered) | Posted February 27, 2009 at 14:06:33
Mike B...I still don;t see what the big deal is.
Here's a scenario.
Joe Shmoe's house down the street is the same house as mine. Everything looks the same. Yet Joe's house has better insulation in the walls than mine does, and all the gaps were recently caulked. However since the houses appear identical, both houses end up selling for the same price. Joe loses out on the value of the upgrades that were made to his home. Therefore the person who acted most responsibly is the one who loses out. Not the ideal situation.
Now let's look at the same transaction with a mandatory audit. Joe's house scores a 75 on the audit, while mine scores a 70. The audit tells me that I have to install new insulation and re-caulk to bring my score up to 75. If that work costs $2,000, I either accept that my home is worth $2,000 less than Joe's is, or I put in the $2,000, get the work done, and get the auditor to recertify (earning me an EcoAction tax credit to help pay for the upgrades). Either way, the value goes to the homeowner who acts more responsibly, which is exactly the way things should be.
Actually, I would go the government one further and make the energy audits mandatory for all homeowners every five years, whether selling or not. It's rather annoying that if you don't get all the work done within 18 months of the audit, you lose out on any possible tax credits. The program should be run continuously, as the process of making buildings greener is a continuous one.
"First they built the road, then they built the town. That's why we're still driving around and around, and all we see. Are kids in buses. Longing to be free." - Wasted Hours, The Arcade Fire
Permalink | Context