R-2000 is operated by Natural Resources Canada's (NRCan's) Office of Energy Efficiency.
It promotes the use of cost-effective, energy-efficient building practices and technologies. The R-2000 Standard demands a high level of energy efficiency, typically beyond what building codes require. R-2000 houses are also healthier houses and incorporate a whole-house ventilation system and low-emissions building materials, to ensure proven superior indoor air quality.
Participation in the initiative is voluntary. Home builders who build to the R-2000 Standard do so because they consider an R-2000 home to be a better home. Buyers choose R-2000 homes for their superior construction, comfort, as well as energy savings.
R-2000 includes the following:
- An energy-efficiency standard for new houses that is continually upgraded
- Ongoing education and training courses for home builders
- Testing and certifying of new R-2000 houses
The R-2000 Standard is based on an energy consumption target for each house and a series of technical requirements for ventilation, airtightness (to ensure less drafts), insulation, choice of materials, water use and other factors. Ongoing research ensures that the R-2000 Standard remains at the leading edge of affordable energy-efficient construction technology.
Since R-2000 began, over 13,000 R-2000 homes have been built and certified and close to 900 builders have been licensed to build R-2000 homes. While new housing construction has improved as a result of R-2000 and other builder training programs, R-2000 builders still lead the industry for their homes and the Government of Canada stands behind with its R-2000 certificate.
R-2000 also has a wide range of partners across Canada, including provincial/territorial home builders' associations, provincial/territorial governments, product manufacturers and energy utilities. The Canadian Home Builders' Association has been a partner in the initiative since day one.
As a result of R-2000, manufacturers have developed many unique building products, such as heat recovery ventilators (now a $50-million-per-year industry in Canada), air-barrier systems including the airtight drywall approach (ADA), and expediting the development of integrated mechanical heating and cooling systems.
R-2000, a world leader in energy-efficient housing technology and has generated a lot of interest beyond Canada's borders.