The EnerGuide Rating System (ERS) offers you a standard measure of your home's energy performance. The rating allows you to compare the energy efficiency of comparable homes in your neighbourhood and across Canada.
Why Should I Have My House Rated?
If you are planning to renovate or sell your home, the rating shows your home's present level of energy efficiency and the level it could achieve with recommended upgrades.
least efficient (0-20) (21-49) (50-79) (81-100) most efficient
How Is the Rating Determined?
During the walk-through of your home, the energy advisor collects data on home energy systems, house construction materials and the "building envelope" (the walls and roof of the home) to model the home's energy consumption. After performing a blower door test, the advisor uses an energy analysis software called HOT2000 to compare your home with a reference house of a similar size in a similar climatic region. You will later receive a report with recommended renovations and an EnerGuide label.
What Do the Numbers Mean?
A home's energy efficiency level is rated on a scale of 0 to 100. A rating of 0 represents a home with major air leakage, no insulation and extremely high energy consumption. A rating of 100 represents a house that is airtight, well insulated and sufficiently ventilated and requires no purchased energy.
| House Characteristics | Typical Rating |
|---|---|
| Older house not upgraded | 0 to 50 |
| Upgraded older house | 51 to 65 |
| Energy-efficient upgraded older house or typical new house | 66 to 74 |
| Energy-efficient new house | 75 to 79 |
| Highly energy-efficient new house | 80 to 90 |
| House requiring little or no purchased energy | 91 to 100 |
Related Programs
- NRCan offers information on EnerGuide labels for appliances and vehicles
- Energy advisors use ERS when evaluating existing homes
- ERS is a part of the application process ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes and certain regional programs and incentives.
- A similar rating and labelling system plays an important role in initiatives for new homes.
- NRCan's Office of Energy Efficiency is working with stakeholders to develop the next generation of ERS.