When Efficiency New Brunswick launched their Existing Homes Energy Efficiency Upgrades Program, it was a case of at the right place, at the right time. “There was a lot of noise about the program,” said Donald Saunders. “Both the provincial and federal programs were in the newspapers. You were hearing people talk about it a lot more often, and we knew there were things we wanted to get done that might qualify.”

The Saunders’ home was built in 1920’s and Donald said it wasn’t well insulated, making it less comfortable and harder to heat. He said, “There were definitely areas where we knew we could improve the efficiency and warmth of the house.”

With more than 30 per cent of homes in the province having been built prior to 1960, this is a common problem.  Regardless of their age however, most homes can be made more energy efficient through specific and targeted energy efficiency upgrades. The Saunders had some specific plans in mind.

Their renovation included:

• Adding R-40 insulation to the attic;
• Increasing some wall insulation by R-20 (40%);
• Installing polyurethane foam insulation to the entire basement (R-20);
• Changing to an energy efficient oil furnace; and
• Improving ventilation.

As a result of their decision to commit to a more efficient building envelope for their home and choosing a better

designed furnace, the Saunders have saved money on their heating bill, and continue to consume less energy.

While oil heating has had a poor environmental track record in the past, new oil furnaces are well designed, cleaner and more energy efficient. “It was time for the old oil furnace to go.” He said. “We are much more comfortable with the new one, and we are saving significantly on our heating costs.”

The Saunders received a rebate of more than $700 from Efficiency NB’s Existing Homes Program, and took

advantage of another $2,000 of financial incentives available through the federal government’s ecoENERGY Program. With this they were able to increase the energy rating of their home by 44 points, and reduce their home’s greenhouse gas emissions by 16.95 tonnes annually. For comparison, an empty tractor and semi-trailer can weigh about 16 tonnes.

“We’ve always tried to be conscious of the environment,” said Donald, who continues to be the family quarterback for their renovation team. “It’s an issue that has always been important to us.” The Saunders family has more plans to improve the efficiency of their home, having already decided that the next thing they tackle will be the windows.