Energy Efficiency Rebate Program (February 22)
Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much. Mr. Speaker, meeting climate change goals is more than carbon capture and storage.
It must include energy efficiency measures. The province is partnering with the feds through EcoEnergy to offer rebates to home and condo owners on boilers, hot water, and insulation, but the feds will also cover windows. Given that the purpose of rebates is to incent people to make improvement they wouldn’t otherwise make and that windows are responsible for up to 50 per cent loss of energy efficiency, not including them is a big error. To the Minister of Environment: has the government moved any closer to funding window replacement as part of the energy efficiency rebate program?
Mr. Renner: Mr. Speaker, the consumer rebate program has been up and in operation for some time now. Unfortunately, it does not include windows. I can’t advise the member of anything different than that. It’s a matter of getting the maximum amount of efficiency out of a limited amount of dollars.
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Ms Blakeman: Thank you. Back to the same minister. Although they meet the under-three-storeys requirement, most three-floor walk-ups are not eligible because they’re rental units. Why doesn’t the government include these under the rebate program?
Mr. Renner: Well, Mr. Speaker, the issue around rental units is a good one. I, frankly, would welcome some feedback and some suggestions from the opposition on how we might deal with that because in most rental units it is up to the tenant to pay for the cost of utilities. There’s really no incentive even if there is a consumer rebate in the hands of the owner of the building. So it’s necessary to try to point the rebate to the person who has the responsibility.
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The minister is exactly right. The individual renter has to pay the utilities but has no control over the energy efficiency of the building. That goes to the apartment owner, and they have no incentive to do anything because they’re not paying the utilities. My recommendation to the minister: will he consider creating a special category for these kinds of rental buildings?
Mr. Renner: Well, Mr. Speaker, I’d be happy to create a special category, but as I just enunciated and the member confirmed, a category is not what’s needed. What is needed here is being able to target the funds to the individuals that have control over making the decisions.
Alberta Hansard, February 22, 2010