PAGE OCR A6 – February 2009 – The Ontario Construction Report
EnerQuality recognizes Enbridge as outstanding industry partner
MATTHEW DESROSIERS – The OCR Construction Report
that, if they’re eligible for any support, we do all the hard
work for them. They build relationships with these market
Enbridge Gas Distribution has been recognized for their consultants so they have someone to call for any of their
efforts in supporting builders as they strive to achieve needs.”
greener, more sustainable homes. Having one point of contact within Enbridge makes it
The company won the Industry Partner of the Year Award easier for the builders, she said.
at EnerQuality’s Awards of Excellence ceremony held on Enbridge also has programs in place to promote natural
January 14 in Toronto. gas as an alternative to electricity.
“These awards give us the opportunity to recognize our “It’s fairly safe to assume the vast majority of builders
broad spectrum of stakeholders that include builders and in- (Back Row) Michelle Cote, EnerQuality; Enbridge put in natural gas for furnaces and water heating in today’s
dustry partners,” said Corey McBurney, president of En-
Team: Natalie Armstrong, Jennifer Cittadini, Leah
new homes,” said Squires. “It’s not always assumed they
erQuality. “Every participant in these programs make a
Stiles, Mary Harinck, Margaret Ward, Patricia Squires,
would put natural gas for a dryer or barbecue hookup, for
difference, for example, Enbridge Gas Distribution has an
Michelle Vestergaard, Shannon Bertuzzi, Bridget Sned-
example. Those are often upgrades for new home buyers,
amazing team that works very closely to support builders in
don, Dorothy Stewart; and Stephen Dupuis, BILD-GTA.
but we want to make sure in this case the builders and home-
building better homes while promoting energy conservation
(Bottom row) Enbridge Team: Richard Alexander, Don
to homeowners.”
Armitage, Rick Porter, Neil Saunders; and Corey McBur-
buyers understand the cost advantages of natural gas for
ney, EnerQuality.
these end uses.”
Patricia Squires, manager of market development at En- In a natural gas dryer, for example, homeowners can see
bridge, said the company was honoured to receive the ing industry ensures that we continue to stay on top of mind up to 44 per cent cost savings over electricity, she said.
award. for primary energy sources in the home.” Between Enbridge Gas Distribution and Union Gas, the
“It’s a tremendous pat on the back,” she said. “Typically One of the many ways Enbridge does this is to offer in- two companies cover 100 per cent of Ontario. However,
our recognition for energy efficiency is most often through centive programs. For example, the company offers a $100 larger builders don’t necessarily fit nicely in either com-
the regulatory channels, the Ontario Energy Board, and our incentive to builders for every Energy Star labeled home pany’s territory. To make things simple for these builders so
colleagues at other utilities. But to have public recognition that they build. Behind the scenes of that program, they also they can expect very similar, if not the same kinds of in-
for doing something like this through industry associations contribute financially by supporting Energy Star training centives and programs, Enbridge and Union are working to-
and through builders is tremendously important to us.” sessions for builders. gether to make things as consistent as possible.
“It helps us realize that what we’re doing is a good “We partner with the EnerQuality organization to help “We want to make sure wherever they’re building, they
thing.” deliver training and support their efforts to make sure have consistency of incentives to the customers,” Squires
Squires said it’s critical for the company to partner with builders have access to resources and training materials for said. “We’re not there yet, but that’s what we’re working to-
the industry. Though they benefit from organic growth, their staff. (That way) everyone understands what Energy wards.”
where builders automatically think of gas when starting a Star means.” Union Gas has a program called the drain water heat re-
new project, Enbridge wouldn’t be able to make that as- The company also has a staff of six or seven individuals covery initiative, whereby builders are offered financial in-
sumption if they weren’t as active as they are. called New Housing Market Consultants, who are sales- centive to install a copper tube that recovers waste heat from
“Especially when there’s so many emerging technologies people that go to builders and provide support materials that wastewater, and redirects it to the house’s water heater so it
and alternate renewable technologies that are becoming help them understand programs and apply for incentives. doesn’t need to work as hard.
more mainstream these days, our partnership with the build- “We want to make it as easy as possible for builders so Enbridge is preparing to launch a similar program.
That company’s goal of promoting and supporting sus-
tainable home building is a result of a mandate from the On-
tario Energy Board, and their own desire to deliver for their
customers.
“Conservation is key right now. Every customer is look-
ing for ways to save energy, save money, and save the en-
vironment.”
Their programs have been in place since 1995. You can
find Enbridge at many of the province’s major trade shows,
which is another channel they use to reach out to potential
home buyers about the sustainable options and benefits
available with natural gas.
beyond the GTA.”
Habitat
The group gets requests
Continued from page A3
for speaking tours, however,
––––––––––––––––––––––– many of those are outside of
the GTA. With the associa-
together.” tion being purely volunteer-
The association has be- based, it’s hard to attend as
tween 135 and 140 mem- many as we’d like.
bers, though recently a “I would like to keep
group in Alberta has ex- building that so we can par-
pressed interest in creating a ticipate in more opportuni-
new chapter of CAWIC. ties that are presented,” she
The potential for growth is said. “It would be nice to
something that has grow our organization and
Wadsworth excited. get our members more en-
“I would really like to gaged, increase awareness
strengthen this relationship beyond our organization
that’s arisen in Alberta,” she that we’re here.”
said. “To do something in General meetings and
parallel with another group, CAWIC events are open to
in some ways it would be an members and non-members
interesting dynamic. We’re alike, and also to males.
also trying to increase our Men interested in support-
membership in Ontario, ing the association may do
however it’s difficult with so through affiliate or cor-
limited resources to expand porate memberships.
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