My previous post was a Globe and Mail article about Ontario’s plan to shift to electric heating for all new residential buildings. Today I would like to share with you some thoughts about this plan.
After successfully phasing out coal, Ontario is now moving forward with tackling other fossil fuels as part of the liberal government’s plan to fight Global Warming.
According to the article published in the Globe and Mail on May 16, 2016, Ontario will be working on phasing out natural gas for residential heating, and has a target of 12% electric cars of newly sold cars by 2025.
Since I work in the construction industry, I will be sharing my opinion about the effects of this plan on those who have to pay their own energy bills, which is basically most Ontarians, whether they are tenants or home owners.
As part of the government plan, all new homes will be heated by electricity by 2030, and virtually all homes by 2050. This is supposed to be achieved through a large budget put into incentive programs.
But how will this affect consumers and the construction industry? Let’s start with consumers, as their reaction to this news is what will pressure the construction industry to adapt.
Since the electricity rates in Ontario are famously high, heating a 2000 sqft home with electricity may not be the most feasible way for the average Ontarian. Understandably, consumers won’t be happy about spending more to secure their basic needs. Naturally, they will want to have alternative ways to save on their energy consumption. Consumers will quickly reach the conclusion that having a well-insulated home is one way, and maybe the best way, to save on energy. Besides that, renewable energy sources and innovative, non-conventional, heating technologies will also find their way in the marketplace.
Therefore, the construction industry will have to adjust to the new reality. It will strive to meet new building codes, and consumers’ demands. If you are a professional in the construction industry who is already trying to design and build above the standard code, you are certainly some steps ahead towards this new goal.