The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

gi "High-performance" windows with thermal resistance ratings of up to R-8 help to reduce the energy requirements of your new home. These windows may Energy-efficiency. Buying an energy- efficient home is one of the most impor- tant contributions that a homeowner can make to the environment. Fifteen per cent of Canada's total energy consumption is attributed to heating the country's homes. and the vast majority of this energy is derived from non-renewable sources. New homes are considerably more energy-efficient than homes built just l0 years ago, thanks to higher levels of insu- lation, advanced sealing techniques. improved windows and more efficient heating and cooling systems. Increasingly, professional builders are using environmentally responsible build- ing techniques, materials and products to lessen the environmental impact of our homes and how we live in them. There is no better time to find out about the choic- es available than when you are looking for a new home, says the Greater Toronto Home Builders' Association (GTHBA). The many benefits of energy efficient homes Consider selecting an energy-efficient heating system. Mid-efficiency furnaces, which are standard in new homes in Ontario, are 10-15% more efficient than standard products. High-efficiency fur- naces can provide close to 95% efficien- cy and create up to 30% less pollution than standard products. Reduced environmental impact is only one of the many benefits of an energy- emcient home. Homeowners will enjoy the energy savings which can be signin- cant over time; and increased comfort - even heat throughout the house, warm floors and no drafts. The R-2000 home is an environmen- tally responsible home that uses half the energy of a conventionally built home and provides homeowners with a cleaner. include triple- or even quadruple-glazing; low-emissivity glass (low-E) to let in the warmth of the sun while preventing the heat indoors from escaping; arson gas to increase the thermal performance of the window; and heat mirrors between the layers of glass for superior insulating ability yr even quadruple-glazing; glass (low-E) to let in the sun while preventing the approximately 15% of residential energy consumption. Many builders today include a full range of appliances with their new homes. Homebuyers should try to ensure that these appliances are energy-efficient and water-conserving; not only do ener- gy-efficient appliances have less impact on the environment, they are also less expensive to operate. Appliances. In a typical household, washers and dryers, refrigerators, freer. ers, stoves and dishwashers account for healthier indoor environment. R-2000 $250 a year homes are built by specially trained Lighting builders, tested and certified so that con- one of the l sumers know exactly what they are buy- that you a [nil Lighting. Energy-efficient lighting is one of the easiest conservation measures that you and your home builder can undertake. A compact fluorescent light bulb uses up to 80% less energy than a standard incandescent bulb and lasts about 10 times longer. While energy-em- cient light bulbs are more expensive initially, you can expect savings of up to $30 over the lifespan of the bulb. Not having to replace burned-out bulbs in hard-to-reach places like the tops of stair- cases and cathedral ceilings also makes energy-efficient light bulbs more conve- nient. Dimmer switches and timers give you more control over the amount of energy you use for lighting. At the same time, you can create atmosphere for pleasant events at home, and increase security when you are out. Energy-efficient lighting goes hand in hand with housing design that makes the most of natural light through lot orienta- tion, interior layout and the use ofwin- (See "Always" Page RE 8)