Throughout Ontario, Râ€"2000 activity in the home building industry is well ahead of that anticipated when the Energy Efficient Housing (Râ€"2000) Program was announced last January. The Program is a joint undertaking of Energy Mines and Resources Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Energy, Ontario Hydro, the Ontario Natural Gas Association, and the Ontario Home Builders‘ Association (OHBA). The partners are working to broaden the energy efficiency standard of the Râ€"2000 Program and incorporate advanced environâ€" mental technologies in new home construcâ€" In less than 12 months, Ontario‘s Energy Efficient Housing (Râ€"2000) Program has surâ€" passed its 16 month goal for bringing on line homes built to the Râ€"2000 standard and trainâ€" ing new Râ€"2000 builders. At the end of December, more than 1,400 Râ€"2000 homes were under construction across the province and over 900 new builders had received Râ€" 2000 training. Demand for Râ€"2000 homes increases "By combining forces, the government utility industry partnership has made some very important inroads," says OHBA President Phil McColeman. ‘"Working togethâ€" er, we will continue to advance the capacity of Ontario‘s residential construction industry to deliver housing that provides leading edge energy, environmental, and comfort benefits. ‘The increased activity we are seeing comâ€" plements other solid indications of recovery in the housing market. It also indicates that today‘s new home buyers are concerned about the overall environmental impact of their homes." says McColeman. According to McColeman, "The Energy Efficient Housing (Râ€"200) Program is the industry‘s opportunity to make energy effiâ€" cient and environmentally responsible housing more readily available to new home buyers." tion The Râ€"2000 Home is a premium Canadian product that combines proven advanced techâ€" nology and quality craftsmanship to deliver exceptional levels of comfort and efficiency, a healthy living environment, and long term value in new homes. Building to Râ€"2000 places emphasis on the efficient interaction of all individual systems within a house. In advancing improved energy efficiency and environmentally acceptable technology in new home construction, the Energy Efficient Housing (Râ€"2000) Program encourages the use of natural gas for heating and appliances; improved water conservation and waste manâ€" agement; and more efficient use of nonâ€" renewable resources in building. ‘"We‘re well ahead of the goal established when the joint Program was announced," says Frank Giannone, chairman of the OHBA Energy Efficient Housing (Râ€"2000) Steering Committee. According to Giannone, "with more than 1,400 new homes enrolled in the Program, Râ€"2000 construction activity is more than double that of 1991. Participation in the Râ€"2000 builder training program is up 20% over last year. Childrens Miracle Network ‘"The coâ€"operative training program and efforts to encourage home buyers to consider the benefits of homes built under this Program are definitely bearing fruit at the building site," he says. Builder training and consumer information â€" designed to stimulate construction of new Râ€" 2000 homes â€" are two main components of the Energy Efficiency Housing (Râ€"2000) Program. Funding for the Program is provided by the partners. OHBA delivers the Program on behalf of the partnership. OHBA encompasses 35 local Home Builders‘ Associations across the province. Its 4,000 member companies, representing all sectors of Ontario‘s residential construction industry, produce approximately 80% of Ontario‘s housing. For more information on registered Râ€"2000 builders throughout the province, contact the OHBA Project Management Office, 20 Upjohn Road, North York, Ontario M3B 2V9. Telephone (416) 447â€"0077. REAL ESTATE SYSTEM SPONSORED BY THE REMNK®