Changes to CMHC Green Home

CMHC Green Home flexibilities were originally introduced in 2004 to encourage consumers to consider energy-efficiency in their housing choices and make the purchase of energy-efficient homes or energy-saving renovations more affordable. The flexibilities include a ten per cent CMHC mortgage loan insurance premium refund, and a premium refund for a longer amortization (if applicable). Since inception, more than six million dollars in premiums have been refunded to Canadians.

The following new criteria recognize advancements in energy efficiency building standards while continuing to encourage home builders to construct new housing with superior energy-efficient characteristics and are effective January 1st, 2013:

• An NRCan EnerGuide (EGH) rating of 82 will be required on purchase transactions in order to be eligible for CMHC Green Home.Energy-efficient homes built under CMHC-eligible energy-efficient building programs will continue to qualify. A list of these programs is available on CMHC’s Web site: www.cmhc.ca/greenhome.
• Homeowner units located in high rise residential buildings are to be the higher of 5{ea18e790148ddb141722068dfb73f9f74b06205fa18c7d39ece0e7144d0672b8} more energy-efficient than if constructed to meet provincial/territorial requirements (where they exist) or 20{ea18e790148ddb141722068dfb73f9f74b06205fa18c7d39ece0e7144d0672b8} more energy-efficient than if constructed to meet the Model National Energy Code for Buildings.
• The supporting documentation (e.g. building program certification or energy-efficiency evaluation report) to be dated no more than 5 years prior to the date of application for CMHC Green Home partial premium refund.

Once the announced changes come into effect at the beginning of January 2013, the CMHC Green Home product highlight sheet will be updated accordingly. We appreciate your support in sharing this valuable information with your clients to encourage them to fully consider making energy-efficient housing choices.

CMHC provides you with the support, expertise and tools you need to effectively meet the needs of an evolving industry, helping you focus your time on serving your clients and managing your business.