HOT2.XP: EnerGuide for Houses and the New Housing Market

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This paper presents the use of HOT2-XP1 within a 1999 pilot project sponsored by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), which involved the evaluation and energy rating of 64 new homes in Ontario according to the EnerGuide2 for Houses Procedures and Guidelines [1].Prior to the introduction of the EnerGuide for Houses Program, the only formal method for assessing the energy efficiency of new housing was the R-20003 Design Approval Procedures and Guidelines [2]. These were tied to the R-2000 Program criteria and relied on a detailed assessment of house characteristics using HOT20004. HOT2.XP was developed as a derivative of HOT2000 for use within the EnerGuide for Houses Program, aimed initially at improving the energy efficiency of older homes. The Ontario pilot project studied the utility of HOT2.XP in capturing the energy rating of new homes at the pre-construction stage. The core of this paper explores the variation of EnerGuide ratings among typical new homes, and the differences in ratings between pre-construction and post-construction assessments. The sensitivity of airtightness and solar orientation to the house rating are also discussed. Assessments of the utility of HOT2-XP solicited from the pilot project design evaluators are also discussed.The paper concludes with key recommendations for maintaining energy simulation software integrity within the context of consumer information needs and builder marketing realities.