NDP Leader Howard Hampton today called on the McGuinty Liberals to make energy efficiency and conservation the cornerstones of Ontario’s energy future as he toured a Green Home in the Hamilton area.

“I challenge Dalton McGuinty to show some leadership and move forward with a bold, ambitious plan for energy efficiency and conservation like the Braden’s Green Home - because tinkering around the edges isn’t good enough,” said the NDP Leader.

Hampton was joined by Hamilton Centre MPP Andrea Horwath and Hamilton East -Stoney Creek MPP Paul Miller as they toured the Green Home of David and Cathy Braden. The Braden’s home demonstrates the utmost in energy efficiency and conservation by consuming 85 per cent less energy to heat than a conventional house and use 50 per cent less electricity.

Hampton proposed positive, realistic and achievable solutions that would help make Ontario a world leader on energy efficiency, including:

· Increased loans and grants for home-owner retrofits, and 100,000 solar hot water heaters installed by 2012;

· Amending Energy Efficiency Act regulations to achieve current Energy-Star levels for appliances, HVAC systems, and windows by January 1st, 2009

· Immediately legislating EnerGuide 80 standards into the Ontario Building Code.

NDP MPP Paul Miller was impressed by the ingenuity used by the Bradens in the design of the house: “Energy conservation is not about sweating in the dark - it's about being smarter. Ontarians can save energy without taking cold showers and drinking warm beer. We just have to provide them with the tools and financial support to do it,” said Miller.
“If the McGuinty government wants Ontario to conserve energy, it needs to put its money where its mouth is. Instead of throwing more money down the nuclear black hole, they should invest in energy efficiency and conservation,” said Horwath.

“The Bradens are to be congratulated on their work on energy efficiency. A province-wide building retrofit program to reduce energy costs, save energy, cut pollution and create jobs – now there’s an idea that works for people. If the Braden’s are doing it, Dalton McGuinty should be too,” Hampton said.