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The government of Ontario released its Climate Change Action Plan on Wednesday, listing $8.3 billion worth of upgrades and advances to energy, infrastructure, and new home development. The Wynne government aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 15% by 2020, and 80% by 2050.<\/p>\n
Homeowners, we\u2019ve saved you some time and detailed the key points for homeowners. Also, keep in mind that this is only a plan. These changes are in the planning stages\u2014meaning not law yet\u2014so watch for various start dates between 2017 and 2020.<\/p>\n
Electric charging stations<\/strong><\/p>\n The provincial government will be extending the rebate program for those buying an electric vehicle and installing a charging station in their home, and they are taking extra steps to encourage the use of electric cars.<\/p>\n All new homes and townhomes with garages will be required to be fitted with wiring and the bare essentials so that homeowners can use a charging station in their homes; the same goes for all new commercial buildings as well.<\/p>\n Lauren Haw, CEO of Zoocasa, says the homeowner will be the one who is going to eat the cost of these stations.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause all newly built homes must include these receptacles, the cost of building a home will increase,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s doubtful that builders will pick up the extra costs, and these new costs will be passed on to new home purchasers.\u201d<\/p>\n Overnight charging<\/strong><\/p>\n The provincial government plans to work with utilities companies to offer free overnight electric vehicle charging, to help balance electricity demands and lower electric bill costs. This would affect single-family and multi-unit residential homes, meaning you can charge your vehicles at home for free\u2014for the next four years, according to the report.<\/p>\n \u201cHow the utilities companies will monitor and distinguish how the electricity is being used is yet to be determined,\u201d says Haw.<\/p>\n Electric vehicle charging in municipal parking<\/strong><\/p>\n The report mentions that there will be surface-level parking lots available in certain areas, including downtown cores, that will have charging stations available for users. But this doesn\u2019t mean there will be space for all car owners, and doesn\u2019t discuss street-level charging or the costs associated with these public stations.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is going to happen in urban centres?\u201d asks Haw. \u201cMany homes don\u2019t have private parking\u2014only street parking\u2014so where are they going to charge their electric cars?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMany of these homes could have front pad parking,\u201d meaning a small, paved space in their front yards, \u201cbut Toronto no longer approve new pad parking applications, which leaves thousands of homeowners between a province incentivising charging stations and a municipality making implementation impossible.<\/p>\n