Updated 2026-10-16 · By CondoCircle
Earlier versions of this site described every Vicinity home as ENERGY STAR certified with guaranteed savings. We couldn't confirm a project-wide certification from current official material, so we've withdrawn that claim. Here's how to find out what your specific home includes.
Why it's model-specific
Energy performance depends on the specification for each release and model: insulation, windows, air sealing, mechanical systems and testing. Builders sometimes change specifications between phases.
Questions for the sales team
- Is this release built to a named energy program? Which one, and is certification per home?
- Is there a written features and finishes schedule?
- Furnace, water heater and ventilation type
- Window specification
- Is a blower-door test performed?
- EV and solar rough-ins
About 'savings' claims
Features that typically affect comfort and bills
| Feature | Why it matters | Ask for |
|---|---|---|
| Insulation levels | Heat loss through walls, attic, basement | R-values in the features schedule |
| Windows | Drafts and solar gain | Window type and rating |
| Air sealing | Comfort and humidity | Whether air-tightness is tested |
| Heating and cooling | Efficiency and running cost | Equipment type and efficiency rating |
| Ventilation | Indoor air quality | HRV/ERV or other ventilation system |
| Water heating | Ongoing cost | Owned or rented, and type |
Owned versus rented equipment
Some new homes come with rented water heaters or other equipment under a contract you assume on closing. Ask whether any equipment is rented, the monthly cost, and the buy-out terms. Your lawyer can flag these contracts during review.
Certification versus features
A home can include efficient features without carrying a certification, and a certification label applies only when the specific home was enrolled and verified under the program. Marketing language like 'energy-efficient design' is not the same as an ENERGY STAR certificate for your unit. If certification matters to you, ask whether the specific home is enrolled and request the documentation.
We have not verified a project-wide energy certification for Vicinity, so we don't claim one. What you can do instead is compare the features schedule for your release — insulation values, window specifications, equipment efficiency — against a reference point like the current Ontario Building Code requirements.
Estimating real savings honestly
Energy savings claims usually compare against a code-minimum reference home under standardized conditions. Your actual bills depend on how you heat, cool and use the home, the rates in effect, and the weather. A more efficient home reduces consumption, but the dollar figure on a brochure is a modelled estimate, not a promise.
- Ask for the features schedule for your release
- Ask whether the specific home carries any certification
- Compare equipment efficiency ratings, not marketing labels
- Ask whether the water heater is owned or rented
- Budget using current utility rates, not brochure estimates
Get it in writing
Ask that energy features be listed in the agreement's schedule of features. Natural Resources Canada publishes information on energy-efficiency programs.
Frequently asked questions
Are Vicinity homes ENERGY STAR certified?
We couldn't confirm project-wide certification from current official sources. Ask about your release and model.
Will I save on utilities?
We don't promise savings. Efficiency features can help, but bills depend on use and rates.
Where are standard features listed?
In the builder's features and finishes schedule for your release. Request it with the price list.
Is the water heater owned or rented?
Ask the builder for your release. Rental contracts are common in Ontario and are worth reviewing before closing.
Is Vicinity ENERGY STAR certified?
We haven't verified a project-wide certification, so we don't claim one. Ask the builder whether your specific home is enrolled and request documentation.
How much will I save on utilities?
Savings depend on your usage, rates and the home's actual specification. Treat any modelled figure as an estimate.