TORONTO, ON - April 22, 2014 /CNW - As energy costs continue to rise, the newly enhanced Scotiabank EcoLiving Home Energy Savings Calculator, which Scotiabank and the Sustainable Housing Foundation are launching today in celebration of Earth Day, can help Canadians save money by saving energy.

"Scotiabank is proud to celebrate Earth Day by partnering with the Sustainable Housing Foundation and re-launching the EcoLiving Calculator," says Kaz Flinn, Scotiabank's Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility. "Energy costs are rising and improving the efficiency of your home is one of the best ways to reduce utility bills. The EcoLiving Calculator is designed to help Canadians reduce their environmental impact and save money at the same time."

The Scotiabank EcoLiving Home Energy Savings Calculator was created in partnership with the Sustainable Housing Foundation in 2012 as part of the Scotiabank EcoLiving Program. The free online tool allows users to enter information about their home, such as geographic location, style, size, insulation and more. Based on their specific data, the tool creates a customized list of recommended upgrades and estimated costs and savings. This year's enhancements include enabling users to see their break-even point, financing options as well as estimated carbon emissions reduction. Available at www.scotiabank.com, the tool also lets Canadians factor in inflation rates and estimate future savings on renovations they may be considering to their home.

"We know that sixty-six per cent of Canadian homeowners are likely to consider making their home more energy efficient through green renovations. Of those, two-thirds would consider green renovations even if they were more costly than non-green renovations*," says Anatol von Hahn, Scotiabank's Group Head of Canadian Banking. "It's clear that Canadians see the long-term value of greening their homes and this tool helps them realize the benefits on their investment both for the environment and their wallets." 

"We are proud to partner with Scotiabank," says John Bell, Chairman of the Sustainable Housing Foundation. "Our mission is to increase the number of sustainable homes in Canada, and having a tool like this is essential, as it shows homeowners the economic and environmental benefits when making sustainable upgrades."

About Scotiabank EcoLiving
Scotiabank EcoLiving, which launched in 2010, is a unique program focused on educating Canadians on the shared benefits of home energy efficiency and green home improvements. With its emphasis on demonstrating how people can save money by saving energy, and at the same time reduce their impact on climate change, Scotiabank EcoLiving communicates the advantages of energy efficiency and sustainable practices. The EcoLiving website includes a financial calculator and information on government rebates, which allow users to plan and finance their projects and see the savings that can result from environmentally friendly renovations. As energy prices continue to increase and residential energy efficiency continues to be a factor in renovation trends, Scotiabank EcoLiving is a resource that provides users with the tools to make informed decisions.

About Scotiabank 
Scotiabank is a leading financial services provider in over 55 countries and Canada's most international bank. Through our team of more than 83,000 employees, Scotiabank and its affiliates offer a broad range of products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management, corporate and investment banking to over 21 million customers. With assets of $783 billion (as at January 31, 2014), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto (TSX: BNS) and New York Exchanges (NYSE: BNS). Scotiabank distributes the Bank's media releases using CNW. For more information please visit www.scotiabank.com.

* According to an October 2013 Scotiabank poll

Media inquiries:
Nadine Jahangir
Scotiabank Media Communications
416-933-2927
nadine.jahangir@scotiabank.com