Let me try to touch on three points. Thank you very much.
First of all, when I gave you the example of the group from Group IV Semiconductor Inc. with the light, that's just one example of many ideas that are out there on technology, and an exciting one, when you can take lighting and get it to 90% efficiency. And that's just one little company that's doing something. Some of these are fascinating technologies, and I get quite enthusiastic when I see them because of the promise they hold.
Again, you've asked me if I can specifically announce a program. I told your colleague, with respect to wind...and you have to understand that obviously I cannot do that. It's not something I can do, so you'll have to accept that.
With respect to the specifics of the former EnerGuide program, it is true that just over 50¢ of every dollar went to the homeowner for actual retrofits to improve their energy efficiency. And you did talk about the audits, and the government supported those audits. The money going to the audits was outside of that money. The amount of just over 50¢ was specifically to the retrofits.
But of the people who had the initial audits done that the taxpayer was paying for, or partly paying for--they weren't paying for all of it, since it was a cost-sharing agreement--only 30% of them went on to actually get any type of retrofits done--only 30%. That number may have changed in the last few months of the program, but for the large portion of the program.... And I haven't seen the data. According to the latest data I've seen, of the audits done, only 30% of the people went on to actually get any type of retrofits. So with 70% of the money that we're spending on those other audits, not one ounce of benefit is going to the environment, not one ounce of greenhouse gas reduction is being done, because they didn't do anything. They only did the audit. So that is a fair point.
I think energy efficiency is very important, and for the consumer, and across all sectors. I absolutely believe the largest source of untapped energy in this country is the energy we waste, and there are many ways to look at how we can improve it. And I also think energy efficiency in the home and with the consumer is very important as well.
But I'm telling you that I believe it's very important. I'm the minister, but I can't tell you any more than that. I understand you would like to know, but unfortunately I can't say any more than that.