Home Energy Evaluation

Pre and post retrofit evaluations cost around $400 in total, with provincial rebates for Alberta homeowners averaging $1000. A rebate is also available to help offset the cost of the home evaluations. Click here for more info.	Requires minimal effort. A phone call to an energy advisor to arrange two evaluations.	Homeowners who undertake all of the energy advisor’s recommended retrofits can typically expect to reduce their home’s greenhouse gas emissions by up to four tonnes per year.

Important changes to the federal ecoENERGY Retrofit Program

Please note that the federal government announced on March 31, 2010 that the grant portion of the ecoENERGY Retrofit Program has ended. The Alberta Program has not been affected by this decision and Albertans are still eligible for provincial rebates. If you have already begun the evaluation process with the ecoENERGY Retrofit Program, you will remain eligible for federal grant money from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). The same is true if you have not yet completed your evaluation but were able to book it by March 31, 2010.

How does the program work?

You hire an NRCan-licenced energy advisor to conduct a detailed onsite assessment of your home’s energy use. The advisor then provides you with a customized written report, which includes a checklist of unbiased, recommended retrofits to improve the energy efficiency of your home and, in some cases, reduce your water use. The report also indicates the grant amounts*, for each eligible upgrade, you can receive by carrying out these energy-saving improvements. Once you have carried out one or more of these upgrades, the energy adviser conducts a follow-up assessment and submits, on your behalf, a grant* application to NRCan.

What types of house retrofit projects are typically recommended?

A wide range of retrofits may be recommended, under the following categories: heating, ventilation and cooling systems; insulation (attic, exterior walls and basements); air sealing; doors, windows and skylights; and water conservation.

How much is available in federal grants and provincial rebates?

For those already participating in the federal ecoENERGY Retrofit Program, the total amount of federal grants depends on which and how many retrofits you undertake; the maximum available in combined grants and rebates is $5,000 per house.

The Government of Alberta offers $100 off each of the pre-retrofit and post-retrofit evaluations, as well as $250 to $300 for domestic hot water upgrades and 75% of what the federal insulation rebate would have been, up to a maximum of $3,150.

Of all the rebates awarded in Alberta to date, the average rebate is $1,000 with greenhouse gas savings of three tones and natural gas reductions of 60 GJ, which translates into approximately $600 annual energy savings.

What does the energy evaluation involve?

A qualified energy advisor will do a thorough, initial assessment of your home’s energy use, from attic to basement, including a “blower door” test to find air leaks. You will be given a printed report that shows where your energy dollars are going and what you can do to improve your home’s energy efficiency. This report includes an energy efficiency rating (EnerGuide rating), on a scale of 1 to 100, which compares your house with others in the region. After you have undertaken retrofits, a follow-up evaluation will be done to confirm which grants, if any,* you are eligible for and to provide you with an updated energy efficiency rating.

How much does the evaluation cost?

Depending on which NRCan-licenced energy advisor you choose, the combined pre- and post-retrofit evaluation should cost about $350 to $400, some of which will be offset by a $100 provincial rebate for each the pre and post-retrofit evaluations.

Where can I find an approved energy advisor?

For a list of NRCan-certified advisors in your area, click here.

How much time do I have after my initial evaluation to apply for a grant?

Your energy advisor must submit paperwork to NRCan no later than 18 months after the pre-retrofit evaluation, or by the program end date of March 31, 2011 – whichever comes first. This means all the retrofits and the post-retrofit evaluation must be completed within this time frame. The good news is that, following your post-retrofit assessment, your energy advisor will tell you exactly how much you can expect to receive in grants, if any,* and will complete the application form and forward it to NRCan. Any provincial rebates will be automatically assessed by Climate Change Central and sent to you without requiring an application.

What types of houses are eligible for the program?

Low-rise residential properties, including single detached and attached homes (e.g. row housing, duplexes and triplexes) and small multi-unit residential buildings.

Are new houses eligible?

No. Newly-built homes occupied for less than six months are not eligible. However, for those considering building a new home, there are provincial rebates of $1,500, $3,000 and $10,000 available if your new home meets or exceeds an EnerGuide rating of 80, 82, or 86. For information about the EnerGuide Rating Service for New Homes, click here and for information about the New Home Rebate, click here.

Are upgrades I’ve already completed or started eligible?

No. All renovations started prior to obtaining a pre-retrofit energy assessment are not eligible for a grant, including emergency furnace replacements.


*On March 31, 2010, the federal government announced changes to the ecoENERGY Retrofit Program. Federal grants will only be available to those homeowners who have already had a pre-retrofit evaluation performed or had booked a pre-retrofit evaluation on or before March 31, 2010 and who complete a post-retrofit evaluation by the 18-month deadline, or by the program end date of March 31, 2011 – whichever comes first.