Home Energy Evaluation
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is offering an energy evaluation service to Canadians who improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Under the ecoENERGY Retrofit Program, homeowners who sign up for the evaluations can qualify for federal grants worth hundreds or, in some cases, thousands of dollars. How does the program work?
You hire an NRCan-certified 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 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 retrofit projects are eligible and what size of grant can I receive for undertaking them?A wide range of retrofits are eligible under the following categories: heating, ventilation and cooling systems; insulation (attic, exterior walls and basement); air sealing; doors, windows and skylights; and water conservation. A flat amount is calculated for each qualifying upgrade, with those offering the greatest energy savings having the highest value. For a complete list of eligible upgrades/grants, check the NRCan brochure. What size of grant can I expect to receive?The total grant depends on which and how many retrofits you undertake; the maximum available is $5,000 per house. Of all the grants awarded in Alberta to date, the average rebate is $1,000 with greenhouse gas savings of three tonnes and natural gas reductions of 60 GJ which translates into approximately $600 annual energy savings. What does the energy assessment involve?
A certified 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, on a scale of 1 to 100, which compares your house with others in the region. After you have undertaken retrofits, a follow-up assessment will be done to confirm which grants you are eligible for and to provide you with an updated energy efficiency rating. How much does the assessment cost?
Depending on which NRCan-certified energy advisor you choose, the combined pre- and post-retrofit assessments should cost around $400. Where can I find a certified energy advisor?For a list of NRCan-certified advisors in your area, click here. How much time do I have after my initial assessment to apply for a grant?
Your grant application must be submitted to NRCan no later than 18 months after the pre-retrofit assessment. This means the retrofits and the post-retrofit assessment 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 and will complete the application form and forward it to NRCan. You should expect to receive a cheque within 90 days of the application being received by NRCan. Note: You can apply for a grant only once per property. 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.Are upgrades I’ve already completed or started eligible?No. All renovations started prior to obtaining a pre-retrofit energy evaluation are not eligible for a grant.How does the ecoENERGY Retrofit Program differ from the previous EnerGuide for Houses Retrofit Incentive program?The ecoENERGY Retrofit Program replaces the EnerGuide for Houses program, which ended in May 2006. Unlike the EnerGuide program, the ecoENERGY program does not subsidize the energy assessment of houses. However it does cover retrofits not included in the previous program, such as the replacement of cooling equipment with ENERGY STAR®-qualified models and the installation of solar hot water heaters, water-saving toilets and grey water heat-recovery systems.
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is offering an energy evaluation service to Canadians who improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Under the ecoENERGY Retrofit Program, homeowners who sign up for the evaluations can qualify for federal grants worth hundreds or, in some cases, thousands of dollars. How does the program work?
You hire an NRCan-certified 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 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 retrofit projects are eligible and what size of grant can I receive for undertaking them?A wide range of retrofits are eligible under the following categories: heating, ventilation and cooling systems; insulation (attic, exterior walls and basement); air sealing; doors, windows and skylights; and water conservation. A flat amount is calculated for each qualifying upgrade, with those offering the greatest energy savings having the highest value. For a complete list of eligible upgrades/grants, check the NRCan brochure. What size of grant can I expect to receive?The total grant depends on which and how many retrofits you undertake; the maximum available is $5,000 per house. Of all the grants awarded in Alberta to date, the average rebate is $1,000 with greenhouse gas savings of three tonnes and natural gas reductions of 60 GJ which translates into approximately $600 annual energy savings. What does the energy assessment involve?
A certified 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, on a scale of 1 to 100, which compares your house with others in the region. After you have undertaken retrofits, a follow-up assessment will be done to confirm which grants you are eligible for and to provide you with an updated energy efficiency rating. How much does the assessment cost?
Depending on which NRCan-certified energy advisor you choose, the combined pre- and post-retrofit assessments should cost around $400. Where can I find a certified energy advisor?For a list of NRCan-certified advisors in your area, click here. How much time do I have after my initial assessment to apply for a grant?
Your grant application must be submitted to NRCan no later than 18 months after the pre-retrofit assessment. This means the retrofits and the post-retrofit assessment 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 and will complete the application form and forward it to NRCan. You should expect to receive a cheque within 90 days of the application being received by NRCan. Note: You can apply for a grant only once per property. 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.Are upgrades I’ve already completed or started eligible?No. All renovations started prior to obtaining a pre-retrofit energy evaluation are not eligible for a grant.How does the ecoENERGY Retrofit Program differ from the previous EnerGuide for Houses Retrofit Incentive program?The ecoENERGY Retrofit Program replaces the EnerGuide for Houses program, which ended in May 2006. Unlike the EnerGuide program, the ecoENERGY program does not subsidize the energy assessment of houses. However it does cover retrofits not included in the previous program, such as the replacement of cooling equipment with ENERGY STAR®-qualified models and the installation of solar hot water heaters, water-saving toilets and grey water heat-recovery systems.
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