The program encourages home retrofits to improve energy efficiency by offering homeowners grants based on verifiable measures taken to improve the performance and energy of the home.
More energy efficient homes ensure Canadians enjoy higher levels of comfort at lower costs.
An ecoENERGY residential energy efficiency evaluation provides an objective review of the energy use in your home and determines a rating for the house based on scientific assessment. It provides you with independent advise on how your home uses energy and where it is being wasted. Our Advisors will show you how to improve the comfort of your home, cut heating and cooling costs, and ensure you have adequate, healthy ventilation.
Click here for a Sample Report
The benefits of an ecoENERGY evaluation – to the homeowner and to the environment – accrue only when some or all of the recommended energy efficiency retrofits are completed. The retrofit grant encourages homeowners to undertake deeper retrofits for higher energy savings by rewarding property owners based on the recommended measures they adapt.
What is the amount of the grant I can expect to receive?
The amount of your grant will depend on the improvements you make in your home from among the list of qualifying measures recommended by your Certified Advisor. The more you do to reduce your home’s energy consumption, the more you can expect to get back in the form of a retrofit grant. The maximum grant possible is $10,000 combined from the Federal and Provincial governments, although the average homeowner is likely to receive grants in the $2,000 range.
Grant amounts are pre-determined per individual upgrade. For example:
Energy Star furnace = $1,000
Attic and crawlspace insulation up to $1,200
Basement insulation up to $2,000
Exterior wall insulation up to $3,000
To see the incentives for the different energy-saving eligible measures, see bottom of this page.
How do I apply for a retrofit grant?
To receive your ecoENERGY Retrofit grant, follow these three steps:
1. Get an ecoENERGY evaluation
Schedule an evaluation. Call the Environment Network at 705-446-0551 or toll free 1-866-377-0551
The ecoENERGY evaluation includes:
• A detailed energy evaluation of your home performed by a Certified Energy Advisor.
• A blower door test to find air leaks
• A report that explains where your energy dollars are being spent and what you can do to improve your homes energy efficiency.
• An energy efficiency rating label that shows you how your home compares with others in your region.
2. Get the work done
Make some or all of the recommended energy efficiency retrofits. Your advisor’s report will help you plan your retrofits and tell you which projects are top priority.
3. Reap the rewards
When you are done, call us back for another visit. Our Certified Energy Advisor will test the performance of your home, check for the recommended upgrades that you have made, and give you a new rating. The advisor will submit an application on your behalf for a cash grant based on the upgrades. The more savings measures you implement, higher the grant for which you will be eligible. You will receive a cheque in the mail directly from the federal and provincial government.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What are the eligibility criteria for a retrofit grant?
Bungalows, detached, semi-detached and row houses, and mobile homes on fixed foundations, owned or rented, are currently eligible for these grants. Some apartments and most condominiums are eligible at this time. Businesses are not eligible for this ecoENERGY program at this time. Please go to ecoENERGY Retrofit Incentive for Buildings
Please contact the Environment Network at (705) 446-0551 or toll free at 1-866-377-0551 to determine eligibility.
How can the ecoENERGY Retrofit program help you?
Renovations: Helps you make informed decisions on what improvements you can make to enhance your comfort level, reduce energy bills, and help the environment. You will also receive a grant from the federal government based on the recommendations that you adopt.
Enhanced home comfort: Your home can be warm, cozy, and draft-free with cleaner air and improved humidity.
ecoENERGY Retrofit Grant: After completing the pre- and post retrofit evaluations, you may be eligible to receive up to $10,000 total from the Federal and Provincial governments.
Savings on energy bills: Making recommended retrofits in your ecoENERGY evaluation report can cut your heating and cooling bills by an average of 35%.
Increased property value: Energy-efficient homes sell for an average of $8,000 more than homes that have not been retrofit.
Cleaner environment: When you save energy you reduce pollution from burning fuels that contribute to smog and global climate change. Running your home more efficiently conserves valuable natural resources.
What is the cost?
There is a cost to the homeowner for the service. The cost of evaluation can be recovered in most instances through the federal retrofit grant. The initial visit is $300.00 + GST paid to the Environment Network, minus $150.00 provincial rebate paid directly to the homeowner – this is automated, you do not have to apply. The cheque will be mailed to the homeowner by the province 6-10 weeks after the initial evaluation. The post-retrofit visit to verify the improvements and quantify the grant amount is $150.00 + GST.
Why the Environment Network?
• The Environment Network is a not-for-profit organization based in Collingwood committed to a proactive approach to environmental management through the sharing of knowledge, demonstration of sound environmental practices and direct action.
• We are completely objective, some of the other companies that advertise ecoENERGY evaluations are contractors themselves, offering to do the renovations and repairs.
• We have performed over 1000 residential energy evaluations under the previous federal program EnerGuide for Houses and now the ecoENERGY program.
• We have the most experienced advisors in the region, and are a full member of Green Communities Canada, the largest network of residential evaluators in Canada.
• We serve all of Simcoe County and Muskoka. We are local, some companies charge extra mileage fees because they are based in Toronto and other areas.
This link has the most current information (effective March 30, 2009 - 25% more grant money!)
Government of Canada Eligible Improvements / Retrofits CHART **Please note that there are matching grant amounts from the Provincial government for each item listed in this chart. Remember to DOUBLE the dollar amount you see.
Ontario's Home Energy Retrofit Program INFO
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