|
Thinking of ways to make your home more energy efficient? Here's what you can do to reduce your energy consumption and receive grants through ecoENERGY Retrofit.
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is offering a new residential energy efficiency assessment service to owners of single family homes including detached, semidetached and low-rise multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) that are no more than three storeys high. Under the ecoENERGY Retrofit program, property owners can quality for federal grants by improving the energy efficiency of their homes, and reducing their home's impact on the environment.
NRCan-licensed energy advisors conduct a detailed on-site assessment of your home's energy use from the attic down to the basement. They then provide you with a personalized written report, including a checklist of recommended retrofits to improve the energy efficiency of your home or MURB and, in some cases, to reduce water consumption. The report also shows the grant amounts for each eligible upgrade that you can receive by carrying out these energy saving improvements.
How does the residential energy assessment service work?
Only homes that have been evaluated using NRCan's residential energy assessment service will be eligible for a grant.
The service includes:
- a detailed energy evaluation of your home carried out by a licensed energy advisor
- a "blower door" test to find air leaks
- a printed report that shows where your energy dollars are being spent and what you can do to improve your home's energy efficiency
- an energy efficiency rating label that shows you how energy efficient your home is compared with others in your region
Energy Efficiency Rating
When should you use the residential energy assessment service?
Does your home have comfort problems such as drafts, cold spots and frosted windows?
Find the source of these problems and get information about repairing them.
Renovating or retrofitting?
Energy advisors use state-of-the-art evaluation practices and can advise on the best modern techniques and types of products.
Upgrading your heating and cooling system?
Energy efficiency improvements can make a difference to the size of the heating and cooling system that your home needs.
Selling your house?
After you've made energy efficiency upgrades and comfort improvements to your home, the energy efficiency rating label shows potential buyers how much you've improved your home's energy efficiency and how it compares to other homes in your area.
The benefits of the residential energy assessment service
Peace of mind
NRCan-licensed energy advisors provide unbiased advice on how to improve your home's energy use. The service is also quality-assured by the Government of Canada to ensure the integrity of the residential energy assessment service.
Understanding your options
The residential energy assessment service provides a thorough basement-to-attic assessment of your home's energy use. The energy advisor's written report will help you to plan retrofits and estimate the cost of professional renovations.
Proof of upgrades
After you have completed your energy upgrades, our experts will provide you with a second (post-retrofit) evaluation and a new energy efficiency rating label that indicates your home's improved energy use.
Grants toward your retrofit expenses
Only homes that have had pre- and post-retrofit evaluations from an NRCan-licensed energy advisor are eligible for grants. The grant amount is based on each of the recommended retrofits you have completed and the relative impact the retrofits have on the energy efficiency of your home. For instance, replacing your gas furnace with an ENERGY STARŪ qualified furnace will achieve a high level of energy savings and will therefore have a bigger grant value. Your energy advisor can suggest the retrofits that are your best options.
Taking action to alleviate climate change
The use of energy from fossil fuels is a major cause of greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. Canadians are being encouraged to use less energy. Make your contribution to help protect our environment by using the residential energy assessment service.
Who is eligible for grants?
Here are the main criteria:
- You can apply for a grant for a property that you own and live in or rent out. This includes detached, semi-detached and row houses and low-rise residential buildings of three storeys or less (with a footprint of less than 600 square metres), as well as mobile homes on a permanent foundation.
- Grants are available for work done within a specific time frame, so it is important to talk to your local service organization about the eligibility of your house as soon as you are ready to plan and undertake your energy efficiency retrofits. You have 18 months from the date of your pre-retrofit evaluation to complete the work and qualify for a grant.
- Only homes that have undergone a pre- and post-retrofit residential energy assessment service by an NRCan-licensed advisor will be eligible. You will be able to apply only once per property.
- Homeowners must carry out specific improvements in order to qualify for a grant. NRCan-licensed energy advisors will be able to tell you which retrofits have the greatest impact on your home's efficiency. The greater the improvement, the more the grant will be.
It is you - the property owner - who decides what retrofits recommended by your energy advisor you wish to undertake. You are responsible for choosing a contractor and for ensuring that the work is performed properly. It is important that you get a detailed written contract between you and your contractor in order to prevent problems later on. The residential energy assessment service does not assess the quality of the work performed - it evaluates only the retrofit's impact on the energy efficiency of your home.
How do you apply for a grant?
It's easy. Your energy advisor will apply for the grant on your behalf after you have completed the energy efficiency retrofits and your home has been re-assessed. Your advisor will prepare the paperwork for you to sign and will be able to tell you exactly how much you can expect to receive. Your energy advisor will then forward your application to NRCan.
A table of retrofits has been established to show the maximum payment for the completion of each recommended upgrade. The grant amount has been determined by the relative effectiveness of that particular upgrade in reducing energy or water use, and not directly on the cost of the upgrade, which will vary depending on location, local pricing and labour costs, size of house, etc. Note: Refer to Retrofit Your Home and Qualify for a Grant! for grant amounts related to retrofits.
A grant application must be submitted to NRCan no later than 18 months after the date of the pre-retrofit evaluation. You can expect to receive your cheque within 90 days of your follow-up evaluation.
|
