Submitted by the Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association
This past summer, the federal government launched the Canada Greener Homes Initiative. With buildings, including homes, accounting for 18% of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions, the project is aimed at helping homeowners improve their home’s energy efficiency, lower energy costs, and cut greenhouse gas emissions. The Initiative offers 700,000 grants of $5000 each plus $600 to help cover a home energy audit. Homeowners interested in taking advantage of the grant can follow this guide on the Initiative’s ins and outs.
How to Get Started
The first step is to ensure your eligibility for the grant. Most homes that are at least six months old and are the homeowner’s primary residence are eligible. Homeowners who are eligible must then apply online to be assessed by an EnerGuide auditor. An auditor will inspect your home and make recommendations for upgrades and retrofits based on their findings.
To register your home, you will need to visit www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy-efficiency/homes/canada-greener-homes-grant/23441. You will need your Municipal Tax Roll Number (on your municipal bill), and a photo/scan of government-issued ID with an address that matches the address of the home you would like audited.
During this process, you will need to select which “Service Organization” you would like to conduct your audit. Ridge Energy, and Eco Advantage are the only companies that service Bruce County.
The Audit
An assessment of your home will give you and the auditor an idea of where opportunities for improvements exist. You will be able to discuss your priorities with the auditor, as they assess for airtightness, insulation levels, ventilation, efficiency of doors and windows, and heating and cooling systems. The auditor will deliver their recommendations in a final report for your review. Recommendations can include replacing windows and doors, improving insulation, and installing technologies to improve heating, cooling, and energy production (think heat pumps, solar panels, and smart thermostats).
What’s Next
The improvements you make are up to you, but only the recommendations made by the energy auditor are eligible for the federal rebate. In order to get the most bang for your buck, experts recommend thinking about what changes will make your home more comfortable (is your home too hot in the summer, for example, or does it take forever to heat up the second floor in the winter) and suggest prioritizing changes to heating your space and heating your water, since that’s where most of your energy costs go. Once your upgrades are complete, a follow-up audit will review the changes you’ve made. The Greener Homes reimbursement then kicks in for up to $5,600. The savings in energy bills, however, will start stacking up right away!
Contact Biosphere Association Climate Action Program Manager Ryan Matheson for more information on what retrofits are eligible, how to contact local energy auditors, or the Greener Home registration process – Ryan.Biosphere@gmail.com
