February 23, 2008
Government offering EcoENERGY initiative
Have high energy bills got you down and you’re searching for ways to cut heating/cooling costs? Do you want your
home to be more energy efficient and improve your home’s comfort level? Are you interested in creating a healthier
home environment by reducing smog pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change? If
the answer is yes to any of the above you’ll want to read on!
The Government of Canada is now offering grants to property owners through a residential energy assessment
initiative, developed by the Office of Energy Efficiency of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). Under the ecoENERGY
Retrofit program, property owners can qualify for federal grants by improving the energy efficiency of their homes,
while reducing its impact on the environment.
According to NRCan stats, 17 percent of all energy used in Canada goes toward running our homes. Every time we
use energy from fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas, we produce greenhouse gas emission that contribute to climate
change and harm our environment. But there is good news; homes that are more than 25 years old have potential to
save an average of 35 percent of their energy use and homes more than 50 years old could achieve even greater
savings, an average of 38 percent.
Since 1998 more than 270,000 property owners have used NRCan’s energy efficiency program to help identify and
solve problems and plan energy efficiency retrofits. The residential energy assessment service is not a pre-purchase
home inspection; it deals specifically with energy efficiency. The service includes: a detailed energy evaluation by a
licensed energy advisor, a “blower door” test to find air leaks, a report indicating where your energy dollars are spent
and ways to improve. Finally, a rating label is given to show how energy efficient your home is compared to others in
your region.
Grants toward the new Retrofit program are available 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. The maximum
grant you can receive for a home or MURB is $5,000.00
The amount is based on each of the recommended retrofits you have completed and the relative impact they have on
your homes energy efficiency. For instance, replacing your gas furnace with an ENERGYSTAR® qualified furnace that
has a 90.0% annual fuel utilization efficiency or better, qualifies for a $300 grant for the 1st system and $150 for the 2nd
system.
Only homes that have undergone a residential energy efficiency assessment by an NRCan-licensed advisor are
eligible. Here’s how to obtain an ecoENERGY Retrofit grant:
- 1. Hire a qualified energy advisor to perform an energy evaluation of your home.
- 2. Select the improvements from your home energy action checklist.
- 3. Implement the recommended energy upgrades within 18 months.
- 4. Call your energy advisor to perform your post-retrofit evaluation, to confirm your new energy rating and to
submit your application on your behalf.
- 5. Wait for up to 90 days to receive your cheque based on the eligible upgrades performed.
To learn more about ecoENERGY Retrofits visit www.ecoaction.gc.ca. To find an NRCan-licensed energy advisor call
1-800-622-6232.
REALTOR® beat……If you’re thinking of selling your home, having an energy efficiency rating label offers peace of
mind to potential buyers. It ensures that their future dream home is energy efficient with proof of all upgrades and
comfort improvements that were made. Let 90 years of serving the community go to work for you by calling a
professional REALTOR® to assist you in either marketing or purchasing that dream property.
