New furnace makes
home sense

Barrie homeowner Delbert Steingard figured he knew his home fairly well, because he and his wife had lived there ever since it was built in 1986. But he’d never learned about the way his house could be renovated to save energy and money.

When Steingard decided it was time to make some renovations and improvements, he also decided to have a home energy audit to learn which renovations could make his four-bedroom bungalow more energy efficient.

Saving energy and money made sense, he says, because he planned to stay in his Barrie home, and he wanted to do something good for the environment. He booked an appointment with a Barrie Home Energy Advisor to find out where to start.

Energy Audit

During his home energy audit, Steingard discovered that for the most part, the home was in pretty good shape compared to others of its age in the area. It rated 71 out of a possible 100 on the Canadian EnerGuide home energy efficiency scale – above average for a home of its age in Barrie.

Even so, Steingard learned he could save more than 2 tonnes of greenhouse gases a year if he did renovations and improvements to boost his home’s score to 79 points.

Savings, grants and rebates

By making all the recommended energy saving renovations, Steingard learned he could reduce his home’s energy consumption by 29 percent, and save a corresponding amount on his natural gas costs. And, of course, by choosing high-efficiency equipment, he could get grants and rebates from Canadian and Ontario governments through programs like the ecoENERGY Retrofit-Homes grant program.

High-efficiency furnace

One of the biggest improvements Steingard could make was to the home’s heating system. Even though the old furnace ran pretty well — for a 25-year-old furnace — Steingard says, “We knew that when it broke down it would be the coldest day of the year.”

We chose [our heating contractor] because the sales person we talked to was very well addressed in the programme and up to speed in the grant process. Delbert Steingard, Barrie Barrie gas furnace grants

Because he had chosen the highest-efficiency furnace available when his home was first built, he knew that getting a new, high-efficiency furnace would help keep his heating costs low.

Because he had chosen the highest-efficiency furnace available in 1986 when his home was first built, he knew that a new, high-efficiency furnace would help keep his heating costs low. And because he knew government grants would offset the cost of a new high-efficiency gas furnace, Steingard was able to choose the best furnace instead of a lower-quality one. “We chose [our heating contractor] because the sales person we talked to was very well addressed in the programme and up to speed in the grant process,” he says.

[The new furnace] is so quiet you can barely hear it. It’s like it’s invisible. Delbert Steingard, Barrie Barrie renovation grants

The new high-efficiency gas furnace costs about 20 to 25 percent less to operate, says Steingard. It also makes the home a lot more comfortable. “It’s so quiet you can barely hear it. It’s like it’s invisible.”

Home improvement sense

Best of all, he’s now got the security of knowing his furnace will last through many more cold winters. “We plan on staying here a long time,” he says.

The audit will prioritize what needs to be done; tell them what upgrades would be best to do first. Delbert Steingard, Barrie Barrie home energy audit

And for other homeowners considering a home energy audit, Steingard has these words of advice: “Do it.” Homeowners, he says, “will find out about their home and where to put their money. The audit will prioritize what needs to be done; tell them what upgrades would be best to do first.”

Government grants

Barrie homeowners can choose from a shopping list of renovation grants from the Government of Canada:

Barrie homeowners can also get ...

And there’s more.

Take advantage of Government of Canada ecoENERGY grants for home energy renovation in Barrie:

Easy to start — Barrie

All you do is make one call — 1-877-732-9888 — to book a home energy audit with a Barrie Energy Advisor – your first step to qualifying for Canada ecoENERGY grants for home energy renovations.

Enjoy all the benefits

Do it right

Each Barrie home has its own specific energy-savings needs, and yours is no different. The right renovations add up to big savings. By following the expert advice of a certified Ontario energy advisor, you’ll make the energy renovations or "retrofits" that are right for your Barrie home — and help improve your energy costs and the Barrie environment.

Three easy steps

Energy renovations help ...

And that’s not all. Here are more benefits ...

When you improve your home in Barrie, you also make a difference to the rest of the world. You’ll help address important global issues like ...

And there’s even more. Click here to learn how Barrie homeowners like you are saving thousands of dollars and tonnes of greenhouse gases every year, by making the right energy-saving home renovations. Barrie Ontario homeowners can make a difference.

Get started today!

Learn more about Renovation Rebates in Barrie Ontario ...

To qualify you need a Barrie home energy auditt before your renovations. For more information on tax-free government grants + Ontario Home Energy rebates - Click here

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