Home Energy Audit – Government of Canada

Canada’s own “Cash for Caulkers”
program started in 2003

The United States’ proposed “Cash for Caulkers” program received a lot of attention when it was announced in President Barak Obama’s 2010 State of the Union Address.

But the idea of providing incentives to homeowners for making energy-savings improvements is largely a Canadian innovation. In fact, the Cash for Caulkers idea takes its cues from a highly successful Canadian initiative that has roots as far back as 1998.

The EnerGuide for Houses rating system, which measures a home’s energy efficiency, began in 1998 as a Canadian government initiative to help homeowners determine the best ways to renovate their homes for improved energy efficiency.

EnerGuide for Houses

In August, 2003, the Canadian government announced the EnerGuide for Houses homeowner grant program. To encourage homeowners to participate, the program gave grants of up to $3,348 per house to improve overall scores based on the EnerGuide scale of 0-100.

Administered by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), the program used government-certified energy advisors to conduct assessments of individual homes’ energy efficiency, before and after the recommended improvements. Grants were based on the amount of improvement measured.

ecoENERGY Retrofit-Homes

In May, 2006, the newly elected Conservative government ended the EnerGuide for Houses program, and replaced it with the ecoENERGY Retrofit-Homes program in January, 2007. This expanded energy retrofit program gave homeowners up to $5,000 in grants for specific upgrades, such as high-efficiency furnaces, hot water heaters and insulation.

In January 2009, ecoENERGY Retrofit received an additional $300 million to support an estimated 200,000 additional home retrofits.

In December 2009, the federal government allocated an additional $205 million from the Clean Energy Fund to finance up to an additional 120,000 retrofits.

And in the 2010 federal budget, Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced an additional $80 million for the program, allowing another estimated 60,000 homeowners to receive energy improvement grants.

In addition, homeowners who have already received a grant through the ecoENERGY program can now receive additional grants for making further energy-saving renovations to their homes. Homeowners must contact their energy assessment service provider to re-register in the program, and must make their additional renovations and improvements before March 31, 2011.

Ontario and British Columbia

Ontario’s Home Energy Savings Program, which received a $178 million budget increase in late 2009, continues to match federal ecoENERGY grant amounts for Ontario homeowners making energy-saving improvements to their homes.

In British Columbia, the LiveSmart BC program provided provincial government rebates for 40,000 home retrofits. In August, 2009, the BC government announced that the LiveSmart BC program’s funding had been fully allocated. In its 2010 budget, however, the province announced an additional $35 million for the program.

Homestar — USA

In December, 2009, the United States began to follow Canada’s lead by proposing legislation to create a program that was quickly nicknamed “Cash for Caulkers.” The program, which was mentioned in U.S. President Barak Obama’s 2010 State of the Union address, offers immediate point-of-purchase rebates for energy-efficient products and services. It also offers up 50 percent immediate rebates (up to $1,500) for “Silver Star” energy-efficient renovations made to U.S. homes, and additional “Gold Star” rebates of up to $3,000 for meeting energy-savings targets as measured by home energy audits.

Home improvement work would need to be performed by certified contractors, and independent quality assurance would be required for the highest level of grants. The law enacting the program, the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010, has yet to be passed by the United States government.

For more about the ecoENERGY Retrofit-Homes initiative, the Ontario Home Energy Savings program, LiveSmart BC, and more local grants and rebates, or to book a qualifying home energy audit,
call toll-free: 1-877-732-9888.

Canada home renovation tax credit - news

More Energy Grant News: Canada

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Grants + rebates

You can receive Canadian government grants + Ontario or BC rebates for a shopping list of home energy renovations.

Furnace – install a new high-efficiency gas or oil ENERGY STAR qualified furnace
Windows & doors – look for ENERGY STAR qualified windows, doors and skylights for your climate zone
Insulation – upgrade insulation levels in your attic, roof, walls, basement, crawl space, and exposed floors
Air conditioner – replace existing window air
conditioner(s) or central air conditioner system with ENERGY STAR qualified units
Hot water heater – upgrade to an instantaneous or high-efficiency gas water heater
Heat pump – enjoy the heating and air conditioning benefits of an energy-efficient air-source heat pump system
Geothermal – go geothermal with big incentives for ground- or water-source heat pumps
Solar – go solar with a solar-panel powered hot water system
Boiler – install a high-efficiency gas or oil ENERGY STAR qualified boiler
HRV – improve you home’s air quality with a heat recovery ventilator or HRV
Toilet – save water with new low-flush, dual-flush water-efficient toilets
Air sealing – improve the air tightness of your home

And there’s more.

Government grants

Take advantage of Canadian government grant + Ontario or British Columbia rebate programs for your home energy renovations.

Canada ecoENERGY grants — Canadian homeowners can get up to $5,000 in home improvement grants from the Canadian government’s ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes program, which is in effect until March 31, 2012. Click here for more
British Columbia rebates — BC homeowners can qualify for up to $7,000 and more in home energy grants through the BC government’s LiveSmart BC rebate program, which is in effect until March 31, 2013. Click here for more
Ontario grants — Ontario homeowners can get up to $5,000 in home improvement grants through the Canadian government’s ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes program, which is in effect until March 31, 2012. Click here for more
Home Energy Audits — To qualify for Government of Canada ecoENERGY grants, or LiveSmart BC rebates, homeowners must get a home energy audit before and after their home improvement work. Get up to $150 cash back on the cost of your first energy audit with a rebate from Ontario’s Home Energy Audit program. In British Columbia, the LiveSmart BC program also subsidizes the cost of your first home energy audit. Click here for more
Home Renovation Tax Credit — Many Canadians use “tax credit” to describe grant programs like Government of Canada ecoENERGY grants and LiveSmart BC rebates. The original Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC) expired in 2010. With today’s 2011 “tax credit” programs there’s no need to wait until you’ve filed your annual income tax return to receive a home renovation tax credit. Your tax-free grant money will be sent within 90 days of your follow-up energy audit. Click here for more

Government grants — conditions

Some conditions apply.

Home energy audit — To qualify for Canada ecoENERGY grants and LiveSmart BC rebates you must get an ecoENERGY home energy assessment before and after your upgrades. You will receive grants for improvements started after your first audit.
Renovations — You can complete the improvements yourself or hire a contractor. We recommend you retain copies of all documentation including invoices, receipts, photos and product literature to be sure you get full credit for all improvements.
Canada ecoENERGY — You need to apply for Canada ecoENERGY grants by completing your follow-up (post-retrofit) audit by March 31, 2012. Use the opportunity to complete as many upgrades as possible.
LiveSmart BC — You need to apply for LiveSmart BC rebates by completing your follow-up (post-retrofit) audit within 18 months of your first audit, or by March 31, 2013, whichever comes first.
Combined grants — If you want to take advantage of combined Canada ecoENERGY grants and LiveSmart BC rebates, we recommend that you complete all upgrade work and have your follow-up (post-retrofit) audit completed before the Canada ecoENERGY deadline of March 31, 2012.
Existing homes only — Newly built homes occupied for less than six months do not qualify for Government of Canada ecoENERGY grants. Once a newly built home has been occupied for more than six months, there is no limit to how old a home can be to qualify for Canada ecoENERGY rebates.
Local codes & by-laws — All improvements or renovations must meet provincial building codes and by-laws. Pay special attention to the placement of vapour barriers when adding insulation to the building envelope. Before undertaking improvements or renovations, find out about the appropriate products and installation techniques to ensure that your home’s building envelope and indoor air quality will not be compromised.
Higher efficiency — To qualify for Canada ecoENERGY grants and LiveSmart BC rebates, any new equipment installed in your home must have a higher efficiency than that of the original equipment it replaces.
Questions about eligibility — If you are not certain about the eligibility of your house, or any specific renovations you are planning, you should request clarification from the the Governments of Canada and BC. Homeowners are responsible for clarifying that their house and planned improvements are eligible for Canada ecoENERGY grants and LiveSmart BC rebates before undertaking any upgrade work and related expenses.
Grant tables — For a more complete list of eligiblity criteria see Canada Grants List and BC Rebate List.

More rebates & incentives

Ontario rebates

Ontario homeowners can get cash back on their first ecoENERGY audit with a Home Energy Audit rebate from the Ontario government.

Home Energy Audit program — Rebate of up to $150 of the cost of your first energy audit.
Up to $150 — To be eligible for an Ontario Home Energy Audit rebate you must receive an ecoENERGY audit from a certified energy advisor.
You are not required to carry out a renovation to your Ontario home to receive the Ontario Home Energy Audit rebate.
Your advisor applies for the Ontario Home Energy Audit rebate on your behalf.

Canada ecoENERGY grants — Ontario

Ontario homeowners can qualify for tax-free rebates as part of the Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan.

Canada ecoENERGY grants — Get rebates of up to $5,000 for home energy improvements from the Government of Canada. Click here
You begin — by completing an ecoENERGY assessment with a certified energy advisor. The Ontario government provides a rebate of up to $150 of the cost of your first energy audit.
Your advisor — will apply for Canada ecoENERGY grants on your behalf, after you have completed your energy-efficient renovations and your Ontario home has been re-assessed. You have until March 31, 2012 to make some or all of the improvements your advisor recommends for your Ontario home, and complete a second audit.
Canada Grants List — Shows tax-free grant amounts from the Government of Canada. Click here

LiveSmart BC rebates

BC homeowners can qualify for tax-free rebates from the Government of British Columbia.

LiveSmart BC rebates — Get tax-free rebates of up to 7,000 and more for home energy improvements from the BC government. Click here
LiveSmart BC audit — The BC government subsidizes the cost of your first home energy audit. This subsidy is subject to available funds. Click here
Other BC rebates — Vancouver homeowners may qualify for a $3,000 rebate from the City of Vancouver Solar Homes Pilot when installing solar hot water systems. There are additional rebates for low-flow toilets, and even more grants, rebates and incentives from local governments and energy utilities.
You begin — by completing an ecoENERGY assessment with a certified energy advisor. The BC government subsidizes the cost of your first home energy audit.
Your advisor — will apply for LiveSmart BC rebates on your behalf, after you have completed your energy-efficient renovations and your BC home has been re-assessed. You have to make some or all of the improvements your advisor recommends for your BC home, and complete a follow-up (post-retrofit) energy audit within 18 months of your initial energy audit or before March 31, 2013, whichever comes first.

Home Renovation Tax Credit

Many Canadians use “tax credit” to describe government grant programs like Government of Canada ecoENERGY grants and LiveSmart BC rebates. The original Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC) expired in 2010.

2009 income tax credit — The original Home Renovation Tax Credit allowed families to claim a credit of 15 per cent of home improvement costs, between $1,000 and $10,000, on their 2009 income tax return. Each Canadian family could claim up to $10,000 in home improvement costs, for a credit of up to $1,350 per family.
2011 ‘tax credit’ programs — Newer programs can provide combined government grants of up to $7,000 and more. And there’s no need to wait until you’ve filed your annual income tax return to receive a home renovation tax credit. Your tax-free grant money will be sent within 90 days of your follow-up energy audit.

Your advisor can help

By choosing a HomePerformance Energy Advisor to do your home energy audit, you’ll receive information on government home energy renovation grants and rebates, and other energy improvement incentives available in your area.

Enjoy all the benefits

Do it right

Each Canadian 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 Canada-certified energy advisor, you’ll make the energy renovations or "retrofits" that are right for your home — and help improve your energy costs and the Canadian environment.

Energy renovations help ...

Save energy — Your home won’t need as much energy to stay comfortable.
Save money — Less energy used = lower energy costs for you.
Grants + Rebates — Qualify for tax-free government grants for home energy renovation, sent directly to you.

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

Greater comfort – Your home will be warmer in Canadian winters, cooler in Canadian summers.
Better health – You’ll eliminate indoor health concerns like chills and drafts, and keep your home free of airborne pollutants and pollen.
Increased home value – By making energy renovations, you’ll increase the resale value of your home. An official Canada EnerGuide label proves you’ve done the work.
Simpler home maintenance – No more scrubbing moldy windowsills! Keep airborne dust and dirt outside where it belongs.

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

Climate change – Energy renovations help reduce your Canadian home’s greenhouse gas emissions, while protecting you from the effects of climate change and extreme weather.
Energy security – By reducing your Canadian home’s energy use, you’ll be less deeply affected by energy price fluctuations and supply interruptions.

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