18% of Canada’s greenhouse gas emission is from buildings including houses The government of Canada decided to encourage its citizens to take the greener route by introducing ‘The Canada Greener Homes Grant’. This initiative will help homeowners make their homes more energy-efficient, create new jobs across Canada for energy advisors, grow Canada’s domestic green supply chains, and fight climate change.
What’s available through the initiative?
- Grant up to $5,000 to help homeowners make energy-efficient retrofits to their homes, such as better insulation, solar panels, etc.
- EnerGuide evaluations (worth up to $600) and expert advice to homeowners so they can begin to plan their retrofits
- Recruitment and training of EnerGuide energy advisors to meet the increased demand; will create new jobs across Canada.
Who is eligible?
Eligible homeowners in Canada regardless of where they live can participate in the initiative. Only one homeowner per home can register. You will be required to:
- provide proof of ownership with your property tax bill number
- demonstrate the property is your primary residence through either a drivers license or government-issued ID (with address) or utility bill
Eligible property types:
- Single and semi-detached houses
- Row housing
- Townhomes
- All-season cottages
- Mobile homes on a permanent foundation
- Permanently-moored floating homes
- Mixed-use buildings (residential portion only)
- Small multi-unit residential building
Requirements for the initiative
You must:
- complete a pre-and post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation (residents of Quebec and Nova Scotia need to apply directly through their provincial programs to book their EnerGuide evaluation)
- complete at least one retrofit that is both eligible and recommended by your energy advisor in their report. Only homeowners who conduct at least one retrofit will be reimbursed.
- provide and keep copies of all of your documents until March 31, 2028.
All products must be purchased in Canada. Online purchases are only eligible if they are ordered from an online distributor located in Canada.
What is eligible for reimbursement?
Once you have completed your retrofits, you can seek reimbursement for:
- up to $5,000 total for the implementation of eligible retrofits done after December 1, 2020.
- up to $600 for the cost of your pre-and post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluations.
You will not be reimbursed for the pre-retrofit evaluation unless you continue through the full Greener Homes Grant process.
You can register here
In order to register, you will be asked to provide your:
Name
Phone number
Type of house
Address of your primary residence
Proof of ownership with your property tax bill number (this number can be found on your municipal property documents)
Proof of residence through either a drivers license or government-issued ID (with address), or utility bill
Pre-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation
During the process, you will need to complete two EnerGuide evaluations; a pre and post-retrofit evaluation. These evaluations are completed by NRCan registered energy advisors.
When you register, you will search using your postal code and select a service organization in your area. Once you choose your service organization and request your evaluation, you will be contacted by an energy advisor to set up your pre-retrofit evaluation appointment.
The pre-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation provides you expert advice on what retrofits make the most sense for your home. It will help you understand how to improve the energy performance of your home.
When the pre-retrofit evaluation is complete, the energy advisor will provide you with:
- an EnerGuide home rating and a label
- a Renovation Upgrade Report and Homeowner Information Sheet with recommendations for improving your home’s energy performance
The post-retrofit evaluation, which you will receive after the work is complete, provides a measure of energy saved and greenhouse gas emissions reduced as a result of the retrofits.
Now that you’ve had your pre-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation and your energy advisor has provided you with your home’s EnerGuide label, Homeowner Information Sheet, and Renovation Upgrade Report, it’s time to decide on the retrofits you’ll complete.
Which retrofits should you undertake?
Only retrofits recommended by your energy advisor are eligible for reimbursement. Your recommended retrofits will be listed in your Renovation Upgrade Report and in the online portal. The recommended retrofits are prioritized by:
- your potential energy savings
- life expectancy of your home’s components
- the interactions among the components in your home
- your potential renovation plans
- the cost
Post-retrofit evaluation
The post-retrofit evaluation shows how much energy has been saved, how much greenhouse gas emissions are reduced because of the retrofits, and how much your energy advisor recommends you receive for reimbursement.
Once completed, your evaluation will include:
- your new EnerGuide rating and label
- follow-up information indicating improvements to your home energy efficiency and your EnerGuide rating
Your energy advisor has up to 30 days after your post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation to submit electronically and signed paper documents to Natural Resources Canada.
You will be able to log in to access your reports. Once you have reviewed your evaluation, mark this step as completed in the portal to move forward.
To ensure that you are properly reimbursed, you must have all of the following documents to verify your eligible retrofits:
- receipts for your pre-and post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation
- all receipts and invoices for products purchased and for installation costs
It is highly recommended that you also have an attestation form (if applicable for your retrofit) confirming that:
- installation of an electrical or mechanical system has been completed by a trained and licensed professional
- a geothermal system was installed in accordance with CSA standards
- the heat pump has been sized to your entire home
The energy advisor will upload yours before and after photos.
You will need to keep copies of your documents until March 31, 2028.
As the final step in the process, once our program officers have completed a review of your file and recommended grant amount, you will be prompted to go into the portal to confirm your grant total in order to receive your reimbursement.
If you do not agree with the amount and explanation, you will be asked to provide your rationale so that your grant application can be reassessed.
You can know more about the Canada Greener Homes Grant here.
