Energy efficiency is a popular topic, and for good reason. By limiting your daily energy use, you are reducing pollution and helping to conserve important natural resources. However, that’s not all it reduces. Limiting your daily energy use can also help to reduce your monthly home energy bills. So, if you want to improve your home’s energy efficiency, it’s important to learn about Canada’s Greener Homes Grant.
Canada’s Greener Homes Grant
The Canadian government is offering home improvement grants which make it easier for Canadians to make energy-efficient retrofits to their home.
What Is Available Through the Canadian Greener Homes Grant?
- There are grants available from $125 to $5,000. These home improvement grants are available to help pay for all, or part of your home retrofit costs.
- A maximum contribution of $600 is available towards the cost of your pre- and post-retrofit EnerGuide home evaluations.
- An interest-free loan from $5,000 to $40,000 with a repayment term of 10 years to help Canadians make these home retrofits.
How Do You Apply for The Canadian Greener Homes Grant?
In order to encourage a high number of Canadians to take advantage of this program, the government has made it quite simple to apply.
To start, you must go online to the Canada Greener Homes Grant portal to register and book a pre-retrofit evaluation. If you would like to proceed with your evaluation with AmeriSpec as your inspection agency, you must select AmeriSpec as your Service Organization at this stage.
An AmeriSpec Energy Advisor will then contact you to book a time for your EnerGuide pre-retrofit evaluation. Alternatively, you can call your local AmeriSpec branch to book the evaluation.
Once you’ve received your EnerGuide Evaluation directly within the Greener Home Grant portal, you can begin planning and documenting your dream home retrofits. You must make at least one retrofit that was recommended by your Energy Advisor and is eligible for the grants.
Once the retrofits have all been completed, you will need to book a post-retrofit evaluation and submit all required documents online through the same portal, or by mail. You can apply for reimbursement directly from the Canadian government.
Important Information to Remember About the Greener Homes Grant
It’s important to remember that receipts must be kept and documented for every upgrade performed. Homeowners are responsible for submitting these receipts into the homeowner portal.
Homeowners will only be eligible for home grant amounts equal or less than the amount paid for the upgrades, up to the maximum listed grant amount. Essentially, this means that if you paid $200 for air sealing, then your maximum home grant amount will be $200.
Types of Retrofits Eligible for The Canada Greener Homes Grant Program
- Attic/Ceiling Insulation
- Exterior Wall Insulation
- Exposed Floor Insulation
- Basement/Foundation Insulation
- Crawlspace Insulation
- Thermostats
- Ground Source Heat Pumps
- Air and Cold Climate Heat Pumps
- Domestic Hot Water Equipment
- Air Sealing
- Windows and Doors
- Renewable Energy Systems
- Resiliency Measures (must be combined with another retrofit measure to be eligible for rebate)
Visit the home inspection experts at AmeriSpec of Canada for more tips and valuable home improvement information.
