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ecoENERGY Retrofit for Homes FAQ
  1. How much does Green$aver charge for their ecoENERGY assessment?
  2. How long does Green$aver take to do an ecoENERGY assessment?
  3. What areas does Green$aver offer ecoENERGY assessments?
  4. How much can homeowners expect to save in terms of annual energy use and greenhouse gas emissions?
  5. What types of properties are eligible for a grant?
  6. Do existing homes and multiple unit residential buildings of any age qualify under the ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes program?
  7. I recently built (or am building) a house. Am I eligible for a grant?
  8. Is the Retrofit grant taxable?
  9. I received a grant under the old EnerGuide for Houses Retrofit Incentive. Am I eligible to receive another under the new program?
  10. Does the ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes program include new retrofit measures and incentives that were not part of the old EnerGuide for Houses initiative?
  11. Are the grants based on how much I spend for upgrades?
  12. Can I do the work myself and receive a grant?
  13. a) I understand there are similar financial assistance programs in my province based on ecoENERGY Retrofit. Am I eligible for both the federal and provincial programs?
    b) I already received a provincial grant not matched by EnerGuide for Houses. Am I eligible to claim an ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes grant?
  14. How do I get started? And how will I know which upgrades qualify and how much of a grant I will be entitled to?
  15. Do I get an energy rating of my house?
  16. When can I apply for the grant?
  17. How does the grant application process work?
  18. Do I have to make any preparations before the energy advisor visits my home?
  19. I am planning to sell my home, does an ecoENERGY assessment makes sense for me to do before I sell?
  20. How much time do homeowners have to complete the work?
  21. I already started my renovations, can I still apply for a grant?
  22. My furnace broke. I replaced it before I scheduled a pre-retrofit assessment. Can I still apply for a grant?
  23. My air conditioning system broke. Can I apply?
  24. Are mobile homes eligible?
  25. Does municipal housing also qualify?
  26. I rent a house, can I participate?
  27. Is Aboriginal housing eligible under the program?
  28. Why is a high-rise condominium property excluded from the program?
  29. I live in a town home and have a condominium corporation, am I eligible to participate?
  30. Is co-op housing eligible?
  31. I own rental properties, are these eligible?
  32. I am not a Canadian citizen, but I own rental properties in Canada. Can I participate and receive a grant?
  33. I own a cottage / four-season recreational property, is this eligible?
  34. Does Green$aver install solar domestic hot water systems?
  35. Are rebates and incentives available for the construction of energy efficient new homes?
  1. How much does Green$aver charge for the ecoENERGY assessment?
    Call Green$aver at (416) 203-3106 to find out if we have promotional pricing available for the ecoENERGY initial assessment. Please note the Ontario government rebates 50% up to $150 back for the initial assessment.

    The follow-up assessment once the work is done is $150+GST.

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  2. How long does Green$aver take to do an ecoENERGY assessment?
    The average time is approximately 2-3 hours.

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  3. What areas does Green$aver offer ecoENERGY assessments?
    • Western and core Toronto
    • Georgetown, Caledon, Bolton, Brampton
    • Durham & Peel Region
    • Oakville, Cooksville, Streetsville
    • Milton, Mississauga

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  4. How much can homeowners expect to save in terms of annual energy use and greenhouse gas emissions?
    The average grant is expected to yield reductions in energy use of approximately 30 percent and greenhouse gas emission reductions of approximately 4 tonnes per house. By implementing the energy retrofit recommendations, a typical homeowner could save $700 a year on a $2,000 annual heating bill.

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  5. What types of properties are eligible for a grant?
    ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes offers grants to owners of low-rise residential properties defined as dwellings under Parts 2 and 9 of the National Building Code of Canada. These include single detached and attached homes (e.g. row housing, duplexes and triplexes), small multi-unit residential buildings including some small apartment buildings of three storeys or less built on a maximum footprint area of 600 square metres or less, and mobile homes on a permanent foundation.

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  6. Do existing homes and multiple unit residential buildings of any age qualify under the ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes program?
    ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes is designed to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from Canada's existing housing stock. Thus the only restriction on the age of a house is that it must not be a newly built home that has been occupied for less than six months. After 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 the ecoENERGY Retrofit incentive. However, houses built before 1985 will benefit the most because they have the potential for more significant energy improvements.

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  7. I recently built (or am building) a house. Am I eligible for a grant?
    ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes does not apply to new construction. A house is considered new construction up to six months after the builder has transferred the house to the homeowner. When a home is built by the owner, it is considered new up to six months following occupancy. You will find information about the Government of Canada's initiatives for newly built homes at www.newhomes.gc.ca.

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  8. Is the Retrofit grant taxable?
    No.

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  9. I received a grant under the old EnerGuide for Houses Retrofit Incentive. Am I eligible to receive another under the new program?
    Yes, but only for additional work performed on your home. You will not be eligible for a grant under the new program for the same upgrades covered by the first grant. However, you may apply to ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes if you have completed further energy efficiency retrofits.

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  10. Does the ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes program include new retrofit measures and incentives that were not part of the old EnerGuide for Houses initiative?
    Yes, new measures that reduce energy consumption and provide for a cleaner environment have been added. Newly eligible retrofits include the replacement of your cooling equipment with ENERGY STAR® qualified models, the installation of solar hot water heaters, water-saving toilets and grey water heat-recovery systems. These are just a few of the possible upgrades that are covered.

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  11. Are the grants based on how much I spend for upgrades?
    No. The grant is based on the individual upgrades completed. A flat incentive amount has been calculated for each qualifying upgrade, and the upgrades that save the most energy have the highest value. The potential grant is calculated by adding the total incentive amounts of the upgrades recommended in the Energy Efficiency Evaluation Report's action checklist that is presented by your energy advisor. This makes it easier for you to decide which renovations you want to carry out from the action checklist and in which order you would like to complete them. The grant is based on the total amounts for those retrofits you have completed.

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  12. Can I do the work myself and receive a grant?
    Yes, provided that you receive a pre-retrofit energy assessment by a qualified energy advisor. To receive a grant, you must obtain a post-retrofit assessment after the upgrades have been carried out. It is important that you keep a copy of the invoices for the materials purchased for the upgrades as you may be asked to submit a copy to NRCan. Homeowners are responsible for ensuring that they obtain all necessary permits and meet all municipal and provincial requirements.

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  13. a) I understand there are similar financial assistance programs in my province based on ecoENERGY Retrofit. Am I eligible for both the federal and provincial programs?
    Yes.

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  14. b) I already received a provincial grant not matched by EnerGuide for Houses. Am I eligible to claim an ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes grant?
    No, not for the same work. You can apply for additional work.

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  15. How do I get started? And how will I know which upgrades qualify and how much of a grant I will be entitled to?
    Your first step is to consider if you are ready to invest in renovations that will save energy and money. Once you are ready, contact a licensed service organization to book an appointment for your energy assessment. Although all renovations started prior to obtaining a pre-retrofit energy assessment are not eligible for a grant, the home must be in such a state that the energy advisor can assess the building to make recommendations for improvement.
    A grant depends on individual upgrades completed. The Energy Efficiency Evaluation Report provided by your advisor following your pre-retrofit assessment includes a personalized list of upgrades and the grant amounts you can expect to receive should you carry out the recommended home improvements. In addition, the report will indicate the relative impact the upgrades will have on the home's energy efficiency level.
    The average grant for a single property is expected to be over $1,000. The maximum grant available for one home or multi-unit residential building is $5,000. Property owners of multiple residential buildings are eligible for up to $500,000 over the life of the program ending March 31, 2011.

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  16. Do I get an energy rating of my house?
    Yes. In addition to the personalized action checklist that is used to calculate the grant, the energy advisor provides the homeowner with an EnerGuide rating and label for the house, before and after renovations. This information is also made available to participating provincial partners that also use the EnerGuide rating system within their programs. Any personal information that owners provide is protected under the federal Privacy Act.

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  17. When can I apply for the grant?
    With the launch of the ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes program effective April 1, 2007, applications can now be accepted.

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  18. How does the grant application process work?
    The energy advisor submits an electronic data file to NRCan that includes the results of the post-retrofit assessment once it is completed. The advisor completes a grant application form on behalf of the homeowner, presents it for his/her signature, then once approved, submits it to NRCan for processing. A copy of the application form remains with the homeowner, who can expect a cheque in the mail within 60 days from the time the application is received by NRCan.

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  19. Do I have to make any preparations before the energy advisor visits my home?
    The energy advisor will need access to every room in the house, in addition to the attic and any crawl spaces that may exist. Please be sure to clear the area around these access points before he or she arrives. Also ensure that the hatch or door to the attic is not sealed as accessing the attic is an important part of both the first (pre-retrofit) evaluation and the evaluation that is done once retrofits are complete. In addition, please make sure not to use any wood-heating appliances, such as fireplaces or wood stoves, at least 24 hours prior to the evaluation and clean the appliances before the evaluation, in particular, please clean the ashes from all fireplaces.

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  20. I am planning to sell my home, does an ecoENERGY assessment makes sense for me to do before I sell?
    An ecoENERGY assessment can help you sell your home in one of two ways:
    1. If you act upon some or all of the recommendations and upgrades in the ecoENERGY report those upgrades should be factored into the resale price of your home, just as a kitchen or bathroom upgrade translates to a higher resale price. You should have your real estate agent or broker include those upgrades in your listing.
    2. Similar to a pre-home inspection, you can include the ecoENERGY assessment as part of your selling package. By transferring the assessment to the buyer, they will not have to pay for a new ecoENERGY assessment. Your report will instantly qualify them for the grants of up to $10,000 and they can select which upgrades to do.

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  21. How much time do homeowners have to complete the work?
    Starting from the time you receive your pre-retrofit energy assessment, you have 18 months to complete the upgrades selected from the Energy Efficiency Evaluation Report's action checklist and obtain your post-retrofit assessment.
    If you are a property owner of Aboriginal housing that meets the eligibility criteria, the 18-month time limit is waived in the event of possible delays in getting the necessary materials to the site and in obtaining approvals.

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  22. I already started my renovations, can I still apply for a grant?
    Unfortunately, all renovations started prior to obtaining a pre-retrofit energy assessment are not eligible for a grant. All energy-related renovations undertaken thereafter are eligible as long as they are listed in the Eligible Improvements / Retrofits table. The only exception is that of a furnace as outlined in the following question.

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  23. My furnace broke. I replaced it before I scheduled a pre-retrofit assessment. Can I still apply for a grant?
    Effective May 15, 2008, emergency furnace replacements will no longer qualify for a grant. Homeowners must have an ecoENERGY pre-retrofit evaluation performed before they replace or install anything, including heating equipment, if they want that upgrade work to be eligible for a grant.

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  24. My air conditioning system broke. Can I apply?
    If your window or central air conditioning system breaks, a pre-retrofit evaluation must be performed BEFORE replacing it in order to be eligible for a grant for the air conditioner. It is recommended that you consider additional retrofits that could improve your home's energy efficiency BEFORE you schedule a pre-retrofit evaluation since the energy assessment in not meant to replace air conditioners. ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes is designed to support homeowners who take steps to reduce their energy consumption which in turn helps to reduce greenhouse gases. By simply replacing a cooling system without considering and undertaking any other energy-saving measures, the value of the incentive or grant may not be sufficient to justify both pre- and post-retrofit evaluations.

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  25. Are mobile homes eligible?
    Yes, mobile homes can participate in the ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes program provided that they are situated on a permanent foundation and that the property tax roll is in the name of the homeowner.

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  26. Does municipal housing also qualify?
    The homes held by municipal social housing agencies can also participate in the ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes program. Agencies with multiple residential buildings that meet the requirements are eligible for up to $500,000 over the life of the four-year program ending March 31, 2011.

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  27. I rent a house, can I participate?
    Yes, any rental property that meets the eligibility criteria can participate. Note: It is the property owner who is eligible for the grant; therefore, we suggest that you speak with your landlord.

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  28. Is Aboriginal housing eligible under the program?
    Yes. First Nation, Band Council and Tribal Council housing is eligible under the program. The maximum grant available for one home or multi-unit residential building is $5,000. Owners of multiple residential buildings are eligible for up to $500,000 over the life of the four-year program ending March 31, 2011.

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  29. Why is a high-rise condominium property excluded from the program?
    The reason for excluding larger buildings from ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes is that, because of their construction, these buildings perform very differently than low-rise buildings and the energy assessment protocols must vary accordingly. The main differences in conducting an energy assessment in a high-rise are the size, complexity and type of the heating, hot water and ventilation systems. They also have common areas and services (such as elevators) and construction details (such as depressurization zones for fire control).

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  30. I live in a town home and have a condominium corporation, am I eligible to participate?
    Yes, all low-rise condominium properties that meet the requirements of the eligibility criteria (see answer #2) are eligible. Therefore, you and your co-owners can participate in the ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes program.

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  31. Is co-op housing eligible?
    Co-op housing is a type of ownership and not a building type. If the building meets the eligibility criteria (see answer #3), you and your co-owners are eligible to participate.

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  32. I own rental properties, are these eligible?
    Yes, both single family homes and multiple-unit low-rise residential buildings held by rental property owners are eligible under the ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes program provided that they meet the eligibility criteria. Owners of multiple residential buildings are eligible to receive up to $500,000 over the life of the program ending March 31, 2011.

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  33. I am not a Canadian citizen, but I own rental properties in Canada. Can I participate and receive a grant?
    Yes, property owners who are not Canadians citizens can participate in the ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes program. The property must meet the eligibility criteria and the grant cheque must be mailed to a Canadian location. Owners of multiple residential buildings are eligible for up to $500,000 over the life of the program ending March 31, 2011.

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  34. I own a cottage / four-season recreational property, is this eligible?
    No. Recreational properties are not eligible under ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes.

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  35. Does Green$aver install solar domestic hot water systems?
    Green$aver has a complete solar package which includes a solar audit, installation, and commissioning. Click here for more details.

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  36. Are rebates and incentives available for the construction of energy efficient new homes?
    There are currently no rebates or incentives being offered at the federal level. However, there are several regional rebates and incentives available for homebuyers and homebuilders. Check our list of rebates and incentives to see if any apply to you. You may also want to consider contacting Home Builder's Associations and Utilities for information on local and regional programs and incentives.

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IN THIS SECTION

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ecoENERGY FAQ

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TESTIMONIAL

We learned a great deal during the audit and renovations and were very pleased with the recommendations. The guys from Green$aver were very knowledgeable and easily answered the many questions we had. Thanks.
- C. & H. Monster

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TECHNICAL GLOSSARY

Building Simulation Software
A building energy simulation software allows an energy advisor to create a computer model of your house and simulate its energy performance. The software uses average weather data of the region, where your house is located, in order to perform a heat loss calculation, and is able to review upgrade scenarios and calculate potential savings.

Heat loss Calculation
In order to do a heat loss calculation an energy advisor models your house in a building energy simulation software taking the geometry, orientation, insulation levels, number and type of windows and doors, efficiency of the heating system, and the air leakage rate of a house in to account. The results shows how much heat is been lost through various parts of the house, like the basement, main walls, windows and doors, roof, and cracks and leaks in the house. With this information you will be able to prioritize your retrofit measures.

Blower Door Test
A blower door test uses a large exhaust fan to depressurize a house, and enables an energy advisor to calculate the air leakage rate of the house. Put more simply, a blower door test tells you how much warm air (energy) leaks out of a building during winters and how much cold air replaces the lost warm air in the form of cold drafts. Besides calculating the air leakage rate of a house, the advisor can also pinpoint where these leaks are located.

Thermal Imaging
Thermal images made with an infrared camera record the temperature variations of the building envelope, visualizing where heat is escaping through the house envelope, where there is missing insulation and enabling an energy advisor to pinpoint and assess problem areas in an uninvasive way.
 
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