ecoENERGY
delivered under agreement with Green Communities Canada, www.greencommunitiescanada.org
The program that will help you to save money, save energy, save the environment and make your home more comfortable
The Federal Government announced March 31, 2010 that it will no longer be accepting bookings for pre-retrofit evaluations. Post retrofit evaluations must be complete by March 31, 2011 as previously agreed. Read announcement.
The Ontario Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure made this announcement April 19, 2010:
"Due to the sudden nature of the federal announcement to cancel a partnership program, Ontario is reviewing its options to create and deliver effective conservation programs to Ontarians. Until such time a decision is made and notice given, Ontario will continue to fund new pre-retrofit audits. This means we will continue to pay 50% of your home's audit, up to $150. Audits will qualify you for up to $5,000 in provincial retrofit grants.
REAL would be pleased to arrange an audit for you. Contact us at 613-283-9500 and leave a message - our office is staffed part-time.
- Planning to renovate?
- Want to reduce your energy bills?
- Want to increase your home’s comfort?
- Want to help the environment?
- Charts of Rebates
- The Maximum Amount of Grant Money You can Receive
- Booking an ecoENERGY Audit
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Additional Resources on home energy efficiency
See a brief video from the Government of Ontario on the ecoENERGY program.
The ecoENERGY Retrofit Program is available to Ontario homeowners living in fully-detached, semi-detached and multi-unit residential buildings. Homes likely to benefit the most are those built before 1985, but look through the program details and call to make a final determination.
To get the rebates, you must have an initial ecoENERGY audit, implement the recommendations of the auditor within 18 months and have a second audit to verify completion of the work.
EcoEnergy Audit
REAL’s Licensed Energy Advisor, a professional with 20 years experience and training in household energy efficiency, will spend about 2 hours with you conducting a thorough, blower-door assisted attic-to-basement audit and advising on actions.
He will then send you a detailed report with specific, cost-effective recommendations for your house and the rebates you can expect to receive for making the suggested improvements.
A sample report is available on the homeenergyontario website. Or paste this into your browser: http://www.homeenergyontario.ca/pdfs/sampleaudit1.pdf
You have 18 months from the initial visit to complete the recommendations and to book the second visit to receive the rebates. The second visit verifies that the improvements have been made or installed. During this visit your new household energy efficiency is also calculated.
The advisor will complete the necessary paperwork on your behalf and submit it to both Natural Resources Canada and the Ontario Home Energy for the rebates.
| Initial Visit | $350 +GST |
| Less Provincial Rebate on Visit | - $150 |
| Verification Visit (as of Apr 1 09) | $175 + GST |
| Total Cost | $375 + GST |
Note: We will honour the Verification Visit cost of $150+ GST for customers who registered before April 1, 2009.
The areas that can be improved upon and earn rebates include:
- Heating system
- Ventilation system
- Cooling system (replacement only)
- Domestic hot water system
- Attic Insulation
- Exterior wall insulation
- Basement insulation
- Crawlspace insulation
- Air Sealing
- Doors/windows/skylights
-
Water conservation
Prior to undertaking renovations, homeowners should contact their local municipal office to determine if a building permit is required.
Ontario Home Energy matches the federal government’s rebate program dollar-for-dollar.
Combined Provincial / Federal Rebate Chart
Office of Energy Efficiency, Natural Resources Canada
The Maximum Amount of Grant Money You can Receive
The maximum amount of grant money that can be received is $5,000 from Natural Resources Canada, and $5,000 from the Ontario Ministry of Energy. Participating in ecoENERGY does not affect your eligibility for other rebates offered by Ontario Power Authority, or your gas utilities.
To book an ecoENERGY visit or to obtain more information, contact Sue Brandum at REAL's Environment Centre, (613) 283-9500 or by email.
EcoENERGY Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the energy audit cost?
The initial visit is $350 plus GST. The second visit is $175 plus GST.
Do I receive a rebate for having the visits?
Yes, the Ontario government sends a rebate of $150 to the customer for having the first audit after their file is accepted by NRCan. There is no rebate for the second audit.
Can I break up the payment for the energy audit?
No, the client needs to pay the full price of audit when it is done.
What payment methods are acceptable?
Clients can pay with cheque or cash.
How long will it take to have an audit?
There is no guarantee, but you can usually expect to have your audit a month from booking it.
Why participate with a non-profit organization?
As a non-profit, environmental organization our primary concerns are you and protecting the environment. We’re not in the business of trying to sell you any other services or products. We pride ourselves on providing you a quality, independent audit that responds to your needs. Our auditor will provide you with unbiased, expert advice about energy conservation renovations and upgrades. He can help you solve home comfort and home energy problems. He gives you objective advice about what retrofit upgrades will save you the most money and reduce the amount of pollution and GHGs you produce.
I had an Energuide for Houses audit previously and I still have more upgrades I want to do. Can I get an ecoEnergy audit done and get another grant?
Yes, this is a separate program and as long as you have another audit done any further upgrades will apply under the rules of the ecoEnergy Retrofit program.
Does the ecoEnergy Retrofit incentive grants pay for the whole amount of renovations or upgrades.
No, these are incentive grants which are meant to motivate you to do upgrades to your home and to help offset some of the cost.
I have recently done an energy efficiency upgrade, but did not have the first audit. Can I still qualify for an EcoEnergy rebate?
No, any upgrades done before the first audit do not receive a grant. The auditor must be able to see the before and after state of the house to determine the home’s old and new efficiency. He also needs to confirm the changes made and that they are made correctly.
I have recently installed an Energy Star furnace. Can I still qualify for an EcoEnergy rebate?
Evaluations for furnace replacements can be performed after the fact, assuming the homeowner contacts us within the 3 days directly following the replacement and that they have kept sufficient information (and possibly a photo) of the old equipment and its efficiency to allow for proper modeling. Please note that the homeowner is also waiving all rights to any credit related to air sealing that may or may not have been impacted based on the furnace replacement occurring before the evaluation
I am in the middle of a renovation. I understand that the changes made do not qualify for a rebate. Is it still possible for me to have the audit done and receive a rebate for future renovations?
Yes, if the renovations done so far do not affect the structure of the building then you can still book the visit. However, if an exterior wall or ceiling has been opened, then the audit cannot be preformed correctly. If you are not sure about a renovation you have made, call us at 613-283-9500 to find out.
I live in a mobile home. Do I need to have a foundation basement to qualify for the audit?
A mobile home is eligible if it cannot be driven away. It must be on some sort of permanent concrete, wood, or steel foundation. It must also have permanent connections to electrical and plumbing services and the owner must have a municipal tax number.
How long will the audit take on my home?
The length of the assessment varies with the size of the house. Usually an audit will take 2 to 3 hours.
What do I have to do to prepare my home for the audit?
You will have to make sure that the auditor is able to access all rooms in the house, attic, basement and crawlspace. This means making sure that the auditor can access a room without having to move things out of his way. If you have a fireplace, the ashes need to be cleaned out before the blower door test is performed. If you have a wood-burning appliance, the fire must be cold before the auditor can begin. You will also need to have your municipal tax role number ready for the auditor.
Who should be present during the audit?
The adult dealing with the renovation decisions should be present so the auditor can discuss what changes will need to be done and how they can be done.
How long will it take to receive a report after the audit is completed?
Usually a report will be received within two weeks. However, homeowners can begin upgrading as soon as the first audit is completed. The auditor can usually advise onsite what the probable recommendations will be.
When I receive my report, am I obliged to complete all energy recommendations?
No, you may complete the recommendations of your choice.
When I receive my report am I responsible for making the changes?
Yes, it is your responsibility to make the necessary changes and do the renovation work or hire a contractor to carry out the renovations.
If I have the first audit and decide not to make any of the suggested changes, do I still have to book the second visit?
No, but if you decide not to make any changes and not to book the second visit then you will not receive any grant money.
After the audit, how long do I have to complete any renovations?
You have 18 months from the audit date to complete any changes and to book and have the second visit.
For more energy conservation information and tips, see the links on our climate change page.
