The Government of Canada’s ecoENERGY Efficiency Initiative is investing more than $675 million between 2007 and 2011 to promote smarter energy use by Canadians – at home, at work and on the road. These efforts will: reduce emissions that harm our health and the environment; save Canadians money; and make the most of our natural resources – because wasted energy is our biggest source of untapped energy.
If you’re thinking of ways to make your home more energy-efficient, the ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes Program, might qualify you for federal grants for home improvements that lower energy costs, improve comfort and reduce impacts on the environment.
Owners of single-family homes, detached, semi-detached and homes are eligible. Owners of most low-rise multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) that are no more than three storeys high and some mixed-use buildings with at least 50 per cent permanent residential space are also eligible
Before you start your energy upgrades, hire a local service organization licensed by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), and they will send a certified energy advisor to perform a detailed, on-site evaluation of your home’s energy use from the attic down to the foundation. You will receive a personalized report, including a checklist of recommended retrofits to improve the energy efficiency of your home or MURB and, in some cases, reduce water consumption. You must complete your energy retrofits and receive your post-retrofit evaluation by March 31, 2011, or within 18 months from the date of your pre-retrofit evaluation report, whichever comes first. This evaluation must be completed BEFORE you begin retrofitting your home.
For more information on the program, go to www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/residential/personal/retrofit-homes/retrofit-qualify-grant.cfm?attr=4