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GRANTS UNDER THE ecoENERGY RETROFIT PROGRAM
Questions and
Answers
1. What is the ecoENERGY Retrofit initiative?
On January 21, 2007, the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural
Resources Canada (NRCan) announced a $220 million ecoENERGY
Retrofit initiative to be launched on April 1, 2007. Under
ecoENERGY Retrofit, there are two programs — ecoENERGY Retrofit for
Buildings and Houses and ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes.
ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes is designed to help homeowners of
existing low-rise properties make smart energy retrofit
decisions that will result in significant energy savings and a
cleaner environment. The first step in participating in ecoENERGY
Retrofit – Homes is to call for a professional energy assessment
provided by an NRCan-licensed energy advisor. The advisor will
perform a pre-retrofit evaluation of the home and provide you with
your own personalized action checklist of upgrades that will reduce
your energy consumption.
2. 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 tones per
house. By implementing the energy retrofit recommendations, a
typical homeowner could save $700 a year on a $2,000 annual heating
bill.
3. What types of properties are eligible for a
grant?
ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes offers financial grants to
residential property owners of buildings that are considered
low-rise 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) built on a maximum foot
print area of 600 square meters or less. Multi-unit residential
buildings including some small apartment buildings of three storeys
or less and mobile homes on a permanent foundation may also
qualify.
4. I recently built (or am building) a house. Am I
eligible for a grant?
ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes is designed to help reduce greenhouse
gas emissions from Canada's existing housing stock. Newer
houses are not the grant initiative's focus, primarily because they
are already quite efficient. Houses under construction are
not eligible for grants.
If you are building a house, making it an energy efficient home
is a sound investment. Not only will it pay you back in
energy savings year after year, it's one of the most
environmentally-friendly housing choices you can make.
5. What happens if I had an energy assessment done
through the old EnerGuide for Houses Retrofit Incentive?
If you received a grant under the EnerGuide for Houses Retrofit
Incentive, you are eligible to apply for a grant for the same
property under the new initiative provided that you undertake
additional energy efficiency improvements to your property. Note:
Only upgrades performed on or after December 5, 2006 are eligible
and if you had a pre-retrofit EnerGuide for Houses energy
evaluation done after May 12, 2006, you are also eligible under the
ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program. You may need to have your
evaluation refreshed and it is recommended that you contact the
service organization that performed that assessment for this
service.
6. I received a grant under the old EnerGuide for
Houses Retrofit Incentive. Am I being eligible to receive another
under the new program?
If you are residing in the same house that previously received
an energy evaluation under the EnerGuide for Houses Retrofit
Incentive and you carried out the recommended upgrades and
subsequently received a grant, you will not be eligible for a grant
under the new initiative for the same upgrades covered by the first
grant. However, you may apply to ecoENERGY if you have
completed further energy efficiency retrofits and these upgrades
were performed after December 5, 2006.
7. 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. Typical retrofits include the
replacement of your heating and cooling equipment with ENERGY
STAR® qualified or equivalent models; increased
insulation; professional air-sealing; the installation of solar hot
water heaters; water saving toilets, etc. These are just a
few of the possible upgrades that are covered.
8. 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 grant amount is calculated by adding the total
incentive amounts of the upgrades listed and recommended in the
Energy Efficiency Evaluation Report’s action checklist that
is presented by your energy advisor. This makes it easier for you
to make a decision on what renovations you wish to carry out from
the action checklist and in which order you would like to complete
them.
9. 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 are to 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.
10. a) I understand there are similar financial
assistance programs in my province based on the ecoENERGY
protocol. Am I eligible for both the federal and provincial
programs?
Yes.
10. b) I already received a provincial grant not matched
by EnerGuide for Houses; am I eligible to claim an ecoENERGY
Retrofit – Homes grant?
No.
11.
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 Energy Wise Solutions at 1-877-787-4328 or
604-777-7741 or even better, simply fill out the online form by
clicking the tab “Book and assessment” on our home page. This
will enable us to schedule an energy evaluation appointment which
best suits your needs.
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
decide to carry out the recommended home improvements. Equally, the
report will indicate the relative impact the upgrades will have on
the home’s energy efficiency level.
For example, replacing an old gas furnace with a highly energy
efficient ENERGY STAR® qualified model will save about
20% on heating bills, so this upgrade will generate a more
substantial grant. Installing insulation in an unfinished basement
is also a very effective upgrade and will be remunerated
accordingly. It is expected the average grant for a single
property will be $1,000. The maximum grant one can receive 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. 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’s
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.
15.
Where can I find a service organization that can provide energy
assessments?
If Energy Wise Solutions is not yet in your area, we will source
another Service Organization on your behalf at your
request.
16. 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 obtaining approvals.
17. 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.
18. My furnace broke. It’s an emergency, can I
apply?
In the case of an emergency furnace replacement, the homeowner
must schedule his/her pre-retrofit assessment within three days of
the replacement and must keep sufficient information regarding the
older furnace to ensure proper disclosure. The new furnace
must meet the requirements as listed in the Eligible
Improvements / Retrofits table.
19. 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.
20. 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.
21. 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.
22. Is Aboriginal housing eligible under the
program?
Yes, First Nations, Band Councils and Tribal Councils are
eligible under the program.Theapplies as 'owner'. The maximum grant
one can receive 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.
23. Why is a high-rise condominium property excluded
from the program?
See Cathy Krate re recent ministerial correspondence.
24. 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
incentive program ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes.
25. 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,
you and your co-owners are eligible to participate.
26. I own rental properties, are these
eligible?
Yes, both single family homes and multiple-unit residential
buildings homes 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.
27. I am not a Canadian citizen but I own rental
properties. Am I able to 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.
28. 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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