Thanks to the recently launched Canada Greener Homes Grant, 700,000 Canadian homeowners can claim a rebate of up to $5,000 for energy efficiency upgrades to their homes.
Fantastic deal, right?
Well, it’s not so cut-and-dried. The grant isn’t free money by any means, and you’ll have to pay for the upgrades out-of-pocket before you can claim your refund. That said, it’s still a fruitful incentive that can help you achieve long-term energy savings and recover a decent portion of the retrofitting costs.
This post will shine a light on all the Canada Greener Homes Grant details and offer some tips on how to make the most of this rebate.
Who Is Eligible For the Grant?
The great news is that if you own a home in Canada, you’re eligible for the Canada Greener Homes Grant, regardless of where you live. That said, all applicants must still meet specific criteria to qualify for the grant. Here’s what Ottawa will expect from you when you submit your application:
- You must prove your ownership of the property — you can do so by presenting a property tax bill.
- You’ll also have to provide evidence that the home is a primary residence. A driver’s license or a utility bill will do.
- The home you’re retrofitting must fall under one of these categories:
- Detached and semi-detached house
- Row house or townhouse
- All-season cottage
- Mobile home on a permanent foundation
- The houseboat that’s permanently moored
- The residential portion of a mixed-use building
- Mixed-use buildings (residential portion only)
- Multi-unit residential building, with a maximum of 3 stories and 600m2 footprint
- Crucially, your home must not be “new” — which Natural Resources Canada defines as 6 months or newer.
If you represent an Indigenous government, organization, or housing management body, you can apply for the Canada Greener Homes Grant for multiple properties.
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Which Types Of Retrofits Are Eligible For the Grant?
As long as you purchase your materials in Canada or from a Canadian online distributor, you can claim the grant for the following retrofits:
- Home insulation — up to $5,000
- Air-sealing — up to $1,000
- Window and door replacement — up to $5,000
- Energy-efficient heating equipment installation — up to $5,000
- Photovoltaic panel installation — up to $5,000
- Resiliency improvements to protect your home from environmental damage — $2,625
- Smart thermostat installation — $50
You’ll also get reimbursed (up to $600) for the cost of a pre-and post-retrofit EnerGuide audit — an evaluation that you must commission to establish that your home needs an energy retrofit.
How and When Is The Canada Greener Homes Grant Paid Out?
The Grant is paid out on completion of work and only after the post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation is performed.
The results of this evaluation will determine how much of the maximum $5,000 you qualify for — so you have to be prepared to not be reimbursed for the entire amount if you are not fully qualified.
However, if all your ‘I’s are dotted and ‘T’s are crossed, the government promises to issue the funds within a month of your application.
The Best Way to Qualify For The Grant and Boost Your Home’s Energy Efficiency
To make the most of this grant, the retrofit you plan should also help you slash your energy bills and deliver long-term savings. You can do so by upgrading your heating equipment, sure.
But there’s no point in heating efficiently if your home still bleeds heat like a cheesecloth.
Now, did you know that adding a single inch of continuous insulation, like Halo’s Exterra, to your exterior walls can lead to energy savings of 20-40%? With the homeowners stand to save anywhere between $135 and $718 per year with this simple upgrade alone!
Adding continuous insulation is such a consequential upgrade for a simple reason. It boosts thermal lag and prolongs the time it takes a home to reach its steady-state — the point at which heating systems must run at 100% capacity to maintain indoor temperatures.
And that’s just one example of how you can ensure long-term energy savings while qualifying for the grant. Under the incentive’s conditions, you can also apply for the grant for insulating your attic, exposed floor, foundation, and crawlspace.
Halo’s Subterra, Interrra, and Exterra series products have you covered for all these applications — click here to learn more
Wrapping It Up
The Canada Greener Homes Grant won’t just put money in your pocket or even reimburse you until you perform meaningful retrofits to your home.
That said, investing in long-term savings by improving energy efficiency AND getting a $5,000 discount isn’t such a bad deal. Halo’s insulation products cover a wide range of residential applications, all of which are eligible for reimbursement under the Grant.
