Feds Launch Canada Greener Homes Grant

May 27, 2021 | By HPAC Magazine

Canadian homeowners will be eligible for grants of up to $5,000 to make energy efficient retrofits to their primary residences, including HVAC improvements.

efficiency The Government of Canada has officially launched the new Canada Greener Homes Grant, offering homeowners across the country the ability to receive grants of up to $5,000 to make energy efficient retrofits to their primary residences.

Eligible home improvements and upgrades include improving heating and cooling systems – such as with heat pumps –replacing windows and doors, adding insulation, sealing air leaks, and purchasing renewable energy systems like solar panels. As part of the program, all mechanical and electrical systems, with the exception of thermostats, must be installed by a licensed and trained professional.

The government says the program will help up to 700,000 Canadian homeowners and in total includes an investment of $2.6 billion over seven years.

In addition to the $5,000 grant, up to $600 is available to homeowners to help with the cost of home energy evaluations.

The Canada Greener Homes Grant is retroactive to December 1, 2020, and homeowners can go online to register, plan, and document their progress, which includes applying for their pre-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation, choosing from a list of eligible retrofits, scheduling a post-retrofit evaluation, and applying for reimbursement.

Eligibility

To participate in this new initiative, a homeowner’s primary residence must be at least six months old, from the date of occupancy by the first homeowner, and eligible for an EnerGuide evaluation.
Residences include single and semi-detached houses, row housing, townhomes, mobile homes on a permanent foundation, permanently moored floating homes, small multi-unit residential buildings (up to three storeys with a footprint of up to 600m²), and mixed-use buildings (residential portion only).
Retrofits that help protect homes from weather events – such as floods, wind damage, and power outages – are also eligible for the grant if they are done in combination with measures that improve energy efficiency.
The following groups are also eligible applicants under the initiative:
- Indigenous governments or organizations (e.g., band councils, land claim organizations); and
- housing management bodies and other representative or Indigenous service delivery organizations with formal partnerships with Indigenous governments or organizations.
These applicants may be eligible to register multiple homes, including homes that are not the owner’s primary residence. The home registered must be owned by the applicant and be occupied by an Indigenous household.
Homeowners must:
- complete a pre- and post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation (residents of Quebec and Nova Scotia need to apply directly through their provincial programs to book their EnerGuide evaluation);
- complete at least one retrofit that is both eligible and recommended by their energy advisor in their report. Only homeowners who conduct at least one retrofit will be reimbursed;
- provide and keep copies of all of their documents until March 31, 2028; and
- ensure that all products must be purchased in Canada. Online purchases are only eligible if they are ordered from an online distributor located in Canada.
Once homeowners have completed their retrofits, they can seek reimbursement for:
1. Up to $5,000 total for the implementation of eligible retrofits done after December 1, 2020.
2. Up to an additional $600 for the cost of their pre- and post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluations. They will not be reimbursed for the pre-retrofit evaluation unless they continue through the full Greener Homes Grant process.