ecoENERGY-Retrofit Program Expanded

Canadians who want to save money on their bills, and contribute to energy conservation deserve their Government's encouragement and support. That's why the Government of Canada launched ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes program on April 1, 2007, which has paid out $91 million to Canadian homeowners for more than 85,000 home retrofits.

Helping Canadians save money

By expanding this initiative in Canada's Economic Action Plan, Canadians will have more money in their pockets at a time when they need it most. Energy efficiency is probably the easiest, most affordable and most effective way for homeowners to control their energy costs and contribute to a healthy environment. On average homeowners have received $1,088 for completing energy efficiency retrofits and have saved an average of $500 on the cost of their energy bills.

New and Key Features

• An additional $300 million over two years to help 200,000 more homeowners participate in the program.
• Grants for home energy-efficiency retrofits increased by 25 percent.
• This program will deliver significant immediate and long-term benefits for both our economy and our environment and could provide double benefits for homeowners who are also eligible for the Home Renovation Tax Credit, worth up to $1,350.
• Access to the program continues to be on a first-come, first-served basis, and grants are subject to the availability of funds.
• A new class of residential buildings is added to eligible property: small semi-commercial/semi-residential buildings where 50 percent or more of the floor space is being used as residences.

Creating and securing jobs for Canadians

Encouraging more Canadians to retrofit their homes for greater energy efficiency will create and secure jobs for thousands of Canadians and generate new economic activity in all regions of the country. It is estimated that expanding the ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes initiative and increasing the amount of the grants available will encourage up to 200,000 additional Canadian homeowners to invest in energy-efficiency retrofits.

Completing these energy-efficiency retrofits and renovations will create and protect jobs in home renovation, construction, and in related manufacturing such as windows and doors, insulation materials and heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment.

Generating economic activity

For every dollar the Government of Canada invests in the expanded ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes initiative, it is expected that Canadian homeowners will invest approximately $10 in products and services to increase the energy efficiency of their homes. Consequently, our recent investment will generate $2.4 billion in economic activity across Canada.

Since the majority of the products and virtually all of the services that homeowners will purchase are manufactured and based in Canada, much of the economic activity will be in the same community where the homeowner lives, supporting local contractors, tradespeople and suppliers.

How it works

The eligibility requirements of the expanded program have not changed. Homeowners will need to have a pre-retrofit evaluation completed by a certified energy advisor. Homeowners will then have until March 31, 2011, or 18 months from the date of their pre-retrofit evaluation report (whichever comes first) to complete the post-retrofit evaluation in order to receive a grant at the increased level, subject to available funding.

Homeowners who have had a pre-retrofit evaluation completed under the ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes initiative but have not yet had their post-retrofit evaluation will receive grants based on the new rates. No adjustments will be made to grants for homeowners who have already received grants or who have already had their post-retrofit evaluation completed. However, homeowners may reapply using their post-retrofit evaluation as a new baseline, implement more measures and have a new post-retrofit evaluation under the new higher-grant tables.

Links to details on the application process, the types of retrofits that qualify for grants and the names of certified energy advisors across Canada can be found on the ecoACTION Web site at www.ecoACTION.gc.ca/homes. More information about the program is also available by calling 1-800-O CANADA (1-800-622-6232).

Provincial and territorial government incentives

A number of provincial and territorial governments have already launched their own programs to complement the ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes initiative and are providing further financial incentives and support to homeowners to make their homes more energy-efficient. For more information on these programs, visit Natural Resources Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency Web site.