ecoENERGY - Performing Energy Efficiency Upgrades
Performing the Energy Efficiency Upgrades
A major goal of the ecoENERGY program is to have homeowners implement energy efficient upgrades that achieve significant energy cost savings, more comfortable living spaces and a cleaner environment.
At a minimum, ecoENERGY service organizations and advisors are required to provide clients with a personalized homeowner report with recommended improvements and an EnerGuide rating label. Most ecoENERGY companies only meet the bare minumum requirements of the program, however and fortunately for our clients, we go the extra mile to help inform your decisions. The homeowner report is only one of many resources at you disposal through BEC Consulting to assist you in making smart upgrade choices. As BEC client, in addition to the advice of an energy advisor, you will also gain access to professional, unbiased advice from some of Canada's most knowledgable and experienced consultants and designers. Many of these resources are available to our clients 24 hours a day through our website including:
- Our "Ask a Pro" Forum
- Our Project Blogs with real world best practice examples
- Online Product and Technology Seminars
- Our extensive Resource Library
By arming our clients with a range of resources they are better able to make smart well informed upgrade decisions.
When selecting energy efficiency upgrades, you can choose to implement any upgrade you wish, whether or not the upgrade is listed as a grant-eligible upgrade in the program's 
Grant Table.
In some cases the best upgrade option to provide long term energy and operating cost savings is ineligible for a grant... and the upgrade option can cost less to implement than a grant-eligible option, even when the financial incentive is considered.
Therefore, financial incentives should be considered a potential bonus, they should not drive your decision making process. Dont let a potential bonus detract you from examining the long term operation cost analysis.
POINTS TO PONDER
Homeowners are responsible for researching, choosing and ensuring the proper installation of eligible products and equipment.
All the usual caveats apply... you should establish a specific upgrade specification, obtain multiple quotes for work that will meet your specification, and hire only reputable contractors.
Keep ALL receipts for three years to show that eligible upgrades were purchased after June 6, 2011, and installed after the pre–retrofit evaluation. Products and equipment purchased or installed before these dates are not eligible.
You must complete your energy retrofits and obtain a post–retrofit evaluation no later than March 31, 2012.
