The ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program provides professional advice and up to $5000.00 in financial assistance to encourage owners of existing low-rise properties make smart energy retrofit decisions that will result in significant energy savings, more comfortable living spaces and a cleaner environment. Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan’s) Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE) administers the program and provides the grants, but local service organizations across the country deliver the program to homeowners.

Launched on April 1, 2007, the program stopped accepting bookings for pre-retrofit evaluations on March 31, 2010 and ended on March 31, 2011.

On Monday, Jun. 06, 2011 the Conservatives announced a 1 year extension of the ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes program through March 31st 2012.

To date, approximately 1 in 20 homeowners in Canada have participated in the program.

Only homeowners who are registered with the ecoENERGY program are eligible to participate in the ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program. See our page in the ecoENERGY process for instructions on how to register.

Once a homeowner registers they can book an appointment with a service organization to have a certified certified energy advisor perform a pre-retrofit evaluation. The advisor will perform an energy evaluation on your home, from the basement to the attic, including a blower door test to measure air tightness and to help locate air leakage sites. Approximately 1-2 days after your evaluation, you should receive a homeowners report with a list of recommended measures and an EnerGuide rating label.

Select your improvements and implement your energy upgrades, leaving time to ensure you complete your post-retrofit evaluation with a licensed service organization by March 31, 2012. NRCan recommends that you keep all receipts, and in the case of in-wall insulations, homeowners should take photos during installation.

During the post-retrofit evaluation, the energy advisor visits your home again and completes a new blower door test. The advisor completes a grant application form on your behalf and presents it to you for review and signature. The energy advisor then prepares and sends the electronic house file to the service organization who submits the electronic and paper files to NRCan.

NRCan processes the application and, under normal circumstances, most homeowners received a cheque within 90 days following the date of the post-retrofit evaluation, but at the end of the program delays are expected once again.

Many provinces, territories, municipalities and energy utilities offer complementary programs which provide grants, rebates and other types of financial incentives based on the results of your ecoENERGY Retrofit post-retrofit evaluation. Homeowners are also able to participate in these regional programs.

In some cases, NRCan transfers data to these regional programs after approving your federal grant, while other regional programs require you to apply separately. At the time of your post-retrofit evaluation, your energy advisor can advise you about complementary funding, but they are only trained on the delivery of the federal grant and may not have all details about all local programs.

The average federal grant for a single property is approximately $1,300. The maximum grant available for one home is $5000.

As a result of their renovations, participants have reduced their energy consumption by over 20 percent and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 3 tonnes per house.

Participating homeowners (those who registered with NRCan and received a CID number) have until March 31, 2012 to complete their retrofits and have their post-retrofit evaluation. Evaluations taking place after March 31, 2012, will not be eligible for a federal grant. Simply booking an evaluation appointment by the deadline is not sufficient. There can be no mechanisms for exceptions or extensions for any reason as NRCan's financial authority to incur grant liabilities under current programming ends on that date. You should schedule your post-retrofit evaluation at the earliest possible date since it may be difficult to book an appointment as the program nears the end date.

If you have not yet started your renovations, low-income homeowners may apply for the Homeowner Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (Homeowner RRAP) from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) instead of through ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes. Based on your income, house value and postal code, you could be eligible to receive financial assistance for upcoming necessary repairs. For more information, visit call 1-800-668-2642 or visit the CMHC Web site.

Homeowners who participated in the ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program and who purchased materials and performed work between January 28, 2009, and January 31, 2010, were eligible to claim the 15 percent Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC) from the Government of Canada on their 2009 tax returns in addition to as part of Canada's Economic Action Plan. You can call 1-800-959-8281 for more details or visit the Canada Revenue Agency’s Web site for more information about the HRTC.

Effective July 13th 2011 homeowners may once again book ecoENERGY evaluations and qualify for ecoENERGY grants.

There are four steps in the program: homeowner registration, a pre-retrofit evaluation, performing upgrades and the post-retrofit evaluation. Homeowners must complete all four steps and apply for a grant before March 31, 2012.

To qualify for ecoENERGY incentives homeowners need to have a home energy evaluation completed before they undertake eligible home improvements. To obtain an appointment with a service organization such as BEC Consulting homeowners must first register with Natural Resources Canada and obtain a customer identification (CID) number.

If you or a previous owner did not obtain an energy evaluation of the property under ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program or a complementary regional program since April 2007, submit your information to the form at this link REGISTER. You should receive an automatic e–mail from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) with a registration number. Once you have a CID number give BEC a call to book your appointment. If you suspect you should register as a past participant, consult the Frequently–Asked Questions page for directions. New Participants Register Here

If you or a previous owner obtained an energy evaluation of the property under ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes or a complementary regional program since April 2007, submit the form below. In the next few minutes, you should first receive an automated response, and then within 2 to 10 business days, you will receive an e–mail from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) with your registration number. Once you receive your CID number give BEC a call to book your appointment. If you do not receive a response from NRCan within 10 business days, please also give BEC a call so we may look into the issue for you. If you suspect you should register as a new participant, consult the Frequently–Asked Questions page for directions. Past Participants Register Here

NOTE: Products purchased before June 6, 2011, or installed before your pre–retrofit evaluation are not eligible. You must complete eligible improvements and have a post retrofit audit performed before March 31st 2012.

Most provinces and territories have developed their own energy efficiency programs for homes, and the Government of Canada will continue to process applications for those complementary programs.

Reserved

Reserved

Provided you registered and received a CID number after July 13th 2011, the deadline for applying for a grant is March 31, 2012. Homeowners who have completed the eligible work under the ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program before March 31, 2012 are eligible for a grant. However, it is suggested that you complete your energy upgrades well in advance of the deadline in order to allow enough time for your post-retrofit evaluation.

Under its existing budget, the program will continue to operate until March 31, 2012. The Government will continue to pay grants to homeowners already in the program, who will be undertaking energy efficiency improvement work on their homes and can apply for their grant up to March 31, 2012.

The Government of Canada continues to encourage homeowners to have home energy evaluations so that they can identify best opportunities for energy efficiency improvements, improve their home’s energy performance and receive an EnerGuide rating label.

The Government has launched the development of its next-generation EnerGuide Rating System, which underpins the home energy evaluations in Canada, including those of the ecoENERGY program, provincial and territorial programs, and initiatives by other stakeholders.

A property needs to meet the program eligibility criteria at the time of both the pre-retrofit and post retrofit evaluations. The ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program offers grants to owners of low-rise residential properties defined 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), small multi-unit residential buildings; mobile homes on a permanent foundation and permanently-moored floating homes.

The program considers side-by-side semi-detached units with their own entrances, attics and basements as single-family homes, and not as MURBs.

Most low-rise multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) and mixed-use buildings are eligible for the grant if there are three stories or less, the footprint is less than 600 square meters, there are a maximum of 20 units, at least 50% of the floor space is used for residential purposes, and there is no specialized commercial equipment. Since the energy advisor needs to evaluate the structure from the basement to the attic, all units must participate in the pre-retrofit assessment by an energy advisor who has been certified to evaluate MURBs. Depending on the number of outside doors, you may need multiple and simultaneous blower door tests.

For a list of service organizations (SO’s) with MURB-certified energy advisors, enter your postal code using the search tool and look for those listed with an asterisk (*). In some areas of the country, there are not yet any MURB-certified energy advisors. NRCan has offered MURB training to all SO’s, and the number of MURB-certified advisors should increase in the coming months. Since certification can happen more quickly than Web updates, you may wish to contact all SO’s on the list, even if there is no asterisk.

The ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program does not apply to new construction, and if you have added additions or re-built your home, this is considered new construction and will not be eligible. Non-energy renovations such as roofs and foundations are not eligible.

The homeowner report you receive in the weeks after your pre-retrofit evaluation lists recommendations from the energy advisor that visited your home, however, you can choose to implement any measures which are listed in the program’s Grant Table.

NRCan does not approve or endorse any specific product, or the services of any contractor, and accepts no liability in the selection of materials, products or contractors, and their performance or workmanship. Homeowners are responsible for comparing products and contractors, making the final choice and ensuring that all upgrades and renovations meet building codes, by-laws and regulations. Before undertaking upgrades or renovations, find out about the appropriate products and installation techniques to ensure that your home’s building envelope and indoor air quality will not be compromised. It is also important that you carefully consult the Grant Table to ensure that all your measure are eligible before you start the work.

Yes. NRCan revised the Grant Table several times since 2007 and ENERGY STAR ratings for certain products have changed over time. If a measure is no longer eligible, you can still apply for the grant for the amount advertised at the time of your pre-retrofit evaluation. If NRCan increased a grant amount before your post-retrofit evaluation, you can apply for the higher amount.

There are five types of domestic hot water equipment that are eligible for ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes grants. This includes certain models of solar domestic hot water systems, instantaneous gas-fired water heaters, instantaneous condensing gas-fired water heaters, condensing gas storage-type water heaters and drain-water heat recovery (DWHR) systems. For specific requirements and related lists of eligible models, refer to Eligible Domestic Hot Water Equipment Web page. Domestic hot water equipment that is used for both space heating and water heating may be eligible.

Earth energy systems (such as geothermal systems or ground- or water-source heat pump) must meet the appropriate Canadian Standards Association (CSA) standards and be individually certified by the Canadian GeoExchange Coalition. GCA-accedited professionals must drill, design and install each system. The CSA revised its standards to include direct expansion (DX) systems as of October 20, 2009. For more information on earth energy systems including a current list of accredited installers, designers, and drillers, contact the Canadian GeoExchange Coalition or call 514-807-7559.

Visit the ENERGY STAR Web site before purchasing any new windows, doors or skylights, to ensure that they are qualified for their climate zone. As proof of ENERGY STAR qualification, homeowners must provide the ENERGY STAR label or a copy of an invoice indicating the brand/product name, and the NRCan model reference number or the manufacturer's model code, as well as the climate zone for which the windows, doors or skylights are qualified.

One unit of window is defined as one rough opening in the wall. A large window consisting of multiple panels of glass is counted as one opening in the wall, regardless of how large the window is, or how many windows is required to fill the rough opening. For example, NRCan considers a typical bay or bow window as one rough opening or one window.

Technical specifications for ENERGY STAR qualified windows, doors and skylights (fenestration products) became more stringent as of October 1, 2010, and there is now mandatory labelling of all such products in Canada. NRCan and the OEE encourage all program participants to purchase fenestration products that meet the new requirements. However, fenestration products that meet the old ENERGY STAR requirements will remain eligible for a grant until March 31, 2011, regardless of the time of purchase, installation or post-retrofit evaluation. Visit the ENERGY STAR^® Qualifications for Fenestration Products Web page which explains the changes in requirements and will direct users to the various eligibility lists.

In past years, the rules permitted emergency replacement prior to a pre-retrofit evaluation under specific conditions. It remains to be seen if NRCan will permit emergency replacement during the upcoming heating season. If your furnace is older, you should not wait until it fails in before you decide to replace it. If you do need an emergency replacement, expect to pay full retail price, while if you plan your replacement you can negotiate much better pricing. If you wait beyond March 31, 2012 you will not be grant eligible. We do not believe there will be a grant program at all after March 31, 2012.

The following is an example of the emergency replacement rules for some previous years: If your furnace or hot-water heater was red-tagged or could not be repaired during the heating season (typically between October 15 until March 30 you could proceed with the replacement before the pre-retrofit evaluation under certain conditions. For example, the property owner needed to call a service organization within five calendar days of the system replacement (no later than March 31) to schedule a pre-retrofit assessment, and the assessment must take place within 30 days of the new heating system installation. In addition, new gas-fired furnaces must have an efficiency of 94% or better and oil-fired furnaces MUST have an efficiency of 85% or better which is higher than what is required for non-emergency systems. Ask your service organization about other requirements for this special situation.

Yes. In these cases, it is important that you keep a copy of the invoices for the materials you purchased 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.

No. Only renovations started after June 6th 2011, and after obtaining a pre-retrofit energy evaluation are eligible for a grant.

The goal of the program is not to issue rebates for single measures, but rather to act as an incentive to encourage you to invest in multiple measures you may not have otherwise considered. The post-retrofit evaluation offers you an updated energy efficiency baseline and EnerGuide rating, and combined with the pre-retrofit evaluation, ensures that the Government of Canada offers a credible, results-based program. In order to maximize your grant, refer to the homeowner report to consider other measures recommended by your energy advisor, or read the program’s Grant Table.

Yes. Service organizations across Canada set their own prices.

You are not required to use the same service organization or energy advisor for your post-retrofit evaluation. You can contact your service organization and request a different energy advisor. You can also select a completely different service organization such as BEC. Simply provide us with the file number that is on your evaluation report, your name and address as it appeared on the previous report, as well as your phone number. NRCan will then supply the new service organization with your electronic file so that they have your pre-retrofit data for your post-retrofit evaluation.

NRCan licenses service organizations across the country to deliver the program on the government's behalf, and if their name appears when you search for a service organization using your postal code, they should be able to send an energy advisor to your home, although there may be delays or additional travel costs.

In order to have your pre-retrofit or post-retrofit evaluation, your home must be considered “habitable” according to specific requirements of NRCan. The home must have no exposed walls and it should be in such a state that the energy advisor can assess the building. The energy advisor will need access to every room in the house, in addition to the attic and any crawl spaces. Be sure to clear the area around these access points before the energy advisor arrives. In addition, please make sure not to use any wood-heating appliances, such as fireplaces or wood stoves, at least 24 hours prior to the evaluation and clean the appliances before the evaluation.

After your post-retrofit evaluation, your local service organization and their energy advisor who evaluated your home have 30 days to submit your information to NRCan. NRCan reviews files and approves, processes and mails most payments within 90 days. The 90 days is not a firm timeline, and there can be delays for a number of reasons. For example, certain types of files require a manual evaluation from NRCan technical officers. In addition, if the project includes an earth-energy system such as a a geothermal or ground source heat pump, NRCan must receive certification from the Canadian GeoExchange Coalition before processing the application which can sometimes cause delays. Please do not contact NRCan for any cheque status request if it has been less than 90 days since your post-retrofit evaluation. If it has been more than 90 days since your post-retrofit evaluation, you can contact 1-877-953-5454 (Mondays to Fridays from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Ottawa time).

NRCan bases the grant amount on information provided by service organization, The energy advisor that visited your home is trained and employed by a local service organization licensed to deliver the program in your area. If you have questions about the amount of grant monies you received, you need to contact should be the head office for the service organization. You will find the phone number in your homeowner report, or on your EnerGuide label.

If you received your cheque and the name is incorrect, NRCan can arrange to issue you a new cheque, but there could delays. First speak with someone at your bank that you normally deal with, and show them evidence such your application form. If the bank will not redeem it, send the original cheque, along with the stub, and a copy of your municipal tax bill to :

If you have received your provincial cheque but your federal portion has not arrived after two weeks contact your bank to ensure that the cheque was never redeemed by you or your spouse. You should then contact the program and include the name of the person who signed the application form at the post-retrofit evaluation, your full address and phone number, and your 10-digit file number. If the cheque has been redeemed by someone else or has not been returned, NRCan will proceed with a full investigation in conjunction with Public Works with the goal of helping you receive your grant as early as possible.

After approval of your federal grant, NRCan transfers the data to partner programs across the country. These external organizations send out their own cheques, and you should contact their offices if the cheque is delayed more than a month after you receive your cheque from the Government of Canada. To find their contact information, you can call 1-800-O-Canada (1-800-622-6232).

Reserved

Yes. Provided that you register for re-entry into the program and secure a CID number you may re-enter the program. Of course you will only be eligible for grants on any work that you hadn't already done, and whcih was performed after June 6th 2011. Energy advisors explain the deadline at the time of the pre-retrofit evaluation, and it is discussed in the homeowner report, the Grant Table and Web site.

If you have already exceeded the 18-month deadline, the program has no mechanism for exceptions or appeals, even in the case of illness, deaths in the family, equipment delays or delays with contractors. Unfortunately, homeowners who have passed their 18-month deadline are not eligible for more time, regardless of the reason and cannot re-start the process with a new pre-retrofit evaluation. Files that are not eligible for an NRCan grant can still be processed according to the requirements of regional programs.

If you have records that you requested more time from NRCan before the 18 month deadline, contact the head office of the service organization that performed your evaluation using the phone number found on your homeowners report or EnerGuide label. They can contact NRCan on your behalf if they agree that you are still within your time limit.

Homeowners who already received an ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes grant can only apply for a second grant if they or their service organization registered for re-entry by March 31, 2010. Eligible homeowners have until March 31, 2011, (subject to available funding) to complete the additional energy retrofits and have a post-retrofit evaluation. The maximum allowable funding per dwelling is $5,000. Based on existing funding levels, NRCan ended the pre-retrofit phase of the program on March 31, 2010, which means it is no longer accepting bookings for pre-retrofit evaluations and is no longer accepting new registrations for re-entry.

NRCan is not responsible for hiring or providing training for energy advisors. Instead, programs such as ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes license service organizations across the country to deliver the program on the government’s behalf. If you are interested in becoming a residential energy advisor, you can contact an existing service organization to inquire if they are looking for more energy advisors. In order to be considered for an energy advisor position, you must possess and demonstrate, as a minimum, knowledge and skills in areas such as construction practices for existing low-rise housing; energy-efficient renovation practices; residential building materials; residential heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems; building science, including the principles of the “house as a system”; basic arithmetic and geometry; the use of computers, modems, the Internet and e-mail; and good client relations.

There are currently no opportunities to start your own service organization to deliver the ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program. NRCan chooses these organizations through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process, which is a fair, competitive and transparent selection method. NRCan determines if it requires an RFP process by evaluating the capacity of existing service organizations to deliver the program in under-served areas across the country. It is too early to determine if there will be a fourth RFP before the scheduled program end date of March, 2011.

If you have questions or concerns, contact your service organization since it is their energy advisor who visited your home and prepared your report. If it is a technical question they cannot answer, they can contact NRCan on your behalf. You will find the phone number in your homeowner report, on your EnerGuide label or by using the search tool. If you are still not satisfied after exhausting this approach, you can make a formal complaint in writing to Natural Resources Canada detailing your concerns. Please include your full address, phone number and the 10-digit file number which you can find on your homeowner report, EnerGuide label, ecoENERGY mini-label or signed application form.

NRCan approves, processes and mails cheques for most applications within 90 days. If it has been less than 90 days since your post-retrofit evaluation, please do not contact NRCan yet about your cheque status. You can make inquiries by phone, by mail or using an e-mail form. For fastest response, provide your e-mail address and the 10-digit ecoENERGY file number which can be found in your homeowner evaluation report or the ecoENERGY mini-label which should be affixed to your electrical panel. Phone inquiries are handled by Service Canada through the 1-800-O-Canada toll free line, and if they cannot answer your question, they may transfer you to a live specialist from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Ottawa time, Monday to Friday. If the specialist cannot answer your inquiry, they will forward your inquiry to a program officer on your behalf. NRCan strives to respond to all inquiries within the departmental standards of 5 business days for general inquiries and 7 business days for technical inquiries. Unfortunately, during times of high volume, this is not always possible. Almost 1 in 20 households in Canada are now participating in the program, and the Government of Canada receives over 500 inquiries every day about this popular program. We apologize for any delays you may experience. If you do not receive a response from a program officer after 2 weeks, please contact us again and we will elevate your inquiry to a program manager.