ecoENERGY Home Evaluations
Developed by Natural Resources Canada, the ecoENERGY home energy assessment provides third-party, unbiased advice to homeowners and home buyers about how to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. REEP's Certified Energy Advisors will use a computer modeling system to determine your home’s energy performance and identify sources of heat and energy loss.
ecoENERGY initiatives help Canadians use energy more efficiently, boost renewable energy supplies and develop cleaner-energy technologies. To learn more, please visit www.ecoaction.gc.ca
REEP delivers the ecoENERGY home energy assessment under an agreement with Green Communities Canada.
What happens at a home energy evaluation?
The typical home energy evaluation takes approximately 2 to 4 hours to complete, depending on the size of the home. As part of a home energy evaluation, advisors conduct a blower door test to identify and scientifically measure air leakage; complete a comprehensive walk-through of the home to collect energy use data; and produce a detailed report for the homeowner containing recommended upgrades, savings estimates, and an EnerGuide for Houses label and rating from 0 to 100 that represents the home’s level of efficiency.
Grants for homeowners
1. Federal Incentives
The Government of Canada provides grants to home and property owners who complete energy saving retrofits following the recommendations of a Certified Energy Advisor. The grant amount received will be determined by the type and amount of work completed, which may include upgrades such as adding insulation, air sealing, replacing a furnace or installing a low-flush toilet. (Click here for a list of toilet specifications for Canada and the U.S.).
Residents must have both an initial and follow-up home energy evaluation (before and after renovating) in order to quantify energy efficiency improvements and determine the grant amount they would be entitled to.
To be eligible for a grant, homes must meet a specific set of criteria outlined by Natural Resources Canada. Namely, only homes evaluated under ecoENERGY will be eligible for grants, and participants must retain copies of invoices for work completed to verify the date and type of upgrade.
Click here for the federal government’s ecoENERGY Retrofit eligibility requirements. Have a question? The Frequently Asked Questions can help.
Download ecoENERGY grant information here.
- Introduced in January, 2007, the ecoENERGY Retrofit Incentive commits $220 million over four years.
2. Additional incentives
Rebate on Mortgage Loan Insurance from CMHC
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has partnered with Environment Canada and Natural Resources Canada to provide a rebate of 10% on Mortgage Loan Insurance for energy efficient homes. The goal is to encourage residents to buy an energy-efficient home, buy a home and upgrade its energy efficiency, or retrofit their existing home. By taking advantage of this offer, customers can enjoy a 10% refund on their mortgage loan insurance premium and may be entitled to a longer period of amortization. To qualify for this incentive, homeowners must receive a home energy evaluation and meet minimum requirements.
Click here to learn more about CMHC’s Mortgage Loan Insurance for energy efficient homes.
Why have a home energy evaluation?
1. Cost savings
An inefficient home wastes energy and money. When heat escapes through your windows, doors, walls, or foundation, your home uses excess energy to maintain indoor temperature. The result is an over-consumption of energy to heat or cool the indoor environment. One can liken this to literally “throwing money out the windows” by paying to heat or cool air that is constantly escaping from the home.
A home energy evaluation identifies sources of air leakage and provides specific recommendations for reducing leaks while maintaining appropriate ventilation. By incorporating the advisor’s recommendations into renovation projects, homeowners can expect to achieve cost savings on energy bills. The promise of lower energy bills, combined with the potential to qualify for federal grants, creates significant financial benefits that can be realized through home energy improvements and the ecoENERGY service.
- Homeowners that completed energy saving upgrades after participating in Natural Resources Canada’s national home energy evaluation service saved an average of 28% annually on heating costs!
2. Home comfort
Common home comfort problems such as drafts and poor ventilation are identified and addressed during a home energy evaluation. Improving home comfort is a significant outcome of the service, with some homeowners remarking that post-retrofit their homes are warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer, draft-free, less noisy as a result of replacing old furnaces and appliances, and that indoor air quality has improved.
Certified Energy Advisors are trained to identify potential health concerns with respect to adequate ventilation, and can show residents how to reduce dust and pest levels. The Advisor will inform the homeowner if further attention is needed from a qualified professional, as in the case of mold or mildew.
- Enjoy a more comfortable home by eliminating drafts and improving ventilation!
3. Reduce your environmental impact
The ecoENERGY service is one way the federal government is taking action on climate change. Reducing energy consumption in the home means residents are emitting fewer harmful greenhouse gas emissions and pollutants, and thus minimizing personal contributions to climate change and smog.
Getting a home energy evaluation and implementing the recommendations is a great way for individuals to proactively address climate change and reduce their individual contributions.
- Reduce your greenhouse gas emissions by 2 to 4 tonnes per year and help to curb climate change and improve local air quality!
4. Additional Benefits
In addition to the economic, home comfort and environmental rewards of home energy efficiency, residents can benefit from an energy evaluation in other ways.
- Higher resale value - Energy efficient homes are known to have higher resale value and can sell for 2-8% more than less efficient homes.
- Peace of mind - Homeowners can trust the advice they receive from unbiased, nationally certified advisors.
- Invest wisely – The ecoENERGY report provides detailed, prioritized recommendations for improvement, allowing the home or property owner to determine where best to invest renovation dollars.
- Do your part – REEP customers who take action on climate change are setting an example in the community while enjoying the benefits of reduced energy consumption.
Evaluator Info
Are you interested in becoming a Certified Energy Advisor? Click here to read the job description and certification requirements. To help you along your way, click here for some self study resources.
Price
Click here to learn how much an evaluation costs in your area.
Additional Resources
For customers who are thinking of purchasing a low-flow or dual-flush toilet as a part of the ecoENERGY program, click below.
The report entitled Maximum Performance Testing of Popular Toilet Models summarizes the characteristics of different models of water-efficient toilets. See Pages 16-55 for a list of toilets. Grant-qualifying toilets must meet the Los Angeles Supplementary Purchase Specifications (SPS)(see red column), must use 6 litres per flush or less, be able to handle 350 grams of waste or more. The report also covers water use, amount of waste toilets can handle, etc., and can help you decide which toilet is best for your home.