By now, everyone’s aware of the Canada Greener Homes Grant. However, the specifics and requirements may be a bit confusing for some. What’s better than a grant from the Canadian government for home repairs and renovations?
One of the best ways to improve your home’s energy efficiency is windows replacement. Energy Star Certified windows help lower energy costs while also helping reduce the carbon footprint. If you’re concerned about the environment, new vinyl windows are, ideally, one of the ways to help care for the earth.
In this blog, look for details on the Greener Homes grant and the application process and benefits. Use this information to determine your eligibility for the grant. This blog also provides information on why replacing your windows benefits your home.
What is Canada’s Greener Homes Grant?
What exactly is meant by “greener homes?” Essentially, a green home helps reduce the carbon footprint and conserve energy, water, gas, oil, and other resources.
The Canada Government is working towards helping to eliminate climate change. This issue weighs heavily on those who are genuinely concerned about preserving the Earth for future generations. The government has allotted up to 2.6 billion dollars to be distributed over the next seven years to those homeowners that meet the requirements. This grant aims to provide homeowners in Canada with the ability to save money by reducing the amount of energy used in their homes.
The Canada Greener Grant provides a rebate of up to $5000 for Canadian homeowners. Eligibility for this grant requires those approved homeowners to replace their windows with more energy-efficient windows.
What Grants Are Available for Canadian Homeowners
The greener homes Grant Canada provides two rebate programs for homeowners in Canada. These rebates are as follows:
- Homeowners are eligible for a rebate of up to $5,000 towards greener homes via energy-efficient home refits. This includes energy-efficient doors and windows, as well as heat pumps.
- Homeowners may qualify for as much as $600 towards payment for a home energy evaluation via EnerGuide both before and after the renovations or repairs are completed.
Who Qualifies for the $5,000 Window Rebate?
Now that you understand what the Greener Homes Grant entails let us elaborate on the qualifications. Are you eligible for the grant? How do you apply? In this section, these and other questions about the grant are answered.
What Are Some Conditions of the $5000 Rebate for Homeowners?
Following are some general requirements for the rebate.
- The home must be the primary residence of the homeowner applying for the grant, and the house must be older than 6 months.
- The home must be one of the following:
- Row home
- Townhouse
- All-season cottage
- Single home
- Semi-detached house
- Those landlords who do not permanently reside in the home in question are not eligible for the rebate program.
- Those homes that are multi-units are not eligible for the heating equipment rebates portion of the grant.
What Retrofits Are Eligible for the Rebate?
It is imperative that you check if your potential retrofits meet the requirements before applying for the greener homes grant. The following retrofits are eligible for the grants under certain conditions:
Multi-Unit Residential Buildings (MURBs)
The National Building Code of Canada defines a low-rise MURB as a building with three or fewer stories, with a building height above ground and a building area no greater than 600 m2. MURBs must have a common area or be stacked. Side-by-side units are not considered MURBs, but row homes. As well, retirement homes are not eligible for the grant.
MURBs Are Eligible for the Following Retrofits Only:
- Air sealing
- Insulation
- Renewable energy
- Resiliency measures
- Windows and doors
Renewable Energy Systems
Renewable energy systems are those in which the energy derived from natural sources are replenished faster than or equal to the consumption rate. An example of renewable energy is solar energy. The grant offers a rebate for installing a solar photovoltaic system, or solar PV system complete with an inverter and panels, that convert sunlight to energy.
Eligibility Requirements for the Rebate for a Solar PV System Are as Follows:
- Online purchases only qualify if purchased from a Canadian distributor
- The PV system must consist of an inverter and at least one PV panel that adheres to CSA standards
- Peak power for the entire system has to be higher than (or equal to) 1.0 kw DC.
- Those with grid-connected systems need a letter of approval or special permission for interconnection. This is issued by the building authority or local electric company.
- All purchases for equipment must be made in Canada.
Thermostats
Homeowners may be eligible to receive a grant for programmable or smart thermostats. These systems will lower your energy bill, reduce your carbon footprint and help keep your home comfortable.
Eligibility Requirements for the Rebate for a Smart/Programmable Thermostat Are as Follows:
- All equipment purchased in Canada only
- A thermostat and resiliency measure is required in combination with another energy source
- All thermostats are required to be combined with energy efficiency retrofit measures required by the CGHG Initiative.
- All online purchases are required to be ordered from a Canadian distributor.
- ***New heat pumps that are installed with a brand-new thermostat are not eligible for the rebate program.
Air Sealing
As one of the best ways to reduce air drafts in your home, air sealing is one of the best retrofit improvements that are part of the grant. Energy efficiency is the first step to a greener home. A Renovation Upgrade Report provides homeowners with a goal to help reduce air leaks in their homes. A professional air-sealing analysis is required to qualify for Canada’s greener home rebate.
Space and Water Heating
As stated previously, boilers and furnaces are not eligible for the rebate, except for those who reside in off-grid and northern regions.
Space heaters account for more than sixty percent of the energy consumption in Canadian homes. Installing a heat pump is not only more energy efficient, it helps reduce the carbon footprint. While the initial purchase price is high, the long-term savings and the peace of mind that you are helping the environment are well worth the investment.
Insulation
The grant allows homeowners the ability to improve the insulation of their homes. Proper insulation reduces the rate of heat loss, which saves money while improving heating and cooling usage. Measured by both RSI value and R-values, insulation heat flow resistance is approved for rebate. However, all online or storefront purchases must be based in Canada.
The Following are Types of Insulation Eeligible for the Rebate
- Roof components (flat roof, attic, cathedral ceiling)
- Exposed floor
- Crawl space/basement
- Exterior walls
Windows and Doors
Installing new energy-efficient windows and doors is perhaps the best way to improve the energy efficiency of your Canadian home. Replacing the total window unit, including the frame, drastically lowers heating and cooling bills, keeps your home comfortable year-round, and works to end climate change. We suggest those Energy Star-certified windows, as they provide the most insulation and energy efficiency.
Eligibility Requirements for the Rebate for Windows Replacement are as Follows:
- Do not remove the Energy Star-certified labels from your windows until a post-retrofit evaluation is performed. Removing the stickers will invalidate your eligibility for a grant for replacing windows.
- To be eligible for grants for windows, all products must be purchased in Canada, regardless if they are online or in-store.
- Only the total replacement of windows is eligible for the rebate.
- Every rough opening is eligible for a green home grant between $250-5000.
For a quote for Canada greener homes grant windows, contact your local windows company.
What Retrofits Are Not Eligible for the Greener Home Grant?
The following retrofits are not eligible for the green homes grant Canada
- Those retrofits completed prior to December 1st, 2020
- Those retrofits that were completed without a pre-retrofit evaluation
- Air conditioners
- Skylights
- Roofs
- Any rented/leased equipment
- Boilers or furnaces, except those homes located in an off-grid or northern community
- Any products installed in addition to new homes built between EnerGuide pre- and post-retrofit evaluations.
- Tankless or storage water heaters, except for heat pump water heaters
How Do I Apply for the Grant?
- Await approval from the Natural Resources Canada
- Complete a pre- and post-retrofit evaluation by EnerGuide
- Complete at least one retrofit recommended per the pre-retrofit evaluation.
- Purchase all products and equipment from NRCan’s approved list
- All products, parts, and equipment must be purchased in Canada.
- If applicable, any installation requires professional installation
- Retain copies or originals of all documentation until at least March 31st, 2028.
When Does the Rebate Program Expire?
The Canada Greener Homes Grant has been scheduled to run for around seven years. Keep a lookout for updates to see if there are any exceptions or extensions. The government will approve up to $5000 in grants for homeowners to upgrade their homes’ energy efficiency. The government will allot approximately 700,000 of these grants to households that meet the aforementioned requirements.
