If you’re considering utilizing solar power, we’ve got some great news for you. The Canadian government may substantially help you make your home greener, and you may receive a refund or an interest-free loan to install solar panels on your property. The maximum refund is $5,000, and the interest-free loan may be as much as $40,000. Sounds like a deal, doesn’t it?
At Panel Upgrade Experts, we are pleased to provide you with the method to significantly cut your solar installation expenses. In this blog article, we have developed an overview of the program for you to have a better understanding of the process and the advantages it offers.
What is the ultimate goal?
The ultimate goal of any homeowner is to save money on energy while also becoming more independent in energy production. The government is also interested in assisting us in making our homes more energy-efficient, which is essential to Canada’s 2030 climate change targets and 2050 net-zero greenhouse gas emissions objective. Sustainable and renewable energy is the key to a brighter and healthier future for our country and the planet as a whole. So, let’s move on to the program features.
The overview of the Canada Greener Homes Initiative
The Canada Greener Homes Initiative provides funding to homeowners for energy-efficiency retrofits. Home insulation, windows, and air-sealing doors are all examples of eligible retrofits. Solar energy system installations are also eligible for funding and loan assistance under the Grant and Loan programs, which is extremely important for us.
It’s critical that you fully comprehend the eligibility criteria and initiative requirements to ensure that you qualify for the refund or loans at the end of the process. We’ll go through the stages of receiving financial aid so you can understand them better.
Verify your eligibility for the initiative
To get this grant, you must own one of the eligible property types and have it as your primary residence. It means that if you rent the property or are a tenant, you cannot join the program. The restriction also applies to homeowners who have just built their home, and it is less than 6 months old. But it is only temporary, so you may apply when your house has been there for half a year. It’s also worth noting that you should reside where you aim to perform retrofitting and be able to provide evidence of it.
We advise you to complete the brief survey on the official website, which will help you determine your eligibility. Then you can select a registered service organization to perform the home energy-efficiency evaluation and confidently submit your application to Natural Resources Canada.
Conduct two EnerGuide evaluations
To be eligible, you must complete both a pre- and post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation. A pleasant bonus: as a maximum contribution toward the entire expenses of your EnerGuide evaluations, you may receive up to $600 in rebate.
Pre-retrofit evaluation
EnerGuide’s pre-retrofit evaluation offers professional advice on which retrofits are most suitable for your home. It will also give you ideas on how to improve your home’s energy efficiency. If you’re thinking about installing solar panels on your house, this information will help you learn how to get the most of the renewable energy you generate at home.
The evaluation usually begins outside your home and then moves inside. The energy advisor will evaluate and record data from your home’s components that influence its energy efficiency. Afterward, they will submit the information to an energy simulation software program to calculate your house’s EnerGuide rating. The lower the rating, the more energy-efficient your home is. The information collected includes:
- A blower door test result that determines the airtightness of your property
- The level of insulation in your home (checking walls, ceilings, and basement)
- The characteristics of all windows and exterior doors
- The size and performance of your heating, air conditioning, and water heating systems
- The characteristics of your ventilation systems
- Other data relevant to the property’s energy efficiency.
This is a valid information source for how to prepare your house for the EnerGuide evaluation.
Post-retrofit evaluation
After the retrofit projects are completed, you should contact your service company or energy advisor to schedule an EnerGuide post-retrofit evaluation. The EnerGuide evaluation following the retrofit shows how much energy was saved and how much greenhouse gas emissions were reduced as a result of the retrofits. It includes:
- an updated EnerGuide rating;
- an updated Homeowner Information Sheet that lists all the improvements made;
An energy advisor will confirm the completion of retrofits and estimate the grant amount you could be eligible for. Then your service organization will submit all this information to the Canada Greener Homes portal. The officers will review your files and send you the grant total for your confirmation.
Retrofit your home (may include solar installation)
A Renovation Upgrade Report, which is included in the pre-retrofit house evaluation, is required to begin your home retrofitting project. It contains your home’s energy efficiency rating and prioritizes improvements based on their effect. It is up to you to pick the one that appeals most to you, but first, see if a retrofit is eligible through the initiative.
The following retrofits are covered by the Canada Green Homes Grant (followed by the maximum sum of refund):
- home insulation ($5,000)
- air sealing ($1,000)
- windows and doors ($5,000)
- thermostat ($50)
- space and water heating ($5,000)
- solar photovoltaic system ($5,000)
- resiliency measures ($2,625)
An interest-free loan of up to $40,000 (Optional)
You may apply for a loan once you’ve received your pre-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation and determined which retrofits you want to perform. The loan will assist you with the expenditure of energy efficiency improvements that are both eligible and encouraged by your energy advisor. You must provide at least one retrofit cost estimate when applying for a loan. You can discover more information about the Canada Greener Homes Loan here.