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ENERGY GRANTS: The federal government is offering $5,000 grants for home energy upgrades, which includes adding high-performance skylights and windows. The program runs to next March. Photo: Velux
The federal government has announced it is extending the ecoENERGY program, which provides homeowners with grants of up to $5,000 for construction projects that improve energy efficiency, such as heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), insulation, air sealing and new windows and doors. NAIMA Canada, a trade association for North American fibre glass, rock wool and slag wool manufacturers, said continuation of the program “means employment for building suppliers, heating and ventilation technicians, renovators and related trades people, home energy auditors and the people making insulation.” Natural Resources Canada’s Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE) administers the ecoENERGY program. To qualify, applicants must first register. They must also complete all renovations, obtain a post-retrofit evaluation and sign an application form no later than March 31, 2012. The program’s grant table includes HVAC, domestic hot water equipment, insulation, air sealing, windows, doors, skylights and water conservation. EcoENERGY is intended for include single detached and attached homes, including row housing, duplexes and triplexes, four-season cottages, mobile homes on a permanent foundation and even permanently-moored floating homes. Some condo buildings are eligible for the grant if there are three stories or less, and there are a maximum of 20 units in the building. Some insulation manufacturers are lobbying to have the grant program extended, but home builders have applauded the program. CHBA President Vince Laberge said: “This announcement means that homeowners can begin the process of making their homes more energy efficient, right away.” The program is complemented by the government’s on-going support for the R-2000 initiative, the EnerGuide Rating System and ENERGY STAR for New Homes. By requiring written receipts for expenses eligible for a grant, the program has the added benefit of encouraging people to work with professional renovators. This will bolster the government’s efforts to combat the underground cash economy in home renovation services, Faberge said. The program is complemented by the government’s on-going support for the R-2000 initiative, the EnerGuide Rating System and Energy Star for New Homes. Copyright Real Estate Weekly
