Net zero greenhouse gas emissions: this is the goal that Canada aims to achieve by the year 2050. To achieve this, the government encourages the population to carry out the necessary renovations to make their homes more ecological and therefore less energy-consuming. However, the total cost of the work can sometimes be very high. The Canadian Greener Homes Initiative was thus established in order to financially support homeowners.

What is the Canadian Greener Homes Initiative?

The Canadian Greener Homes Initiative is a government program to help homeowners who want to make their homes greener so that Canada can reach its goal of “net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050". It then subsidizes part of the costs associated with EnerGuide evaluations and renovation work. It also offers an interest-free loan repayable in 10 years for major works if needed.

How much are the grants available under the Canadian Greener Homes Initiative?

Grants offered under the Canadian Greener Homes Initiative vary by case:

• Between $125 and $5,000 for residential renovations;
• Up to $600 for EnerGuide evaluations.

Interest-free loans can range from $5,000 to $40,000, depending on the major work to be done.

What are the eligibility criteria for this program?

Before applying for a grant, it is advisable to first check if the applicant, their home, and the work they want to do are eligible.

Eligible candidates

Applicants eligible for the grants are as follows:

• Owner whose house to be renovated represents the main residence. Moreover, you will be asked for proofs such as a property tax bill number as well as a government-issued ID showing your address.
• Aboriginal government or organization and Aboriginal housing management organizations that formally cooperate with an Aboriginal government or organization. In this case, it is possible to submit a single grant application for a group of houses to facilitate the process. However, it must be presented by the official owner of all accommodations.

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Eligible homes

Now, here are the homes that are eligible for the grant:

• Townhouses;
• permanently moored floating homes;
• Single-family and semi-detached homes;
• Mobile homes on a permanent foundation;
• Row houses;
• Residential part of a multi-use building;
• Small multi-unit residential building: 3 floors maximum with a floor area of 600 m² at most.

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Eligible renovations

The renovations to be undertaken and the eligible equipment will be communicated by the agent in charge of the EnerGuide evaluation before the work. In fact, this step is mandatory.

How do I get a grant under the Canadian Greener Homes Initiative?

Here are the steps to follow to obtain a grant once the eligibility check has been completed.

1- Select the organization responsible for the EnerGuide evaluation and submit an application

First, you need to select the authorized organization that will assess EnerGuide the home and apply through the Canada Greener Homes Grant portal. However, the following provinces have their own programs for EnerGuide evaluation:

• Quebec: send the request directly to Rénoclimat Québec;
• Nova Scotia: submit the application directly to Home Energy Assessment Nova Scotia;
• New Brunswick and West Kootenay or British Columbia: requests will be directed to provincial agencies.

2- Schedule the EnerGuide home assessment and apply for a loan if necessary

You must then proceed with an EnerGuide evaluation of the house by an energy efficiency advisor certified by Natural Resources Canada. His intervention aims to measure the energy efficiency of housing. Then, you can apply for an interest-free loan to cover the cost of eligible renovations recommended by the agent. To do this, you will have to present at least an estimate of the expenses to be expected. However, note that you will only receive the amount borrowed when the work is completed and after the EnerGuide evaluation at the end of the renovations. Also, you are not eligible for the loan if you file your application after the start or at the end of the work.

3- Start renovation work

After the EnerGuide assessment, the agent will give you a list of the renovations they recommend for your home. Study it and select the ones that correspond to your project and your budget, then start the work.

4- Conduct an EnerGuide evaluation

Once the work is complete, schedule an EnerGuide assessment so that the authorized agent can see the improvement in the energy efficiency of your home. You will also need to provide a few documents that you can send by mail or online.

5- Submit the grant application

Finally, you will receive an email inviting you to confirm the final amount of your grant. Once done, all you have to do is wait for the check to be mailed to you within 30 to 40 days.

More information about the Canadian Greener Homes Initiative

Here is some important additional information you need to know about this program.

• The EnerGuide evaluation is a mandatory step in order to benefit from the grant.
• You must complete at least one of the eligible renovations recommended by the energy efficiency advisor to be eligible for financial assistance.
• All materials and equipment must be on NRCan's list of eligible products and purchased in Canada, even if you choose an online distributor. Their installation must also be carried out by a licensed professional.
• A house that is less than 6 months old is considered new and is not eligible for the grant. However, its owner will be able to submit a request when it has exceeded 6 months.
• In the majority of cases, EnerGuide agents recommend installing a heat pump.
• It is strongly recommended that you keep all documents related to the Initiative until 2028.

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Assessment of the progress of the Canadian Greener Homes Initiative during this first year

The Canadian Greener Homes Initiative was officially launched in May 2021. The total value of the program, which is expected to last 7 years, is $2.6 billion. This should make it possible to offer around 700,000 grants. Below are the figures concerning the progress of the project during the first year. Please note that all information is as of June 08, 2022.

• 171,495 applicants registered for the program through the national portal and over 50,000 applications were received through partner programs.
• 10,291 owners received the grants, for a total of approximately $38.6 million.
• Grant payments were made within 40 days of receiving the required documentation, including final invoices, in over 90% of cases.
• Nearly 200 homeowners in rural and remote areas have already been connected to licensed energy consultants.
• 446 energy advisors were trained, bringing the total number of licensed professionals across Canada down to 1,400. In fact, more than a dozen agreements have been signed with governments and organizations in Canada to facilitate the recruitment and training of new energy advisors.
• More than 3,200 homeowners received grants to install a heat pump, the solution recommended by EnerGuide evaluators.

Finally, loans for greener homes have been available since June 17, 2022.

Measures taken to improve the program

While the data is satisfactory, the government is continuing to take steps to improve the program, including expediting the disbursement of grants.

• It is now possible to change service organizations and remove duplicate accounts via the national online portal thanks to a new feature.
• Candidates can now determine their eligibility for the program prior to applying using a screening tool.
• Each status window now comes with additional information to help candidates understand how the process is going.

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Conclusion

In addition to the undeniable positive environmental impacts, a greener home reduces your electricity bill by consuming less energy. Therefore, it is in your best interest to take the necessary steps to make your home energy efficient. In addition, it is possible to benefit from grants or take out an interest-free loan repayable in 10 years to cover part of your expenses related to renovations and EnerGuide evaluations as part of the Greener Homes Initiative. The process to obtain the financial support adapted to your project is now easier thanks to the new functionalities added to the portal, the aim being to speed up the payment of grants. More than 10,200 owners have already been paid in full.