Home Energy Retrofit Program
To help homeowners save energy, save money and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Ontario government has created the Ontario Home Energy Retrofit Program. The program provides homeowners with grants of up to $5,000 for home energy improvements.
How to Apply
The following information explains how the program works and how you can begin to help Ontario build a culture of conservation and a healthier environment:
For general information about the program call the Ministry's 1-888-668-4636 INFO hotline.
To apply to the program follow the steps below:
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Step 1 : Visit the Natural Resources Canada site to get a list of licensed home auditors (energy advisors) in your community. Enter the first three digits of your postal code or your province/territory to find an energy advisor near you.
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Step 2 : Get quotes from several licensed home auditors and book the audit. The auditor will provide a thorough basement to attic assessment of the home's energy use and will provide a written report on ways to save energy and information on grant amounts available for various measures.
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Step 3 : The report is submitted by the auditor to Natural Resources Canada and on notification that a qualifying audit has been completed, Ontario reimburses the homeowner 50 per cent of the cost of this first audit up to $150. The homeowner has up to 18 months to complete work on the recommendations.
Examples of possible measures include installing a solar-powered domestic water heating system, installing a high-efficiency gas furnace or replacing an old central air conditioner with an Energy Star model.
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Step 4 : When work is completed, contact your licensed auditor to book a verification audit. The auditor returns and verifies which of the recommended measures have been installed and measures the efficiency improvement in the home. There may be a cost for this audit.
The auditor completes the paperwork to apply for the grants and submits it on behalf of the homeowner.
