Want Help Figuring Out If You're Eligible? Call Us at 1.800.265.1914 or Submit an Inquiry Here
  As of January 4, 2023, Enbridge Gas is co-delivering the Canada Greener Homes Grant in co-operation with Natural Resources Canada. This new co-delivered program is called the Home Efficiency Rebate Program Plus (HER+).
Click here for full Home Efficiency Rebate Program Plus (HER+) details.

What is the Home Efficiency Rebate?

The Home Efficiency Rebate initiative offers homeowners all across Ontario up to $5,000 in-home reno rebates.

You can receive rebates for upgrading your home’s: insulation, airtightness, windows, doors, skylights, furnace, and boiler. With a focus on home energy efficiency, these rebates give you an immediate payback and lower hydro bills. To be eligible for this initiative, you must be a Union Gas or an Enbridge Gas customer.

Is the Home Efficiency Rebate open?

Yes! As of February 16, 2021, in-home energy audits for the Home Efficiency Rebate are once again permitted in the home. At this time, the Home Efficiency Rebate program and related in-home energy audits are open - Ontario homeowners can receive their pre-work home energy audit and qualify for the Home Efficiency Rebate immediately.

What is new in the Home Efficiency Rebate as of September 2020?

On September 21, 2020, the Home Efficiency Rebate was updated with some exciting new changes. Many insulation rebate amounts were drastically increased, and a new bonus rebate was introduced for homeowners that increase the insulation of the entirety of their foundation wall insulation - either by upgrading basement wall insulation, crawlspace insulation, or a combination of the two! 

The maximum rebate amount available through the Home Efficiency Rebate remains $5,000, but upgrading just a few areas of your home now results in higher rebate amounts than ever before. With the Bonus Rebate system, which provides additional rebate amounts for completing more energy upgrades within your home, these new rebates add up to big savings fast!

Homeowners need to have two energy audits conducted to qualify - one before renovations start, and one after they finish.

How do you Qualify for the Home Efficiency Rebate?

To qualify for the Home Efficiency Rebate, homeowners need to have two energy audits conducted. One before the renovations have started and one after the renovations have been finalized. The common pathway for attaining rebates as a homeowner is as follows:

  1. Contact an approved Service Organization with registered energy advisors who are capable of conducting a pre-renovation energy audit.
  2. Use the information provided in the energy audit to choose at least two applicable home improvements (the energy audit and energy advisor will help you choose the most cost-effective option).
  3. Have a reputable and professional contractor (such as GNI) perform all of your chosen renovations.
  4. Have the energy advisor conduct a post-renovation energy audit within 120 days of your pre-renovation energy audit to check the performance of the new upgrades, and submit all the necessary paperwork.
  5. Receive the rebate cheque in the mail in approximately 60 days.

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Who Can Apply for the Home Efficiency Rebate?

Professional insulation improvements can reduce your yearly utility bills by up to 20%

Any homeowner and customer of either Union Gas or the Enbridge Gas is eligible to apply for the Home Efficiency Rebate.

To schedule a time for your pre-renovation energy audit, and to begin taking the first steps towards making your home energy efficiency improvements more affordable, contact an approved Service Organization.

 

Which Insulation Upgrades are Qualified for the Home Efficiency Rebate?

As a homeowner, it may seem difficult to determine which rebates are the most cost-effective for you to renovate or retrofit towards. However, with the pre-reno energy audit that is part of the Home Efficiency Rebate process, all of the possible improvements in your home are clearly laid out in front of you. It also includes detailed information regarding which areas of your home are able to be most affordably improved. With this information, you can choose the home improvement measures that will not only qualify you for the biggest rebate but will also save you the most energy and improve your home by the greatest amount per dollar invested.

Below are the rebate amounts and details for each area of the home. They may seem a bit daunting, but Great Northern Insulation is here to help!

Bonus Rebates

Bonus Amount  Description $150 For completing 3 energy upgrades of the sections listed below $500 For completing 4 energy upgrades of the sections listed below $750 For completing 5 energy upgrades of the sections listed below $500 For basement and/or crawl space wall insulation if 100% coverage is achieved. A minimum of 5% of total foundation exterior must be insulated in order to qualify. Bonus is in addition to the rebate amounts listed for Basement insulation.

Basement Insulation

Rebate Amount Description $1,250 For adding at least R23 to 100% of basement walls. $750 For R12 to 100% of basement walls $1,000 For adding at least R23 to 100% of crawl space walls $500 For adding R12 to 100% of crawl space walls $1,000 For adding at least R32 to 100% of floor above crawl space floor $500 BONUS For basement and/or crawl space insulation if 100% coverage is achieved. A minimum of 5% of total foundation exterior must be insulated to qualify. Bonus is in addition to the above rebate amounts for basement insulation.

Rebates are prorated based on the basement or crawlspace area improved, with a minimum 20% of total basement crawlspace or wall area required to be upgraded in order to qualify. The 20% minimum area drops to 5% if the retrofit upgrades result in 100% total coverage of basement or crawlspace walls/floor above crawl space. When both a basement and a crawl space are present, all applicable grants are prorated to a maximum of $1,000 based on the total wall area.

The $500 bonus rebate amount for foundation exterior walls includes pony wall, basement walls, and crawlspace exterior walls, but not floor above the crawlspace. 

As an example, upgrading 20% of the total basement wall area by adding an R23 will result in eligibility for a rebate of $250, or 20% of the maximum $1,250 rebate amount. Upgrading the entirety of the total basement wall area by adding an R23 will result in eligibility for a basement wall rebate of $1,250 and the bonus $500 rebate for achieving 100% coverage, for a final rebate eligibility total of $1,750.

Attic Insulation

Rebate Amount Description $750 For increasing attic insulation to at least R60 from R35 or less                                 $750 For increasing cathedral/flat roof insulation by at least R14

Rebates are prorated based on the total ceiling area improved, with a minimum 20% of total ceiling area required to be upgraded in order to qualify. The rebate for any combination of attic, cathedral ceiling, and flat roof cannot exceed $750.

As an example, upgrading 20% of the total ceiling area from R35 or less to R60 will result in eligibility for a rebate of $130, or 20% of the maximum $750 rebate amount. Upgrading the entirety of the ceiling area from R35 or less to R60 will result in eligibility for the maximum rebate amount of $750.

Exterior Wall Insulation

Rebate Amount Description $3,000 For adding at least R20 to 100% of the building                                                                                       $1,750 For adding at least R9 to 100% of building to achieve a minimum of R12 $1,000 For adding at least R3.8 to 100% of building to achieve a minimum of R12

Rebates are prorated based on the total exterior wall area being upgraded, with a minimum 20% of total exterior wall area required to be upgraded in order to qualify. For semi-detached homes, rebates are 75% of the amount shown, or 50% of the amount shown for interior row houses.

As an example, upgrading 20% of the total exterior wall insulation by adding at least R20 will result in eligibility for a rebate of $600, or 20% of the maximum $3,000 rebate amount. Upgrading the entirety of the exterior wall insulation by adding at least R20 will result in eligibility for the maximum rebate amount of $3,000.

 

Air Sealing

Rebate Amount Description $150 For achieving 10% or more above base air sealing target $100 For achieving base air sealing target

Air sealing a home is one of the most effective methods of increasing energy efficiency and eliminating drafty conditions around doors, windows, pot lights, ceiling fixtures, and more. The effectiveness of completed air sealing upgrades is gauged by comparing the pre- and post-work energy audits to discover how much of a decrease has been made in the overall ACH (air changes per hour) of the home.

Non-Insulation Rebates and Bonus Rebates are also Available

There are a number of rebates available to homeowners who improve the energy efficiency of their home outside of making insulation improvements, and bonus rebates for homeowners who improve multiple areas of their home all at once. Your registered energy advisor and the information provided in your energy audit will help you determine which rebates are the best for you to renovate towards.

Additionally, the Home Efficiency Rebate initiative will provide up to $600 to help cover the cost of your pre-renovation and post-renovation energy audits, which is included in the $5000 total rebate maximum.

Furnace/Boiler

Rebate Amount Description $1,000 For replacing a less than 90% AFUE natural gas boiler with a 90% or higher condensing natural gas boiler $250 For replacing a less than 96% AFUE natural gas furnace with a 96% or higher condensing natural gas furnace

In order to qualify for a furnace rebate, at least two other eligible retrofit upgrades must be finished to qualify. 

Water Heater

Rebate Amount Description $400 For replacing your water heater with 0.8 EF (tank) or 0.9EF (tankless) ENERGY STAR qualified natural gas water heater

There is a maximum one water heater rebate per home. Switching to/from an electric water heater does not qualify for the rebate. Replacing a heating system and water heater with a combo system counts as one measure and qualifies for the water heater rebate only. Replacing an existing combo system with a furnace/boiler and water heater counts as one measure and qualifies for water heater rebate only.

Windows/Doors/Skylights

Rebate Amount Description $40 For each window, door, or skylight replaced with an ENERGY STAR qualified model

The $40 rebate is per rough opening. Bay windows are considered one rough opening.

Where are the Other Rebate Programs?

After Union Gas was purchased by Enbridge Gas, the need for a streamlined approach to home energy efficiency rebates became increasingly necessary. As of May 1st, 2019 both the Union Gas Home Reno Rebate Program and the Enbridge Gas Home Energy Conservation Program have been combined to provide you with one source for rebates: the Home Efficiency Rebate.

As an added bonus to Enbridge Gas customers, they no longer have to reach a minimum of 10% natural gas savings per project, as was necessary in the older program.


 

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Can I get window rebates?

    Yes! If you follow the rebate application process and qualify, you will receive $40 for every rough opening you replace with an ENERGY STAR qualified model.

  2. Can I get insulation rebates?

    Absolutely! There are a number of substantial rebates available to homeowners who improve their home’s insulation. Also, as part of the September 2020 update to the Home Efficiency Rebate, there is a bonus $500 rebate for basement and/or crawl space insulation if 100% foundation wall coverage is achieved.

  3. Can I get HVAC rebates?

    Definitely! There is up to a $1000 rebate available to homeowners who upgrade their furnace or boiler by the specified amounts (see the chart above).

  4. Where do I sign up?

    The first thing you should do to help your home qualify is to get in touch with an approved Service Organization that can conduct a pre-renovation energy audit. From there, your energy advisor will assist you with your application.

  5. How do I know if my home will qualify?

    You are able to apply for the Home Efficiency Rebate if you are a Union Gas or Enbridge Gas customer, and your home is either a semi-detached, detached, row townhouse, or mobile home. To qualify, you also need to keep all of your energy upgrade receipts, perform at least two eligible upgrades, and complete a post-renovation energy assessment without exceeding 120 days between pre- and post-work assessments.

Program Changelog

The Home Efficiency Rebate can be updated, expanded, or changed at any time.

The current version of the Home Efficiency Rebate was last updated on June 3, 2021. 

June 3, 2021:

  • Pre- and post-work energy audit reimbursement increased from $550 to $600
  • Maximum attic rebate amount increased from $650 to $750

Contact GNI Today - Your Reputable Contractor
For The Home Efficiency Rebate Initiative

“The staff at Great Northern insulation are very helpful and professional. The initial spray in the house was done in a timely manner and was installed perfectly. They later came back to remove the old insulation in our attic and again their staff was very courteous and professional. We are waiting to have the remaining insulation added to our attic and they have been very accommodating of our schedules. I would not hesitate to recommend. Thank you Tyler, Derek, and Dylan for great work, especially in the attic through the heat.”

Laurie

“Over the past several years, and two different houses, I have purchased just about every service that GNI sells. I just wanted to say that I have always been pleased with the people I have dealt with, their skills, professionalism, and dedication to doing the best job possible. It makes one aspect of home ownership less stressful!”

Bill Rathborne

“We live in an older home and recently had it insulated and air sealed by Great Northern Insulation. Since the work was completed, we've noticed a dramatic decrease in our heating and air conditioning bills, as well as much more comfort in our home. Dollar for dollar, proper insulation is an effective way to save energy.”

Lou Brehm