February 2024 HER+ and Canada Greener Homes Initiative Program Updates

February 05, 2024

The Home Efficiency Rebate Plus program, a co-delivered program between Enbridge Gas and the Canada Greener Homes Grant offering up to $10,000 in home renovation rebates, will not be accepting any new applicants as of end of day Monday, February 5^th, 2024. The HER+ page on the Enbridge Gas website cites overwhelming demand and participation in the program resulting in the program reaching capacity for its joint funding.

Additionally, NRCan has announced that the Canada Greener Homes Initiative will be entering a new, next phase in the upcoming weeks with targeted support for Canadian households with low-to-median incomes.

HER+ Program Updates – February 5, 2024

For Ontario homeowners who are currently in the process of completing their Home Efficiency Rebate Plus journey (the program co-delivered in Ontario by Enbridge Gas and the Canada Greener Homes Grant) or who were considering upgrades to receive rebates, here’s what you need to know:

1. Effective immediately (end of day Monday, February 5^th), Enbridge Gas will not be accepting any new applicants to the HER+ program. If you are a homeowner who has not completed a pre-retrofit energy assessment prior to Monday, February 5^th, or have a pre-retrofit energy assessment booked after February 5^th, 2024, you will not be eligible to enter the HER+ program.
2. Any homeowners who had a pre-retrofit energy assessment completed on or before Monday, February 5^th can continue with their retrofits and will continue to be eligible for funding.
3. The Canada Greener Homes Loan continues to remain open.

Overwhelming Demand and Interest

Alongside notice of these program changes, Natural Resources Canada provided examples of the Canada Greener Homes Grant program’s overwhelming success in their February 2024 update:

• More than 500,000 Canadians have applied for the Canada Greener Homes Grant in just over three years, including 227,500 applicants in Ontario.
• Homeowners who completed retrofit upgrades through the CGHG are positioned to save an average of $386 per year on their home energy bills, the equivalent of removing nearly 60,000 cars from the road.
• The number of applicants to the program has increased significantly since Fall 2023, increasing from an average of 830 applicants receiving a CGHG grant per day in November 2023 to 1,200 per day in mid-January 2024.

Updates Moving Forward

Natural Resources Canada states that the enormous success of the Canada Greener Homes Grant is resulting in the Government of Canada adjusting the program. A new phase of the Canada Greener Homes Initiative, intending to offer support targeted to Canadian households with low-to-median incomes, is planned to be revealed in the next few weeks.

The Canada Greener Homes Initiative has been instrumental in assisting over 165,000 Ontario households to significantly reduce their energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Great Northern Insulation has seen hundreds of homeowners utilize both the HER+ and previously the CGHG program since its inception in mid-2021. The success of the program reflects Ontario homeowner desire to improve home insulation and energy efficiency, lowering heating and cooling costs.

As always, Great Northern Insulation works to ensure our customers have access to the most up-to-date information regarding rebate programs, grants, and other cost-saving measures. We will continue to update and provide information on future initiatives and upcoming changes to the Canada Greener Homes Initiative.

If you would like to speak to a Great Northern Insulation consultant about your home’s insulation, energy efficiency, or upcoming projects, you can book a virtual estimate today to receive a fast, free quote.