Canada Greener Homes Grant

Launched on May 27, 2021, the Greener Homes Grant offers Canadian homeowners up to 700,000 grants of up to $5,000 to complete energy-efficient retrofit upgrades to their homes, including insulation upgrades.

The initiative is part of the 2020 Fall Economic Statement, where it was announced that Natural Resources Canada would be provided with $2.6 billion over 7 years to help Canadian homeowners improve their overall energy efficiency.

As Ontario's leading insulation and building envelope experts, Great Northern Insulation provides professionally installed insulation and air sealing services that help Ontario homeowners qualify for the Canada Greener Homes Grant. Whether you're interested in upgrading your attic, exterior walls, crawlspace, basement, garage, exposed floor, or overall home air sealing, GNI can help guide you through the Greener Homes Grant process. Additionally, the Greener Homes Grant can be combined with the Enbridge Home Efficiency Rebate or other rebate programs available in Ontario.

By improving home energy efficiency and airtightness, Canadians can decrease their overall energy usage and carbon footprint. The Greener Homes Grant helps Canadians to lower heating and cooling costs year-round, improve their understanding of what makes a home efficient, and band together to create more energy-efficient, sustainable communities.

Eligibility

The Greener Homes Grant is available Canada-wide to eligible homeowners, regardless of location.

The following property types are eligible for the Greener Homes Grant:

• Single and semi-detached houses
• Row housing and townhomes
• Mobile homes on a permanent foundation
• Permanently-moored floating homes
• Low-rise multi-unit residential buildings (provided they are under three storeys or 600m² [6,458ft²] in footprint)
• Mixed-use buildings (residential portion only, provided they are under three storeys or 600m² [6,458ft²] in footprint)
• All season cottages

Additionally, the homeowner must provide proof of ownership and be able to show that the home is registered as your primary residence. Only one homeowner per home can register for the Greener Homes Grant.

Indigenous governments, organizations, housing management bodies, and other representative organizations (including Indigenous organizations with formal partnerships with Indigenous governments or organizations) are also eligible for the Greener Homes Grant. Indigenous applicants can submit multiple homes, including those that are not the owner's primary residence. The home must still be owned by the applicant and occupied by an Indigenous household.

Important Program Notes & Benefits

• The cost of the pre- and post-work energy audits (EnerGuide evaluations) is reimbursed as part of the Greener Homes Grant, up to a maximum of $600. The homeowner is responsible for the upfront cost.
• The grant amounts listed below also cover the tax amount of your retrofit costs, an exciting benefit not found in many rebate or grant programs.
• The federal grants provided through the Greener Homes Grant are not taxable and do not have to be declared as income.
• The Greener Homes Grant is retroactive to homeowners who have completed eligible retrofits and met the eligibility requirements after December 1, 2020.
  • Homeowners who completed only the post-work energy audit after December 1, 2020 are eligible for a maximum reimbursement of $200 for the post-work energy audit.
• Any grant amounts received through the Greener Homes Program cannot exceed the cost of the individual measures as displayed on your invoice.
  • For instance, if your exterior wall insulation costs $4,000 but you are eligible for the maximum exterior wall insulation grant amount of $5,000, you will only receive a maximum of $4,000.

Process

The Greener Homes Grant is similar in process to other rebate programs such as the Enbridge Home Efficiency Rebate. Qualifying for the Greener Homes Grant requires a pre-work energy audit, the completion of at least one energy efficiency retrofit upgrade, and a post-work energy audit following the upgrade(s).

Great Northern Insulation recommends the following path for our Ontario customers:

1. Complete a free assessment from Great Northern Insulation for an insulation quote to maximize savings.
2. Complete your online registration on the Greener Homes Grant Portal. The homeowner is responsible for this step.
3. Complete a pre-work home energy audit (EnerGuide evaluation) with a Registered Energy Advisor. The cost of the pre- and post-work energy audits, up to $600, will be reimbursed as part of the grant finalization.
4. Complete at least one energy efficiency retrofit (two retrofits if stacking with the Home Efficiency Rebate) that is both eligible and recommended in the energy audit report.
5. Complete a post-work home energy audit (EnerGuide evaluation) with a Registered Energy Advisor.
6. Upload all documents online via the Greener Homes Grant portal to complete all requirements and receive your reimbursement.
7. Keep all documentation until March 31, 2028.

Start Step 1: Book a Free Assessment with GNI Today

Insulation & Air Sealing Grant Amounts Overview

• Up to $600 for the pre- and post-work home energy audits (EnerGuide evaluations).

• Up to $1,800 for attic/ceiling insulation.

• Up to $5,000 for exterior wall insulation.

• Up to $350 for exposed floor insulation.

• Up to $400 for basement slab insulation.

• Up to $1,000 for air sealing upgrades.

• Up to $1,500 for basement wall insulation.

• Up to $1,300 for crawl space wall insulation OR up to $800 for crawlspace ceiling insulation. If a homeowner is also insulating the basement, the maximum they can receive for insulating both areas is $1,500.

Insulation & Air Sealing - Detailed Grant Amounts

Attic & Ceiling Insulation

Up to $1,800 is available for attic or ceiling insulation upgrades that insulate a minimum of 20% of the total area of the attic or ceiling.

Exterior Wall Insulation

Up to $5,000 is available for exterior wall insulation upgrades that insulates a minimum of 20% of the exterior wall area (excluding foundation walls, which are a separate grant - see below in Basement/Foundation Insulation).

The total reimbursement amount is prorated based on the total percentage of the wall that a homeowner chooses to insulate. If you insulate 50% of your wall area, you will receive 50% of the amounts listed below. To achieve the full amounts below, 100% of the wall area must be insulated.

For homeowners of a semi-detached or end unit row house, the maximum grant eligibility is 75% of the below amounts. For a middle-unit row house, the maximum grant eligibility is 50% of the below amounts. There are no grant incentives for insulating walls between individual units.

Basement/Foundation Insulation

Up to $1,500 is available for basement or foundation wall insulation that insulates a minimum of 20% of the wall area of the foundation, including basement and crawl space walls.

For homes with both a basement and crawlspace, the below grants are pro-rated to a maximum of $1,500. The below grants can be combined to increase the total grant amount. For instance, a homeowner can improve the basement wall insulation alongside insulating the entire basement header to receive both grant amounts.

For homeowners of a semi-detached or end unit row house, the maximum grant eligibility is 75% of the below amounts. For a middle-unit row house, the maximum grant eligibility is 50% of the below amounts. There are no grant incentives for insulating walls between individual units.

Crawlspace Insulation

Up to $1,300 is available for adding insulation to crawlspace walls and header or crawlspace ceiling. The entire crawlspace area defined in your home energy audit must be insulated in order to receive the below amounts. If you are also insulating your basement, the maximum available grant is $1,500 between both basement and crawlspace.

For homeowners of a semi-detached or end unit row house, the maximum grant eligibility is 75% of the below amounts. For a middle-unit row house, the maximum grant eligibility is 50% of the below amounts.

Garage/Exposed Floor Insulation

A $350 grant is available for adding a minimum of R-20 to the entire exposed floor area, provided the exposed floor area is a minimum of 120 square feet or 11 square meters. This grant includes overhangs and floors above unheated spaces, including unheated garages. Crawlspaces are a separate grant - above in Crawl Space Insulation).

Air Sealing Upgrades

Up to $1,000 is available for air sealing upgrades that improve your home's airtightness, as defined on your pre- and post-work energy audits.

The Renovation Upgrade Report (RUR) obtained following your pre-and post-work energy upgrades will provide the airtightness target for your home. By having a professional company like Great Northern Insulation complete air sealing upgrades in addition to your insulation upgrades, you can achieve larger grant values for surpassing the airtightness target as outlined in your Renovation Upgrade Report.

Click here to start your Greener Homes Grant journey with a free quote from GNI