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.
