Get Paid to Invest in Your Greener Home

Renovating is costly, but there are grants available from the Federal and Provincial governments. If you are renovating or investing in green real estate you should be taking advantage of incentive programs including ecoEnergy. As much as 10,000 dollars in grants are available for green home improvements ranging from high efficiency furnace replacement to caulking and sealing the air leaks in your home.

Anyone planning a renovation should consider getting an ecoEnergy audit. The money invested in an ecoEnergy audit will save you money and help you prioritize energy savings for your green home. Grants are available for the following, and your ecoEnergy auditor will file the paperwork for you.

Following is a shortened list of ecoEnergy grants (to a max total of $10,000.00):

                                                                                    Fed                  Prov

Furnace (EnergyStar® 90% AFUE or better                        $300                $300

Furnace (EnergyStar® 92% AFUE or better                        $500                $500

            with DC variable speed motor

Attic Insulation (improve R12 to R50)                              $600                $600

Insulating 20% of walls                                                  $180                $180

Insulating 100% of walls (adding R9 or more)                 $1500              $1500

Insulate Basement                                                       $100-$1000     $100-$1000

Replace Doors/Windows                                                  $30/window     $30/window

Ground Source Heat Pump                                             $3500              $3500

Solar Domestic Hot Water System                                    $500                $500

How the Process Works - It's So Easy:

Call a local energy auditor. Have a pre audit done by an NRCan Certified energy auditor. Complete your renovations and improvements. Have a post audit done. The ecoEnergy auditor will remit your file for ecoEnergy grants and matching provincial grants.

Matching Provincial Rebates:

In the previous funding program the federal government was alone in offering grants for home owners to retrofit their houses. According to Ontario's Energy Minister, Gerry Philips "We have launched a number of initiatives to help home owners conserve energy and go green through our energy retrofit program, and receive PST rebates on EnrgyStar® appliances". This means that there is an additional matching provincial grant rebate of up to $5,000.00 for a total of $10,000 in potential rebates.

The Bottom Line:

"There has never been a better time for home owners to make their homes more energy efficient, with rebates from both Federal and Provincial government while making a real contribution to the environment" says Tracy Chong, from Green$aver.org. In my view, as energy prices continue to climb there are amazing opportunities to lower your home heating, cooling and lighting costs, improving your quality of life and the value of your home. Remember: energy is the second price tag of any house.

Visit http://www.ecoaction.gc.ca/ and http://www.energy.gov.on.ca/ to learn more.

Some Toronto Auditors:

AmeriSpec of Canada                                                    1 866 284 6010

Green$aver                                                                     416 203 3106

Pro Home & Building Inspections Inc.                                416-651-7778

 For more green renovation ideas visit http://www.evolutiongreen.com/