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Tag: Home Energy Savings

  • New Brunswick Home Energy Savings

    New Brunswick Home Energy Savings

    New Brunswick Home Energy Savings

    Home Rebate

    New Brunswick Launches New Home Energy Savings Program

    As the Greener Homes Grant rebate phase concludes, New Brunswick is strengthening its sustainability commitment by launching a retrofit program for upcoming residential construction projects.

    The rebate incentive is a three-tiered program. The lowest tier provides $1000 in rebate money, the middle tier moves up to $9000, and the highest tier allots up to $15000. The rebate incentive requires criteria to be met in the building of the property.  The addition of renewable energy, like solar power, is the only way for the property to reach the 2nd or 3rd tier of the rebate incentive for the maximum possible rebate allowed. Lets take a look at what the program requires.

    Eligibility Requirements

    Either the builder or the homeowners can register for the rebate incentive. The incentive registration must be completed before the building permit is issued. Homes with building permits issued within 30 days of registration are able to participate. The eligible building types are listed as follows:

    • Homes located in New Brunswick heated by electricity, cord wood, pellets,
      natural gas, or propane
    • Single detached, semi-detached, and row houses
    • Semi-detached or row housing units must have party walls that extend from the
      slab to the attic and have separated heating and ventilation systems
    • Manufactured dwellings on a permanent foundation
    • Types of eligible foundations:
    • Basement foundation
    • Slab-on-grade with anchors
    • Concrete blocks on an engineered pad Verification purposes
    • Piers and beams
    • Must be a residential property as defined under Part 9 of the National Building
      Code of Canada 2015. Such properties would be no more than three (3) stories
      high and having a footprint of not more than 600 m2 (6,458 ft2).

    Note that the following buildings are ineligible:

    • Homes heated with oil
      natural gas, or propane
    • Mixed-use buildings with less than 50% Residential Occupancy
    • Multi-Unit Residential Buildings having two or more dwelling units. Note: Some
      two-unit buildings may be eligible if there is an interior unlocked doorway
      connecting the 2 units. In these cases, eligibility will be determined by your
      chosen Service Organization
    • Off-grid buildings
    • Cottages and camps not lived in year-round

    Performance Based Rebate Incentive

    The rebate categorizes 3 types of prescriptive upgrades you can incorporate into the building of your property: Building Envelope, Mechanical Systems, or Domestic Hot Water. You must complete at least five upgrades in total across the three categories to trigger an incentive.

    Building envelope is primarily concerned with upgrades related to insulation, air tightness, and roofing. Mechanical systems are related to specific types of heat pumps or boilers. Domestic Hot Water is concerned with having an energy efficient hot water heater as the name implies.

    Program details and types of upgrades can be referenced here.

    Achieve A Zero-Energy Rated Home

    Through the EnerGuide Rating System a residence can achieve a zero-energy rating, indicating that the yearly projected energy consumption is balanced by on-site renewable energy production, often utilizing solar photovoltaic technology. This means that by installing solar on your newly built home you will be instantly qualified for the middle-tier incentives of $9000. Depending on the prescriptive upgrades you chose from the incentive list you may also be qualified for the highest tier incentives of up to $15000.

    Get the most out of your rebate by installing Solar

    This incentive cuts the costs of going solar in the short run, and in the long run many thousands are saved from the solar system installation. Going solar instantly qualifies you for the mid-tier of incentives of up to $9000, making it easier for you to choose the upgrades that are best for your soon to be built home. It also makes it easier for you to reach the incentive ceiling of $15000. Opting for these upgrades not only guarantees long-term savings but also ensures low energy costs and enhances overall energy efficiency.

    Our Solar Specialists and Project Managers can cleanly walk you through the steps of what is required and make sure you maximize the value of the rebates you receive. We’ll also get you started on the vital first step of acquiring a tailor-made solar proposal for your residential project’s energy needs.

    Schedule a consultation for our solar specialist’s expert guidance here.

    The official website for the program can be found here.
    Program details can be referenced here.

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  • Canada Greener Homes Grant

    Canada Greener Homes Grant

    Canada Greener Homes Grant

    Reduce your energy expenses and qualify for government grants of up to $5,600

    Save on your energy bills and get up to $5,600 in government grants

    In May 2021 the Government of Canada launched the Canada Greener Homes Initiative to help Canadians make energy-efficient home upgrades to combat climate change and create good jobs – all while helping homeowners save on their monthly energy bills. The Government of Canada has made a commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 and the Canada Greener Homes Grant lies at the core at the initiative to achieve this goal. The grant offers up to $5,000 for homeowners to make energy-efficient retrofits to their home such as a solar power installation or heat pumps.

    Outlining the requirements for the Canada Greener Homes Grant

    It’s important to note that the Canada Greener Homes Grant is a nationwide program which may have specific requirements based on the province in which you live; but, there are some base guidelines which are the same no matter where you live in the country. You will need to complete a pre-energy assessment before you make any changes to your property, and then also a post-energy assessment after your installations are finished. These assessments do have associated costs, but that depends on the province you reside in – fortunately, the grant also allocates up to $600 which you will receive to cover the costs of these assessments. Only one homeowner per home can register for the program, and to qualify you must:

    • prove ownership by providing a property tax bill number (This number can be found on municipal property tax documents.)
    • prove the property is your primary residence with a valid piece of government-issued ID with the matching address, such as a driver’s license. This residence must also be at least 6 months old.
    • Not begin your eligible retrofit until after you receive your EnerGuide home evaluation

    The grant applies to the following types of homes regardless of province:

    • Single and semi-detached houses
    • Permanently moored floating homes
    • Mobile homes on a permanent foundation
    • Townhomes and Row Housing
    • a multi-unit residential building (three storeys or less with a footprint of 600 m2 or less)
    • Mixed use buildings (residential portion only)

    The Program has been met with high demand

    Funding for the Canada Greener Homes Grant is limited to a value of 2.6 billion, good for 700,000 grants. The program ends 7 years from its inception date in 2021; however, with the number of applications, it is possible funding runs out before that timeline is up. We’re only about 2 years into the program and 381,000 grant applications have been received through the national portal as of August 2023. Now is a great time to take the first step to go solar since the program funding is limited and there is a queue of pending applications awaiting processing by the government. You do not want to put your renovations off, as you may find that the opportunity is gone sooner rather than later.

    The Canada Greener Homes Loan Criteria

    The Canada Greener Homes Loan has been coupled with the grant program to make it that much easier to renovate your home’s energy efficiency. It allows homeowners to apply for a 10-year interest-free loan for an amount between $5,000 and $40,000. The maximum eligible loan amount is based on the retrofits selected in the application and the quotes you have received to complete their installation. A maximum of one loan is available per eligible property and homeowner. A 15% portion of the loan is disbursed to you up front, to cover your project’s down payment. For all loan applicants the following eligibility requirements must be met before applying for the loan:

    • You must be eligible for and apply for the Canada Greener Homes Grant or the equivalent provincial program
    • You must be a Canadian homeowner, and your home must be your primary residence
    • You have completed a pre-retrofit evaluation of your home dated April 1, 2024, or later
    • You have a good credit history and aren’t under:
    • a consumer proposal
    • an orderly payment of debt program
    • a bankruptcy or equivalent insolvency proceeding

    Getting the most out of the Canada Greener Homes Grant

    If you are a resident of Ontario, the program is delivered by Enbridge as part of the Enbridge Home Efficiency Rebate Plus (HER+). This provincial version of the program adds another $5,000 available for your solar power or heat pump retrofits, up to a maximum of $10,000 for grant recipients of this region. Check out our article on the Durham Region in the Greater Toronto Area if you are a resident of the region and want to benefit from their regional program which offers another $10,000 for energy-efficient home renovations when bundled with the national grant for a total of up to $20,000.

    For New Brunswick residents, you should take a look at our article on the province’s Total Home Energy Savings Program. Homeowners in New Brunswick can get up to $3,000 just for installing solar power for their home, and an additional $1,500 if you choose to add a heat pump to your renovation plans, for a combined total of up to $9,500 after factoring in both the provincial and federal rebates.

    Regardless of where you live in the country, our Solar Specialists and Project Managers can cleanly walk you through the steps of what is required in your province and make sure you maximize the value of the rebates you get back. We’ll also get you started on the vital first step of acquiring a tailor-made solar proposal for your personal energy needs at home.

    Schedule a consultation for our solar specialist’s expert guidance here.

    For full program details, you may visit the Canada Greener Homes Grant website.

    XOLAR INC.

    Xolar is a full service turn-key platform for transitioning both residential and commercial clients, book a free quote today!

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