Canada's Greener Homes Grant Could Save You Thousands

Green home upgrades like installing a heat pump, adding insulation, and putting in new windows, can reward you with greater comfort and lower energy bills. 

Still, such projects can get expensive. 

By tapping the Canada Greener Homes Grant, you may be able to defray some of the costs. 

The federal grant program, launched in June, provides up to 700,000 grants of up to $5,600 for energy efficiency upgrades to eligible homeowners. 

Given that buildings account for 18% of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions, the grant serves twin purposes: helping homeowners improve home performance and achieving the country's climate goals.

Eligible Retrofits are:

• Home insulation - up to $5,000
• Air-sealing - up to $1,000
• Windows and doors - each window/door is eligible for either $125 or $250
• Thermostats - up to $50 (must be combined with another retrofit)
• Space and water heating - up to $5,000
• Renewable energy - up to $5,000
• Resiliency measures - up to $1000 (must be combined with another energy efficiency retrofit)

The program is restricted to primary homes, and properties eligible for the grants are:

• Single and semi-detached houses
• Row housing
• Townhomes
• All-season cottages
• Mobile homes on a permanent foundation
• Permanently moored floating homes
• Small multi-unit residential buildings (three storeys or less with a footprint of 600 m2 or less), and mixed-use buildings (residential portion only).

Be sure to read the fine print to fully understand all the requirements (https://bit.ly/3xGgzos), mandatory pre-and post-project evaluations, and how reimbursement works.