Ontario Homeowners Can Attain Energy Independence and Access Government Rebates of Up to $10,600

Introducing the Home Efficiency Rebate Plus (HER+)

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. This program is core to Canada’s pledge to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. In Ontario specifically, the Canada Greener Homes Grant is being co-delivered by Natural Resources Canada and Enbridge Gas under the program name Home Efficiency Rebate Plus (HER+). The Canada Greener Homes Grant allocates up to $5,000 for energy-efficient retrofits and the Home Efficiency Rebate Plus (HER+) program stacks with that program, totaling up to $10,000 in possible rebates for going solar.

Home Efficiency Rebate Plus (HER+) Program Criteria

The grant is available for approved retrofits, including home insulation, windows and doors, heat pumps, and renewable energy systems. To qualify for a grant, eligible participants must: (a) complete a pre-retrofit EnerGuide home energy evaluation, (b) install at least one of the qualifying retrofit measures recommended in the Renovation Upgrade Report, and (c) complete a post-retrofit EnerGuide home energy evaluation. This is so your difference in efficiency can be measured after you are finished with your home upgrades and will determine your rebate size. These evaluations do have associated costs, but the grant includes an allocation of up to $600, which will be provided to you to offset the expenses. In addition to the energy assessment requirements, you must have one of the following types of homes:

• Single and semi-detached homes
• Row housing
• Townhomes
• Mobile homes on a permanent foundation
• Permanently moored floating homes
• Mixed-use buildings that have more than 50% of its area as residential living space.
• Low-rise multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) (three storeys or less with a building area of 600 m2 or less).

The following types of homes are not eligible:

• Homes not space heated by Enbridge Gas, where the owner is not the primary resident (rental units).
• Homes less than 6 months old or incomplete structures
• Multi-Unit Residential Buildings (MURB) with more than 3 storeys or building area larger than 600m2, including retirement homes.
• Mixed-use buildings that have less than 50% of its area as residential living space

Program spots are limited

The program was originally funded to account for 700,000 grants in 2021. The program is slated to end seven years from its inception in 2021, however, due to the high influx of applications it is most likely that the funding runs out long before the expiration date of the program. 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’s a line of applications waiting for the government’s green light. You do not want to put your renovations off, as you may find that the opportunity is gone sooner rather than later.

Canada Greener Homes Loan Criteria

The Canada Greener Homes Loan has teamed up with the HER+ grant program, creating an even smoother pathway to install the retrofits for your rebate. 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, 2020, 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 Home Efficiency Rebate Plus (HER+) Program

We recommend adding a heat pump to your solar installation so you can heat your home with free solar electricity and capture the greatest possible rebate amount. Next to solar, a heat pump is another great way to get your costs down.

If you are a Durham resident, you should check out our article on the grant program for the Durham Region in the Greater Toronto Area. Durham’s program offers another $10,000 for energy-efficient home renovations when bundled with the national grant for a total of up to $20,000.

If you are a Guelph homeowner, you should check out our article on the Guelph Greener Homes program. The Guelph Greener Homes program offers an additional up to $15,000 in grant money to applicants for installing an air-source heat pump. These two programs stack to a total of $25,600 in potential rebate money that is available to you if you make the move to get a solar panel installation + a heat pump.

Ontario just approved a 20% price increase starting November 1, 2023 – there’s never been a better time to see if solar will work out for your home.

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.

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

XOLAR INC.

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

Fast Solar Quote

Recent Posts

Follow Us

Monthly Testimonial

Facebook


Youtube


Instagram


Linkedin

On Key

Related Posts