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Save energy with the Canada Greener Homes Program

Save energy, save costs. Learn how the Canada Greener Homes initiative can help you build a sustainable home or retrofit an existing one.

Nov. 03, 2022 3-minute read

The next time you feel your home is too drafty, consider this: that breeze you feel isn’t just costing you money, it’s also hurting the environment.

Canada’s private homes and buildings account for some 18% of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). That might not seem like a lot, until you consider that our oil and gas extraction industry has a 20%+ emissions rate.¹

Think of all the items in your home that use energy: light bulbs, appliances, air conditioning, water heaters, electronics, and more.

Enter net zero homes, which are up to 80% more efficient than conventional homes.² Because these homes are exceptionally well insulated, they prevent drafts and reduce dust and allergens, cutting utility bills and helping to create a cleaner environment in the process.

Building a sustainable home or retrofitting an existing one certainly sounds ambitious and costly, but the Canada Greener Homes Initiative can help turn your dream home into a reality. So far, more than 10,000 Canadian homeowners have cashed in on $38 million in grants to make their living spaces more energy efficient.

Where do I sign up?

The Canadian Greener Homes program was launched in 2021 to help homeowners across the country fund energy efficiency retrofits that create jobs and contribute to a healthier environment. The grants and loan options are:

Grants from $125 to $5,000 for eligible home retrofits.
Interest-free loans from $5,000 to $40,000 with a repayment term of 10 years to help undertake major energy-efficiency improvements.
Up to $600 towards the cost of pre- and post-retrofit EnerGuide home evaluations.

Most eligible homeowners who completed retrofits and submitted the final paperwork had the grant monies in hand within the service standard of 40 days.

To get started and see if your project qualifies, use the Canada Greener Homes Grant pre-screener tool Opens in a new window..

Getting energized about efficiency

There are many retrofit projects you can take on to lower your carbon footprint. Heat pumps are one of the top priorities on the retrofit list, with 3,200 Canadian homeowners receiving $13.2 million in grants for upgrades since January 2021. ENERGY STAR^® windows and doors, attic insulation, and solar panels made up the top five energy-saving must-haves.³

Canadians have jumped on the heat pump wave. Heat pumps can provide year-round comfort control for your home. Depending on the season, they pull heat from indoor air out or bring cool air in, Some can even help heat water for your home.

Heat pumps can also help reduce your CO₂ emissions and energy bills. Depending on the size of your home and other factors, the cost of installing or replacing one can range from under $2,800 to over $11,000, with the median cost coming in at around $6,000.⁴

Get greener with government grants and incentives

The Canadian government is committed to ensuring Greener Homes reaches across the country, including in remote communities. Check to see if your province or municipality also offer additional incentives, grants or subsidies to make your home energy efficient.

You can often apply to more than one program at a time, giving you the chance to make a significant impact on the environment, without making a big dent in your savings.

For easy hacks to make your home more energy efficient, check out our guide to home energy savings.

Sources

¹ Canadian System of Environmental–Economic Accounts: Energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, 2019, Statistics Canada Opens in a new window.

²Net Zero Homes, Canadian Home Builders’ Association Opens in a new window.

³ Canada Greener Homes Grant Spring 2022 Update, Government of Canada Opens in a new window.

⁴ Market Snapshot: Growing heat pump adoption, Canada Energy Regulator Opens in a new window.

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Save energy with the Canada Greener Homes Program

Where do I sign up?

Getting energized about efficiency

Get greener with government grants and incentives

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