Between the increasing costs of energy and the rise of environmental concerns, more Canadians are considering green renovations that prioritize cost-effectiveness and sustainability. Oftentimes, the barrier that prevents homeowners from committing to these renovations is the upfront cost. Fortunately, the Canadian government is now helping homeowners offset these initial costs with tailored programs, like the Canada Greener Homes Grant, to incentivize them to make the switch.
To learn more about this program and how it benefits Canadian homeowners, we spoke to one of our expert pros, Ricardo Ramberansingh. Ricardo runs the sustainability-focused HVAC firms heatpumps.ca and The Boiler Shoppe in Ontario. Read on to understand more about how the Canada Greener Homes Grant works and how it can benefit your home.
What Is the Canada Greener Homes Grant?
The Canada Greener Homes Grant is a program through which Canadians are eligible to receive up to $5,000 to cover the costs of green renovation projects to their homes. An additional $600 is available to homeowners commissioning expert advice to plan out their green projects, meaning Canadians are eligible to receive a total of up to $5,600 through this program.
According to Ricardo, homeowners who want to learn more should visit the Canada Greener Homes Grant website or read through some of the resources available on his companies’ websites.
Which Projects Qualify Homeowners for the Grant?
Generally speaking, projects that improve energy efficiency, like the installation of solar panels or ENERGY STAR® certified windows and doors are considered eligible for the Canada Greener Homes Grant program. A full list of qualifying renovation projects, many of which HomeStars can help you hire for, can be accessed here.
Most relevant to Ricardo’s businesses are projects involving the installation of ductless heat pumps, which are just as efficient as heating solutions that use natural gas, but result in cheaper energy bills and lower carbon footprints for homeowners. Per Ricardo, these projects often qualify homeowners for the maximum grant allotment of $5,000.
What Does the Application Process Look Like?
The Canada Greener Homes Grant website states that 700,000 grants are available in total, and that the government is currently working through a backlog of applications. Ricardo confirms this, explaining that, at present, it can take months for homeowners to get an appointment for consideration.
This is where heatpumps.ca and The Boiler Shoppe differentiate themselves from other providers, Ricardo indicates. While they are both third party businesses with no affiliation to the government, each team has an intimate relationship with the program administrators, and they have the ability to speed up the approval timeline significantly. Additionally, they specialize in putting together and filing the grant applications on behalf of homeowners, so it is not a labour intensive process for them to take on themselves.
Kickstart Your Grant Application Today
While they may seem like a daunting upfront investment, green renovations nearly always pay for themselves in the long-term energy savings they generate. Today, this is truer than ever, as Canadians have access to programs like the Canada Greener Homes Grant to lessen the financial impact of sustainable home investments.
If you’re looking to apply these savings to a more energy efficient heating solution, the team at heatpumps.ca certainly has the tools and wherewithal to help. If, however, you want to take on any other sustainable renovations, click here to connect with a local pro in your area to find the right one for you.
