Durham Region Real Estate Blog

The Government of Ontario has an energy conservation program called The Ontario Home Energy Savings Program. The program involves a Home Energy Audit showing you how your home uses energy and where that energy is being leaked. They’ll tell you about improvements you can make to your home’s heating, air conditioning, hot water heating and other energy uses that could save you hundreds of dollars each year.

Here are the three steps to get you saving money!

Step 1: Find an energy advisor in your area, book an appointment and save half on your audit, up to $150.

Find home energy advisor, get quotes from available organizations and schedule your Home Energy Audit with an energy advisor that’s right for you. In most cases you can schedule an appointment within a week or two. The Government of Ontario will pay half of your pre-retrofit audit, up to $150.

During your Home Energy Audit, the energy advisor will find your home’s energy leaks and show what you can do to plug them. Your energy advisor will provide you with your personalized Energy Efficiency Evaluation Report and a plan that can reduce your energy bills. Your report includes your home’s EnerGuide rating. This shows how energy efficient your home is and how efficient it could be with energy-saving improvements.

Step 2: Complete as many, or all of the recommended energy-saving upgrades.

Need a new furnace or water heater? Caulking around your windows and doors? Make some or all the upgrades suggested in your Energy Efficiency Report to improve your home’s energy efficiency. Your report will show you the most important changes to maximize your energy savings.

Step 3: Get up to $5,000 in Ontario rebates

After your first audit, you have until March 31, 2011 or within 18 months of the pre-retrofit evaluation report, whichever comes first, to complete some or all of the improvements suggested by your energy advisor to qualify for government rebates. Book your post-retrofit audit well in advance of your deadline. Your energy advisor will perform your audit and provide you with your home’s new EnerGuide rating that shows how much you have improved your home’s energy efficiency. A good EnerGuide rating can also increase the value of your home.

After your post-retrofit audit, the Government of Ontario will rebate up to $5,000 for your energy efficient upgrades. The more energy-saving upgrades you make, the more money you’ll get back.

Reminder: You have to obtain your post retrofit audit by March 31, 2011 (or within 18 months of your pre retrofit evaluation – whichever comes first) in order to be elegible. Be sure to schedule your final evaluation well in advance of your deadline. The government is handing out money; be sure to get your share of it!