Insulate Your Home. Get a Rebate From the Government!

October 30, 2016

The Ontario Government has recently updated and enhanced the Home Reno Rebate Program for residential homeowners. The HRRP provides rebates of up to $5,000 for homeowners who are doing upgrades or renovations designed to improve energy efficiency. It's an excellent incentive to better insulate the home, and a great way to reap long-term savings through energy efficiency. The HRRP is intended to offset the cost of home renovations, when those renovations are focused on enhancing the energy efficiency of the home. It's an effort to reduce energy consumption, and to consequently reduce energy costs (often by 20% every year). And while energy efficiency does benefit the immediate homeowner, the property value actually increases for a future buyer. With the HRRP, there are a variety of eligibility pre-requisites, and a requirement to deal with a professional contractor who is accredited by the province. To begin with, two energy audits are required - one before the renovation work, one on completion of the work. These are referred to as EnerGuide Energy Audits, and are covered by a portion of the $5000 rebate structure. Great Northern Insulation is partnered with licensed Service Organizations to provide EnerGuide Energy Audits. These audits evaluate energy efficiency, air leakage, and insulation performance. Once the audit is complete, GNI can provide valuable data on the overall condition of the home: everything from heat loss, to air tightness, to R-Value levels, to moisture accumulation. The intention of the home energy assessment is to establish the areas that need improvement. Here, Great Northern Insulation will make recommendations for upgrades that are targeted at increasing energy-efficiency and reducing energy usage. In fact, the HRRP requires that at least two upgrades be made, using the services of a professional, established insulation contractor. The experts at GNI will recommend energy upgrades with the best returns-on-investment. These types of "smart home" renovations satisfy the aims of the HRRP while setting the stage for future energy efficiency guidelines. Indeed, more and more homes will be EnerGuide Rated, and a Label of Proof will confirm the energy performance (an important feature when selling the property). Depending on the nature of recommendations from GNI, homeowners have a range of potential upgrades that can be made in order to satisfy the requisites of the Home Reno Rebate Program.

• Installing additional R-Values to basement insulation
• Upgrading insulation (and R-Values) in exterior walls
• Substantially increasing attic insulation (and R-Value)
• Air sealing and/or weatherizing the building envelope

The HRRP also requires a post-reno audit, in order to verify that the insulation work performed has made a positive, quantifiable difference. Here again, Great Northern Insulation ensures that the upgrades and retrofits deliver the best outcomes for the budget. And while energy efficiency is the primary aim of the rebate program, homeowners will benefit long term from the savings on heating and cooling bills, not to mention much enhanced indoor comfort for everyone at home. With GNI, homeowners can rest assured that everything is managed professionally - right from the initial energy audit, to the upgrades/retrofits, to the post-renovation audit, and of course, the rebate cheque of up to $5000.