Almost one quarter of Ontario’s total greenhouse gas emissions is attributed to buildings. The Ontario government is trying to change that as part of its five-year mission to reduce pollution. To that end, it announced new programs to encourage homeowners to improve their energy efficiency – the Green Investment Fund and the Canada Greener Homes Grant – that offers property owners thousands of dollars in rebates and interest-free loans.
It hopes this incentive will push homeowners to invest in reducing their carbon footprint.
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We’ve highlighted the five rebates and incentives currently being offered to help make your home more energy efficient.
1. $50 for a Smart Thermostat
Isn’t it a waste to leave the air-conditioning on when you go to work? Wouldn’t it be nice to wake up to a warm and toasty home? Did you know that heating and cooling make up 64% of your home’s energy use? With simple setup and advanced features, a smart thermostat makes it easy and convenient to lower your energy costs while staying comfortable.
Install a smart thermostat and get $50 off your bill with Enbridge.
2. $5,000 for Windows
We all want streaming sunshine in our homes, but window glass and panes are a key source of escaping heat. Get $250 per window up to a maximum of $5,000 when you upgrade to high performance windows, which are designed to reduce energy loss, condensation and outdoor noise.
3. $5,000 for Renewable Energy
Install a solar photovoltaic system to convert sunlight energy into electricity. If you want to purchase batteries for storing the solar energy from your PV system, a portion of the cost may be eligible for a grant under the climate resiliency grants.
4. $5,000 for Insulation
Living in Canada with our defined four seasons, sometimes swinging, literally, 100 degrees Celsius up and down on the thermostat, makes indoor climate control all the more difficult. Older homes tend to have drafty attics and basements, but by adding insulation you can keep the heat in during cold winters, and the heat out during warm summers.
5. $1,000 for Air Sealing
Making improvements to reduce the draft and heat loss in your home is the single most important retrofit you can make to improve energy efficiency and it should be considered first in any retrofit strategy.
Rebates start at $550 if you meet targets, however, if you are able to achieve a 10% or 20% better than target on your renovation upgrades report, you will be eligible to get $810 or $1,000 back, respectively.
Take a look at the comprehensive list of eligible retrofits and grants on the website.
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Published: February 20, 2018
Last Updated: November 11, 2022
