Home Energy Audit Program
WHAT IS THE HOME ENERGY AUDIT?
The Ontario Home Energy Savings Program is an energy conservation program from the Government of Ontario. A Home Energy Audit shows you how your home uses energy and where it is being leaked. It identifies improvements you can make to your home’s heating, cooling, hot water heating and other energy uses that could result in hundreds of dollars in energy savings each year.
The Government of Ontario will pay 50% of your Home Energy Audit, up to $150.
The audit will explain your home's energy use — attic to basement. A typical audit involves the following steps:
- A walk-through assessment of your home's insulation, heating and cooling systems and other energy uses
- A "blower door" depressurization test to identify leaks and drafts
- A personalized Energy Efficiency Evaluation Report
Many of the energy-saving upgrades identified by your Home Energy Audit will qualify you for rebates under the Home Energy Retrofit Program. These rebates from the Governments of Ontario and Canada can reimburse you up to $10,000* when you complete improvements identified by your audit.
First step for the ecoENERGY program. - Get the audit done.
WHAT TO EXPECT
The audit will take about an hour to 2 hours time. The inspector will identify all your problem areas and make recommendations on what areas you could improve on and will explain the rebate process.
He will break things down into suggestions like: This window is leaking; Your furnace is getting old and you could improve to a high efficiency furnace, or you do not have enough insulation in these specific areas.
From the date of your home audit you will have 18 months to complete these recommendations. Once completed he will come back for another blower door test and he will give you a new energy rating. The auditor will also handle sending away any paperwork the government requires for you to obtain your rebates
COST
It will cost anywhere from $315 to $375 depending on inspection company and area.
WHAT DO I GET FOR MY MONEY?
The energy advisor will conduct a blower door test which will depressurize your home. Doing this will enable him to identify you problem areas. He will advise you on various renovation you can do to boost your efficiency. From furnace to plumbing, insulation to windows and doors he will make recommendations on what you can and should improve to reach your goals.
If the auditor does not recommend a crawl space or exterior walls and you still want to do it you have the freedom to choose what you do. You do not have to do all the renovations if you do not desire to do so and you will get your rebates on the choice's that you do upgrade.
For example, if the auditor recommends the crawlspace to be spray foams and a new furnace but your happy with your furnace and just want to do the crawlspace you will get the full rebate for the crawlspace even thou you didn't do the furnace upgrade.
