How homeowners can save energy, money from the feds' climate plan

In hopes of getting the country to meet its 2030 emissions reduction targets under the Paris Agreement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other ministers announced a climate plan on Dec. 11 that includes an investment of $2.6 billion over seven years to help homeowners.

The feds plan to provide homeowners with up to $5,000 in grants and one million free EnerGuide assessments to make their homes more energy efficient, though no timeline for these initiatives has been announced yet. Canada’s National Observer spoke to two companies in Ontario that do these assessments to get a better idea of how they work and how they’re environmentally beneficial.

What is an EnerGuide assessment?

According to Philip Ridge, president of Ridge Energy, an EnerGuide assessment is a “road map of energy efficiency” — essentially an audit that tells a homeowner how their home currently uses energy and which upgrades they can make to save energy.

The assessment is performed by private energy advisers and service organizations that use official trademarks and software from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) under a licensing agreement — making the energy audits standardized across the country.

Besides learning how energy efficient their homes are, an EnerGuide assessment allows homeowners to apply for rebates and incentives. For example, Green Home is a program by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation that offers a refund of up to 25 per cent on the cost of mortgage loan insurance for homeowners who renovate their homes.

There are also local programs such as the Home Efficiency Rebate initiative in Ontario, which gives homeowners up to $5,000 in rebates for upgrading insulation and windows, among other renovations.

Currently, assessments cost $400 plus tax, according to Ridge, but they’ll be free once the feds’ plan kicks into gear. There’s also another $200 assessment that is done after a homeowner makes renovations to see if they’re eligible for the incentive programs.

How should a homeowner prepare for an EnerGuide assessment?

Before an energy adviser conducts an assessment, a homeowner must do the following things, according to Ridge:

• All windows and doors must be in place, and broken windows must be air-sealed with taped poly
• The home must be on a permanent foundation or be a permanently moored float home
• There must be clear access to the attic, as the energy adviser needs to get into the area to take pictures and measure the insulation level
• Any wood-burning fireplaces must be cold prior to the assessment and have the ashes swept out
• Homeowners must prepare any documents that may be required, such as property tax bills, gas bills or contractor invoices

What happens during the assessment?

During the one- to three-hour assessment, an energy adviser will first measure the windows, doors and other parts of the house, both from the inside and outside. They will go in the attic to measure wall insulation, as well as the basement or crawlspace. Then the adviser will perform the blower door test, which is used to measure the airtightness of a home.

The blower door itself is a machine with a high-capacity calibrated fan that is installed in an exterior doorway. When the fan is turned on, it’s able to depressurize the home and lets the energy adviser know where there are drafts in the house — the draftier the house, the more air leakage and heat loss.

After the assessment, the homeowner gets two reports and an EnerGuide label. The first report breaks down how a home consumes energy on an annual basis through cooling, heating, ventilation, lights and appliances. It also provides a pie chart that shows the areas in the home that lose the most heat.

The second report identifies potential upgrades that a homeowner can make to save energy and money. The energy adviser will rank the renovations they believe will be the most beneficial, setting out their costs and potential contributions to greenhouse gas emission reductions.

Paul Gagliardi, managing director of BuyWise Consulting, reminds homeowners they don’t have to do all renovations at once.

“If they have a certain budget in mind, they can do some upgrades today, some upgrades in a year from now and further upgrades in a few years,” Gagliardi said.

However, he advises people be strategic about which renovations they do first. For example, homeowners should insulate before replacing a heating system.

“A house that’s more energy efficient because of the added insulation will, down the road, not require the same size heating system. So a customer can downgrade their heating system and save additional money,” Gagliardi explained.

Finally, homeowners are provided with an EnerGuide label that gives the home a rating on energy efficiency and compares the result to a typical new house of a similar size and location.

The rating is calculated by the estimated amount of energy the home uses each year subtracted by the estimated amount of energy generated annually from on-site renewable sources, such as the wind and sun.

The rating is measured in gigajoules (GJ), a unit of energy roughly equivalent to the energy from two standard barbecue propane tanks or 30 litres of gas in a motor vehicle tank.

A home would have a rating of zero if it generates as much energy as it uses, however Ridge says it’s unrealistic for people to meet that goal.

“A rating of 90 GJ is very reasonable for any house,” Ridge said.

What are the benefits of getting an EnerGuide assessment?

For Ridge, an assessment is the first step to a healthier home.

“Your personalized report can recommend upgrades to help eliminate drafts, reduce noise and provide consistent temperatures and cleaner air,” Ridge said.

The more costly a renovation, the more energy is saved. For example, upgrading the hot water system can save about eight GJs every year, while insulating the foundation can save almost triple that amount, according to Ridge.

A good EnerGuide rating can also add value to the price of a home and be a selling point for prospective buyers, Ridge added.

Although the amount of money saved will vary depending on the renovations made, Ridge estimates homeowners can save between $500 and $1,000 each year.

Gagliardi noted the renovations go beyond energy savings.

“It’s also about comfort,” Gagliardi said. “You’re going to save money, you’re going to save energy, you’re going to reduce your carbon footprint, but you’re also going to make your house more comfortable and desirable to live in.”

Yasmine Ghania / Local Journalism Initiative / Canada’s National Observer