Home Renovation FAQs by Category

I have questions about these FAQs, who do I contact?

The Frequently Asked Questions in the Canada Greener Homes Grant FAQ Category were written and designed by the Canada Greener Homes Grant.  If you have questions about the content, or about the Canada Greener Homes Grant, contact the program via the methods below:

How do I participate in the federal Canada Greener Homes Program?

The Canada Greener Homes Program is a federal initiative that launched on May 27, 2021. The program offers up to $600 after completing both the mandatory pre- and post-retrofit EnerGuide home evaluation, as well as up to $5,000 in rebates for energy efficiency upgrades completed between the two evaluations.

For detailed program information and rebates available, please visit the program website or contact the program at 1-833-674-8282 by phone or by email at nrcan.canadagreenerhomesgrant-subventionmaisonsvertes.rncan@canada.ca.

Additional information on the Greener Homes Program will be available on the CleanBC Better Homes website shortly.

Application Steps:

  1. A pre- and post-retrofit EnerGuide home evaluation is required. Find energy advisors in your area with the Energy Advisor Search Tool.
  2. Once you choose an energy advisor, you must register for the Canada Greener Homes Program. You can register online or by calling 1-833-674-8282 to register.
    • It will take 10-15 minutes to complete your registration, make sure you have your property tax bill number and government issued ID or utility bill available.
  3. In the Homeowner Portal you can choose the Service Organization of the energy advisor you would like to work with. You will be contacted by the energy advisor to book your evaluation.
  4. After the pre-retrofit evaluation, you will receive your EnerGuide reports, including the Renovation Upgrade Report and Homeowner Information Sheet. You will need to use these documents to identify eligible upgrades under the program. Learn more about EnerGuide evaluations here.
  5. Complete your recommended energy efficiency upgrades. In addition to the Canada Greener Homes rebates, you can also access provincial and municipal rebates. Check our Rebate Search Tool for rebates available.
  6. Once your renovations are complete, request a post-retrofit EnerGuide Home Evaluation through the Homeowner Portal.
  7. You will also need to provide receipts for all energy efficiency upgrades completed through the Homeowner Portal.

Your energy advisor will upload documentation to the portal before you get reimbursed for your upgrades.

How is the Canada Greener Homes Grant being made accessible to all Canadians?

Natural Resources Canada and the government of Canada are working hard to ensure that the Canada Greener Homes Grant is accessible to all Canadians. For any questions, the call centre can be reached at 1-833-674-8282.

 The call centre includes a TTY number (1-800-465-7735) for Canadians with different hearing abilities. The call centre hours are:

  • Monday to Friday: 5:00am to 5:00pm PST (8:00 am to 8:00 pm EST)
  • Weekends: 5:00am to 2:00pm PST (8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST)

How will the Canada Greener Homes Grant support Canada’s climate change commitments?

  • The home energy retrofits will help Canada meet its 2030 climate change commitments and significantly contribute to Canada’s goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, while increasing the health and wellness of Canadians.
  • The initiative will improve emission reductions and support Canada’s plan to exceed 2030 climate goals and Canada’s goal of net-zero by 2050, by directly delivering up to 1.5 MT annually in GHG reductions beginning in 2027.

Step 1: Learn about the Canada Greener Homes Grant

What is the Canada Greener Homes Grant?

The government of Canada is providing $2.6 billion to the sector through this program over the next seven years. It will provide:

  • grants of up to $5,000 for energy efficiency retrofits, supported by an EnerGuide evaluation to up to 700,000 Canadians;
  • up to $600 to support the cost of EnerGuide evaluations; and
  • jobs by supporting recruitment and training of EnerGuide energy advisors to meet the anticipated increased demand.

The Canada Greener Homes Grant will help Canadians make their homes more comfortable and affordable to maintain, support Canada’s environmental objectives and create jobs in communities across the country.

Homeowners will be able to learn about their home’s energy performance and improve its energy efficiency and resiliency by putting in place energy efficient retrofits that they might not otherwise have considered.

Did you see a building science or energy efficiency term you did not understand? Check out our glossary.

Can I access both the Canada Greener Homes Grant and the CleanBC Better Homes and Home Renovation Rebate Programs?

Yes, homeowners can stack funding from multiple programs.

  • The Canada Greener Homes Grant is designed so that homeowners can benefit from federal, provincial, municipal, and utility programs that are available where they live.
  • The sum of the funding from all sources must not exceed 100% of the total cost for any EnerGuide evaluation or eligible retrofit. Participants will be required to declare funding or rebates received from other sources.

The Canada Greener Homes Grant recognizes that when it comes to energy in Canada, where you live matters. Canadians are advised to take advantage of existing rebates being offered by other levels of government and utilities in their regions. We have several links on our webpages to help homeowners identify local and regional programs for which they may be eligible.

Did you see a building science or energy efficiency term you did not understand? Check out our glossary.

What if I already had an evaluation and/or completed retrofits?

  • The Canada Greener Homes Grant is retroactive to December 1, 2020. To be eligible for retroactive payment, homeowners must document their retrofit journey. The journey must begin with a pre-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation (which could have been undertaken prior to December 1, 2020), but only work completed after December 1, 2020 that is both eligible and recommended by your energy advisor in their report is reimbursable.

When you register for the Canada Greener Homes Grant, you will have an option to select that you already completed a pre-retrofit evaluation and you will be directed to the next step.

  • If you conducted an EnerGuide evaluation on your home after Dec 1, 2020 – you can be reimbursed for both your evaluations and your retrofits if you complete at least one retrofit that is both eligible and recommended by your energy advisor in their report.
  • If you conducted an EnerGuide evaluation on your home between April 1, 2020 and November 30, 2020 – you can use your evaluation for the program but you won’t be reimbursed for the evaluation itself. To be eligible, your home retrofits must have been completed on or after December 1, 2020 and be both eligible and recommend by an energy advisor in their report.
  • If you conducted an EnerGuide evaluation on your home before April 1, 2020 – you will need a new evaluation.

Only retrofits completed after December 01, 2020, and after a pre-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation qualify for reimbursement.

Did you see a building science or energy efficiency term you did not understand? Check out our glossary.

What are the requirements for the Canada Greener Homes Grant?

To participate in the Canada Greener Homes Grant, homeowners must:

  1. Complete a pre- and post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation.
  2. Complete at least one retrofit that is both eligible and recommended by your energy advisor in their report. Only homeowners who conduct at least one retrofit will be reimbursed.
  3. Provide and keep copies of all of your documents until March 31, 2028.

All products must be purchased in Canada. Online purchases are only eligible if they are ordered from an online distributor located in Canada.

Did you see a building science or energy efficiency term you did not understand? Check out our glossary.

Who is eligible for the Canada Greener Homes Grant?

  • Homeowners across Canada with a property in Canada that is eligible can register to participate in the Canada Greener Homes Grant. Homeowners will be required to provide documentation demonstrating that the property is their primary residence.
  • For Indigenous housing, Indigenous governments, organizations (e.g., band councils, land claim organizations), housing management bodies and other representative organizations / Indigenous service delivery organizations with formal partnerships with Indigenous governments or organizations are also eligible applicants.
  • These applicants may be eligible to register multiple homes, including homes that are not the owner’s primary residence.

Did you see a building science or energy efficiency term you did not understand? Check out our glossary.

What types of homes are eligible for the Canada Greener Homes Grant?

To participate in the Canada Greener Homes Grant, a homeowner’s primary residence must be eligible for an EnerGuide evaluation. These residences include:

  • Single and semi-detached houses
  • Row housing
  • Townhomes
  • All-season cottages
  • Mobile homes on a permanent foundation
  • Permanently-moored floating homes
  • Small low-rise multi-unit residential building (MURBS) (3 storeys or less with a footprint of 600 m2 or less)*
  • Mixed use buildings (residential portion only)*

* Multi-unit residential buildings (over 3 storeys or over 600 m2 in footprint) are not eligible homes under the Canada Greener Homes Grant.

Did you see a building science or energy efficiency term you did not understand? Check out our glossary.

How is eligibility defined for Indigenous Peoples?

Indigenous Peoples face unique challenges that influence participation in a housing retrofit program. To ensure inclusivity and reflect Indigenous home-ownership models, the following groups are all eligible applicants for the Canada Greener Homes Grant:

  • Individual Indigenous homeowners;
  • Indigenous governments or organizations (e.g., band councils, land claim organizations); and
  • Housing management bodies and other representative organizations / Indigenous service delivery organizations with formal partnerships with Indigenous governments or organizations.

Certain flexibilities may apply to Indigenous governing bodies and organizations, such as:

  • registering multiple homes
  • registering homes that are not the owner’s primary residence
  • reimbursement levels tailored to Northern and off-grid locations, where applicable

Homeowners can find out if their community is considered “off-grid” by consulting the Remote Energy Communities Database.

Did you see a building science or energy efficiency term you did not understand? Check out our glossary.

 What eligible retrofits can access reimbursement from the Canada Greener Homes Grant?

  • The initiative will provide homeowners with up to $5,000 for the purchase and installation of qualifying equipment, or implementation of qualifying retrofits for their primary residence. The details on qualifying retrofits will be available to Canadians on the website at program launch.
  • Homeowners must complete at least one retrofit that is both eligible and recommended by their energy advisor in their report.
  • Reimbursement will occur in Step 5 after the post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation. Homeowners will have to keep their documents until March 31, 2028.

Did you see a building science or energy efficiency term you did not understand? Check out our glossary.

Are condominiums eligible for the Canada Greener Homes Grant?

  •  Small MURBS, or condominiums are eligible to receive a grant under this initiative.
  • An EnerGuide evaluation must be undertaken of the entire structure as a starting point. This will likely require coordination amongst the owners of units in the building if several owners are interested in participating in the initiative.
  • Grants under this initiative will be based on the multiplier related to the number of dwelling units per MURB up to a maximum amount of $20,000.

Did you see a building science or energy efficiency term you did not understand? Check out our glossary.

My home is newly built. Is it eligible for the Canada Greener Homes Grant?

  • The Canada Greener Homes Grant is targeted at existing homes.
    • Existing homes are defined as homes that are more than six months old, based on the date of occupancy by the first homeowner. This will apply to homeowners at the time of application.
  • New homes are not eligible for the grant.

Did you see a building science or energy efficiency term you did not understand? Check out our glossary.

What is the GCKey?

The GCKey service is provided by the Government of Canada to allow you to securely conduct online business with various governmental programs and services. The GCKey service issues you your GCKey.

  • A GCKey is a unique credential that protects your communications with online Government programs and services. Using your GCKey, you can access the online programs and services listed on our Enabled Services page.
  • More information is available online.
    • For assistance with your GCKey or Sign-In Partner, contact the GCkey service.
    • The CleanBC Energy Coach service does not provide GCKey or Sign-In Partner support.

What is my GCKey used for?

Your GCKey is used to access Enabled Services. However, you must both sign up for a GCKey and then enrol with the online government program or service that you want to access. One GCKey can be used to access multiple departmental programs and services.

More information is available the GCKey website.

Step 2: Register and book your pre-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation

How do I register for the Canada Greener Homes Grant?

Homeowners must register directly through the Canada Greener Homes Grant website.

If you do not have internet access or require assistance registering for the grants, contact the Canada Greener Homes Grant directly:

After a homeowner without access to the Internet is registered, they will be contacted by program staff who will discuss next steps with them, including how to submit proof of ownership requirements.

I have made upgrades to my home that are Canada Greener Homes Grant eligible measures, but I have not undertaken an EnerGuide evaluation. Can I apply for a grant?

 The Canada Greener Homes Grant requires that homeowners:

  • complete a pre- and post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation;
  • complete at least one retrofit that is both eligible and recommended by your energy advisor in their report. Only homeowners who conduct at least one retrofit will be reimbursed;
  • provide and keep copies of all of your documents until March 31, 2028.

Unfortunately, you cannot be reimbursed unless you undertook a pre-retrofit evaluation and the retrofits were both eligible and recommended by your energy advisor.

What happens if I have completed a pre-retrofit evaluation, but do not intend to pursue any measures?

In order to be reimbursed for the pre-retrofit evaluation you must complete at least one retrofit that is both eligible and recommended by your energy advisor in their report.

The Canada Greener Homes Grant will not be providing reimbursements if you only complete the pre-retrofit evaluation.

Step 3: Plan, document, and complete your home retrofits

What if the retrofit work was part of my energy advisor’s recommendations but is not eligible for a grant?

The Canada Greener Homes Grant recognizes there are scenarios where homeowners have moved forward between December 2020 and the program launch and their retrofit work may not be included on the list of eligible retrofits detailed on the website at program launch.

  • Only eligible retrofit work completed after December 1, 2020, that includes both a pre- and post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation qualifies for a grant.

Homeowners with questions on the retrofits they have undertaken are advised to contact the Greener Homes Division for more information:

Step 4: Book your post-retrofit evaluation and apply for reimbursement

Why is a post-retrofit evaluation needed for the Canada Greener Homes Grant?

The post-retrofit evaluation has a number of objectives. It validates that the work has been completed and provides a measure of energy saved and greenhouse gas emissions reduced as a result of the retrofits.

  • The energy advisor has up to 30 days after the post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation to submit electronic and signed paper documents to Natural Resources Canada (NRCan).
  • This report will be stored in the homeowner’s file to ensure that both the pre- and post-retrofit evaluations are available in the same space.
  • Homeowners will be able to login to access their reports. Once they have reviewed their evaluation, the homeowner will be asked to mark this step as completed in order to move forward and request reimbursement.

 

Is the $600 for the pre- and post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluations part of the total $5,000 grant or in addition to the $5,000 grant?

Homeowners will be able to claim a maximum of $5,600 in total funding from the Canada Greener Homes Grant:

  • the cost of your pre- and post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluations up to a maximum of $600; and
  • up to $5,000 for the purchase and installation of eligible products and/or implementation of eligible retrofits.

What documents need to be provided for reimbursement? And how long do homeowners need to keep their documents?

To ensure that you are properly reimbursed, you must have all of the following documents so we can verify your eligible retrofits for the Canada Greener Homes Grant:

  • receipts for your pre-and post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation
  • all receipts and invoices for products purchased and for their installation

It is highly recommended that you also have an attestation form (if applicable for your retrofit) confirming that:

  • installation of an electrical or mechanical system has been completed by a trained and licensed professional*
  • a geothermal system was installed in accordance with CSA standards (PDF, size)
  • the heat pump has been sized to your entire home (PDF, size)
  • *When using a licensed professional it is highly recommended that you obtain proof of their license to install equipment in your province or territory.

Note: Program staff will be recommending homeowners use the attestation form, but partner portal will not be able to accept it due to privacy requirements at program launch.

  • Homeowners need to keep copies of their documents until March 31, 2028.

The Canada Greener Homes Grant will never ask for banking information over the phone nor will a Service Organization or Energy Advisor ask for your banking information.

What happens if a homeowner doesn’t have receipts or loses them?

In order to be reimbursed for the retrofit work via the Canada Greener Homes Grant, homeowners must keep all original receipts for the purchase and installation of qualifying equipment, or implementation of qualifying retrofits until March 31, 2028.

Without receipts the homeowner cannot be reimbursed. If the homeowner has lost a receipt, they are advised to contact the store, their contractor, credit card company or bank to determine if they can provide a valid proof of purchase.

Step 5: Receive your reimbursement

How will I receive my reimbursement?

For the first months after launch, Canada Greener Homes Grant payments will be issued in the form cheques mailed to the address on file. In this case, no banking information will be required. This is being done to ensure the initiative meets the highest standards of security for banking information submitted online.

  • As the final step in the process, once the energy advisor uploads the post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation, the homeowner will be prompted to provide and confirm their banking information directly into the online system.*

Once NRCan has all the necessary information to complete the file, a cheque payment should be issued within 30 days. Cheques by mail may take more than 30 days.

  • Homeowners can check the status of their paperwork and payment using the program portal or by calling 1-833-674-8282.
  • Homeowners will never be asked for banking information over the phone by Natural Resources Canada, a service organization nor an energy advisor.
    • *This process has been modified for the first months following launch.

When will homeowners receive their Canada Greener Homes Grant reimbursements from the Government of Canada?

Once all steps are completed in retrofit journey, homeowners should receive their payments within 30 calendar days.

  • A cheque will be mailed to the property registered under the program.