Since 2007, the Government of Canada’s Energy Retrofit-Homes program has assisted over a half-million Canadian homeowners wishing to make major upgrades to windows, doors, furnaces, and other features in their homes. Many Yorkton-Melville constituents have taken advantage of the program, which makes up to $5,000 in grants available per household. An average of $1,400 per home has been returned to Canadians, decreasing energy bills by an average of 20 percent.

When the Energy Retrofit-Homes program ended on March 30 of this year, our majority government (despite the opposition of all other parties) voted to invest another $400 million to extend it. The extended program runs from July 13, 2011, until March 31, 2012. Homeowners who register may once again be eligible for a maximum reimbursement of $5,000 for labour and materials spent to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

To take advantage of this program, homeowners must first register with Natural Resources Canada, then book a mandatory pre-retrofit evaluation with an independent service organization. (Fees for this are the homeowners’ responsibility.) An energy advisor will come and assess your home to determine which improvements can be made to increase its energy use. They will leave you with a list of possible improvements and helpful information to guide you through the retro-fit process. The lists will be comprehensive, and you are not obligated to complete every suggested improvement. You will receive reimbursements after the work is done, on a per item basis, to a maximum of $5,000. Only upgrades made after June 6, 2011, will be eligible.

To receive the grant monies, those applying must a) complete their improvements before March 31, 2012, b) arrange for a post-retrofit evaluation to be completed (not merely booked) before March 31, 2012, and c) present all receipts for work completed to their energy advisor to prove their claims.

I encourage interested homeowners to register early. Once the financial limit set by the government for the total program has been reached, it will close to new participants.

If you have participated in the prior ecoENERGY Retrofit-Homes program you may register in the program again, providing you have not already received the maximum $5,000. If your home has been evaluated since April of 2007, booking a second pre-retrofit evaluation is not necessary. Again, only upgrades made after June 6, 2011, are eligible for grants.

Some homeowners in Yorkton-Melville tell me they didn’t receive their grants last time, having waited too long to book their post retro-fit evaluation. If they wish to make more upgrades, I urge them to register again, but to book the post-retrofit evaluation well ahead of the March 31st, 2012, deadline. In a still fragile economy, every dollar counts.

As well as helping Canadian families and the environment, the ecoENERGY Retrofit-Homes program is predicted to generate an estimated $4 billion in economic stimulus by increasing jobs for local businesses and contractors. Along with other ridings across Canada, Yorkton-Melville welcomes this initiative. 

For more information and/or to register for the eco-ENERGY Retrofit-Homes program, call 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232) or visit ecoaction.gc.ca

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The audio version of Garry's July 25, 2011 op-ed column can be heard by clicking here