Homeowners looking to save energy costs by making homes more energy
efficient can now receive rebates from both the provincial and federal
government.
Under the federal government’s new ecoEnergy
retrofit program, and the provincial government’s Nova Scotia EnerGuide
for Houses program, homeowners can get a maximum of $6,500 in rebates.
The maximum provincial rebate is $1,500. Based on previous
energy-efficiency programs, the combined federal and provincial average
grant is expected to be $1,600. Actual amounts depend on the type of
work completed on the home.
Energy-efficiency programs can cut
about 30 per cent of energy costs permanently and remove about seven
tonnes of greenhouse-gas emissions annually per household. Efficiency
improvements pay for themselves through energy savings within two to
five years, on average.
“Helping Nova Scotians improve the
energy performance of their homes is an initiative that makes economic
and environmental sense,” said Bill Dooks, Minister responsible for
Conserve Nova Scotia. “By working with the federal government, we
expect even more Nova Scotians to take part in our programs, improve
the comfort of their homes, and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.”
The
ecoEnergy program is based on a home-energy evaluation. Under the
program, a certified energy evaluator measures the energy performance
of the home and assigns it a rating. The homeowner has 18 months to
complete energy efficient upgrades before a secondary energy
evaluation. Rebates are applied to work that has been carried out. The
cost to participate in the program is $450, however, the provincial
government is subsidizing two-thirds of the home evaluation costs.
Homeowners pay $150 plus tax to participate in the program. Some
service providers may charge additional recovery fees for travel.
The
province will rebate the entire cost of the audit for low-income
participants. To qualify, homeowners must have a net single income of
less than $25,000 or a net family income of less than $40,000.
Participants will also receive a $400 grant from Conserve Nova Scotia.
Three organizations in Nova Scotia offer the evaluation service:
— Sustainable Housing,(provincewide, including Halifax Regional Municipality) 1-877-722-2842
— Clean Nova Scotia,(Halifax Regional Municipality) 1-800-665-5377
— Atlantic Coastal Action Program,(Cape Breton Regional Municipality) 902-567-1628.
The
new ecoEnergy program identifies a specific federal rebate amount for
each energy retrofit measure. The provincial government is matching
select federal rebates through the Nova Scotia EnerGuide for Houses
program. Matching rebates are available to homeowners for attic,
exterior wall, basement and crawl-space insulation. Rebates for
insulation range from $200 to $1,500. A provincial rebate of $150 is
also available for air sealing.
Homeowners who install ENERGY
STAR qualified doors, windows, and skylights can get a matching
provincial rebate of $30 per unit replaced.
The province is offering a $250 rebate for indirect hot water heaters installed with a low water mass oil or gas boiler.
Homeowners
that install a domestic solar hot water system can get a provincial
rebate of $500. A 10 per cent rebate for installing solar commercial
and industrial hot water systems is unchanged. To help encourage more
business to convert to solar hot water heating, the Department of
Energy is providing $40,000 to the Ecology Action Centre’s Solar Gain
Project.
The investment in the Solar Gain Project means up to 500 new panels could be installed in Nova Scotia during the next two years.
“Now
is the time to take advantage of solar energy,” said Wayne Groszko,
Solar Gain Project Co-ordinator. “Incentives are available, solar
panels save fuel costs and reduce emissions, and they provide a green
marketing edge for your business.”
The Solar Gain Project will target laundromats, motels, hotels, apartment buildings and other major hot-water users.
Information on the ecoEnergy program and the matching Nova Scotia EnerGuide for Houses rebates is available on www.conservens.ca or by calling 1-800-670-4636. Information on the Solar Gain Project is available at http://www.solargain.ca or by calling 902-442-0199.
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