FAQ

ecoENERGY Retrofit Program

1. What is the ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program?

   The ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program provides financial assistance to encourage owners of existing low-rise properties to make smart energy retrofit decisions that will result in significant energy savings, more comfortable living spaces and a cleaner environment. Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan’s) Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE) administers the program and provides the grants, but local service organizations across the country deliver the program to homeowners.
   
   The program started on April 1, 2007, and was originally scheduled to end on March 31, 2011. As part of Budget 2011, the Government of Canada renewed the program from June 6, 2011, to March 31, 2012.

2. What has changed under the renewed program as of June 6, 2011?

   The following are the two most important changes to the program as of June 6, 2011. Please review this FAQ for other program requirements. First, homeowners are now required to register directly with the program before booking their pre- or post-retrofit energy evaluation. By tracking program participation in this way, NRCan aims to ensure that all eligible homeowners who enter the program have the opportunity to apply for a grant. Once the financial limit of the program appears to be reached, NRCan reserves the right to close the program without notice.
   
   Second, homeowners must provide receipts to their energy advisor at the time of the post-retrofit evaluation to confirm that products and equipment were purchased after June 6, 2011 and installed after a pre-retrofit evaluation (since April 2007).

3. What are the steps to apply for a grant?

   First, you must register each property as a “new participant” or “past participant” as defined in the Eligible homeowners and properties section below and receive a registration number.
   
   Second, if your property has not had an energy evaluation since April 2007, you must hire a local service organization licensed by NRCan. The service organization will arrange to send an energy advisor to your home to perform a pre-retrofit energy evaluation from the basement to the attic, and about two weeks later, you will receive a homeowner report and an EnerGuide rating label. If the home has already had an evaluation by a certified energy advisor since April 2007, you do not require a new pre-retrofit evaluation for that property. Each service organization sets its own prices for updating your homes baseline information.
   
   Third, choose eligible energy efficient upgrades for your home according to the program’s Grant Table and keep all your receipts for three years. Only products purchased after June 6, 2011, and installed after a pre-retrofit evaluation are eligible for a federal grant. Take photos of work that is difficult to verify, such as insulation of walls or cathedral ceilings. The more upgrades you undertake, the more money you will get back and the more money you can save on future energy bills.
   
   Finally, contact your service organization to schedule an appointment for a post-retrofit evaluation. You must complete all renovations, obtain a post-retrofit evaluation and sign an Application Form no later than March 31, 2012. Do not delay in arranging this last step as energy advisors book up quickly in the final weeks of the program, and NRCan cannot grant extensions under any circumstances.
   
   NRCan processes the application and, under normal circumstances, most homeowners receive a cheque within 90 days following the date of the post-retrofit evaluation, but this is not a fixed deadline and delays are possible for a number of reasons. NRCan then transfers your file information to certain complementary regional programs that issue their own cheques.
   
   It is ultimately your responsibility as the homeowner to register your property, research program criteria, choose eligible products, ensure proper installation, keep all receipts, and meet deadlines in order to receive your grant.

4. Why is registration mandatory?

   NRCan has allocated $400 million to the ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program. Once the financial limit has been reached, the program will close without notice.
   
   The registration system allows the program to monitor its uptake. By tracking program participation in this way, NRCan can ensure that all eligible homeowners who enter the program have the opportunity to apply for a grant.

5. Will homeowners who missed the opportunity to apply for a grant by March 31, 2011, be able to apply under the renewed program?

   Yes. Homeowners who participated in the program before April 1, 2011, and did not receive the maximum amount of $5,000 for their current property, can submit another application for additional improvements purchased and installed in that property after June 6, 2011.

6. Why are upgrades purchased and installed before June 6, 2011, not eligible for an incentive?

   The program aims is to encourage homeowners to implement energy efficient retrofits that they might not otherwise have considered, and not to act as a rebate for work already completed. Therefore, the program does not incent products and equipment purchased or installed prior to the introduction of Budget 2011 on June 6, 2011.

 For more information on ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes program visit here

LiveSmart BC Program

1. How do I apply for LiveSmart BC?

   Your Certified Energy Advisor will handle all the paperwork in applying for provincial incentives after the post-retrofit energy assessment.

2. Is there a provincial maximum for energy efficiency?

   No, there is no provincial maximum. You will receive provincial incentives for all eligible upgrades made to your home.

3. Are the incentives based on how much I spend for upgrades?

   No. The amount you receive is based on the individual upgrades completed. A specific incentive amount will be calculated for each qualifying upgrade so the rebate is based on the total qualifying upgrades completed.

4. Must the new equipment I am installing be more efficient than the original equipment to qualify for incentives?

   Yes.

5. Will I be taxed on the efficiency incentives I receive for my upgrades?

   No.

6. How long will it take me to receive my incentive cheque?

   Generally you can expect to receive your incentive cheque within three months of your follow-up assessment.  However, due to adjustments that are required to the cheque processing system in order to process incentives under the updated program, the program will not begin processing incentives until after August 1, 2011.  Participants that have a follow-up evaluation before August 1, 2011 can expect to receive their incentive within three months of August 1, 2011.

7. When does the incentive program end?

   The program currently has funding until March 31, 2013.

8. Can I participate in the LiveSmart BC program more than once?

   You are only eligible to participate in the program one time for each property you own. Only participants starting the program on or after April 1, 2011 are eligible for the current incentives.

Eligibility

1. I have already accessed incentives from either the LiveSmart BC or ecoENERGY programs. Am I eligible for incentives through this new program?

   No. In order to provide as many British Columbians as possible access to limited government funds the current incentives are only available to participants who have not previously accessed incentives through either the LiveSmart BC or ecoENERGY programs.

2. I have already had an initial (pre-retrofit) assessment but have never accessed incentives from either the LiveSmart BC or ecoENERGY programs. Am I eligible for incentives through this new program?

   Yes, however you must have a new baseline energy efficiency assessment after April 1, 2011. Only upgrades undertaken after this new baseline assessment will be eligible for incentives.

3. Am I eligible to access the new LiveSmart BC incentives more than once for the same property?

   No. Eligible participants can only participate in the new LiveSmart BC program once for each property they own.

4. Can I access LiveSmart BC incentives for upgrades to a rental property or a property that is not my primary residence?

   Yes. As long as you meet other eligibility requirements, you can access incentives for these types of properties.

5. I participated in the LiveSmart BC: Efficiency Incentive program and the federal ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program in a previous home. I now own a new home. Am I eligible for incentives under this program?

   Yes. The first step to becoming eligible for incentives in your new home is to have a home energy assessment by a Certified Energy Advisor. To find a Certified Energy Advisor in your area click here.

6. A previous owner of my home participated in the LiveSmart BC: Efficiency Incentive program and/or the federal ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program. Am I eligible for incentives under this program?

   Yes. The first step to becoming eligible for incentives in your new home is to have a home energy assessment by a Certified Energy Advisor. To find a Certified Energy Advisor in your area click here.

Getting the work done

1. Where can I get help hiring a good contractor?

   Visit www.hiringacontractor.com

2. How do I know what type of new energy efficient products I should be putting into my house?

   Your Certified Energy Advisor will help determine the improvements that are most cost effective for your home. For more detailed information about equipment and upgrade requirements for this program you can download our IMPORTANT NOTES FOR CONTRACTORS AND TRADES PEOPLE

3. How do I know what it will cost me to make efficiency improvements? For example, how much will it cost to replace my windows or buy a new furnace?

   You are encouraged to research energy efficiency products by talking to retailers, your contractor and the Certified Energy Advisor who does your home energy assessment. Before having work done to your home, you are advised to obtain three quotes from contractors.

4. Can I do the work myself and receive a grant?

   Yes, but you must have an energy assessment done by a Certified Energy Advisor both before and after you make the improvements. Homeowners are responsible for ensuring that they obtain all necessary permits and meet all municipal and provincial requirements.

5. Do I have to make my energy efficiency improvements right after my initial (pre-retrofit) assessment?

   No. However, in order to access incentives from this program you must complete your eligible improvements and your post-retrofit assessment within 18 months of you initial assessment or by March 31, 2013 whichever comes first.

6. I’ve already started my improvements. Can I still have an energy assessment done?

   It depends. The assessment requires a “blower door” test. This requires the building envelope to be intact. Holes in the exterior walls will prevent the test from being done. You can contact a Certified Energy Advisor to determine whether an assessment can be done.

7. I have a heritage home. Will participating in this program impact the heritage value of my home?

   There are special considerations when upgrading a heritage home. Take a look at this factsheet for more info: Tips for Improving the Energy Efficiency of Your Traditional Home (PDF, 381 KB)

Building type eligibility

1. Does it matter how old my house is?

   Yes it does. While there is no restriction as to the age of an existing house, new homes are not eligible to participate. Houses built before 1985 will benefit the most as they have the most potential for energy improvements.

2. Are mobile homes eligible for the incentive program?

   Yes. Mobile homes are eligible.

3. I live in an apartment/condo complex. Am I eligible for incentives?

   Multi-unit residential buildings are not eligible for the LiveSmart BC: Efficiency Incentive Program.

4. I am building a new house. Am I eligible for incentives and assessments under this new program?

   No. The Efficiency Incentive Program only targets existing housing. However, BC Hydro and FortisBC have incentive programs for new housing.

The energy assessment

1. Why do I have to have an assessment to be eligible for incentives? What benefits will the assessment provide?

   The home energy assessment:
   
   · provides independent third-party energy efficiency advice for existing homes;
   · handles the paperwork to ensure eligibility for incentives from the Province and Utility Partners;
   · provides you with an energy efficiency rating label of your home that can increase the home’s resale potential by providing evidence of “invisible” energy improvements in existing homes;
   · provides the home’s estimated energy consumption, energy efficiency recommendations and the estimated reductions in energy use should each recommendation be implemented; and
   · allows you to make informed decisions on improving the efficiency of your home over the short- and long-term.

2. How long does it take to have an energy assessment completed?

   The initial (pre-retrofit) energy assessment will take approximately two hours to complete. The follow-up (post-retrofit) energy assessment will take approximately one hour.

3. How much does an energy assessment cost? Is this cost reimbursed?

   The total cost for an initial (pre-retrofit) energy assessment is up to $325.00 plus taxes and travel in some areas. The LiveSmart BC Incentive Program covers $150.00 of the cost directly to the assessment providers, so the cost to the homeowner is no more than $175.00 plus taxes and travel in some areas. Assessment providers are contractually bound to charge homeowners no more than $175 (plus taxes and travel in some areas) for the initial energy assessment.
   
   The follow-up (post-retrofit) assessment also costs about $150.00. The price of this assessment is set by the assessment providers and may vary. This cost is covered by the homeowner. It is recommended that homeowners request a quote for the follow-up assessment, including travel, at the time of the initial assessment.

4. What quality assurance procedures are in place for Certified Energy Advisors?

   Natural Resources Canada reviews customer surveys and files and conducts on-site reviews of Certified Energy Advisors.

5. Will I need to provide personal information? What privacy guidelines are in place?

   Your personal information will be needed to process your grant application. Your personal information is protected under the provincial Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and under the federal Privacy Act. To coordinate incentives offered by LiveSmart BC and our utility partners, personal information will, if applicable, be shared with your utility provider to determine grant eligibility offerings provided by BC Hydro and FortisBC. Utility Providers are also required to protect your personal information.

Incentive Cheques for the previous LiveSmart BC: Efficiency Incentive programs

1. I have completed my follow-up assessment under the previous LiveSmart BC: Efficiency Incentive program. When can I expect to receive my incentive cheque?

   You can expect to receive your incentive cheque within 3 months of your follow-up assessment. If it has been more than three months since your follow-up assessment and you have not received your incentive, our call center can investigate the status: 1-866-430-8765.

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