New Rebate Program to Improve Energy Savings for Ontarians

Published on September 05, 2019

Recently announced by the Government of Canada is the Energy Savings Rebate Program, which aims to help Ontarians reduce their home energy use and save money. 

Through this program, qualified retailers will receive funding to help them provide rebates for customers, offsetting their customer's cost of purchasing an energy efficient product. 

For a product to be eligible, it must fall under one of the product categories that is deemed acceptable by the program. Such product categories include: ENERGY STAR certified appliances (dishwashers, ceiling fans, air conditioners etc.) and home chargers for electric automobiles.

A near $200 million is being made available from the Low Carbon Economy Fund, and with customer sided rebates, the program hopes to make it more affordable for Ontarians to see energy savings at home. 

The rebates that will be made available to customers will be able to cover as much as 25 percent of an eligible product’s total purchase cost.

The maximum rebate limit is set $500 per product, excluding condensing water heaters without a tank, and certain air source heat pumps, where the limit is set at $1000 per product.

Retailers who are looking to apply for this program can apply on the Government of Canada website here. The deadline for applications for retailers is on Tuesday, March 31st, 2020. 

Once made eligible, retailers are to display the government’s logo for the Energy Savings Rebate Program to advertise its availability.

The full list of qualified retailers and product categories can be found here.

See Energy Savings at Home Through Home Reno Rebates

Right now, Ontario homeowners have a number of different energy efficiency rebate options available to them. Most notable is the Home Efficiency Rebate program, which is available to all homeowners in Ontario that are customers of either Union Gas or Enbridge Gas. 

The Home Efficiency Rebate program offers up to $5,000 of home reno rebates to help homeowners improve their home’s energy efficiency. This includes rebates for things like: attic insulation installs, a furnace / boiler upgrade, and airtightness improvements. 

Here at BSG, we’re proud to say that our registered energy advisors are also rebate experts. This means that our energy advisors will help you understand your rebate options, and make sure that you are pursuing the best rebate for your needs, your goals, and your home. That way, you can maximize your energy savings for the lowest overall cost, and start reaping the benefits of a more energy efficient home even sooner. 

As a part of the qualification process, homeowners will need to have a home energy audit conducted before any upgrades have been started, and after they have been completed (the program includes a rebate to help cover this cost). 

With a home energy audit, the energy performance of your whole home is analyzed, and areas of improvement (potential upgrades) are listed in terms of their cost-effectiveness. This provides you with all the information you need to make an informed decision regarding any home improvements - such as expected energy savings per suggested upgrade. 

To schedule a time for a home energy audit, or to find out more about how they help to improve a home, contact us by phone at 1-866-333-3920, or live chat with us at www.barriersciences.com/contact.