What is a Home Energy Evaluation?
The EnerGuide home evaluation and rating system, developed by Natural Resources Canada, helps homeowners enhance energy efficiency and reduce high energy costs.
An EnerGuide Home Evaluation, or energy audit, involves a thorough inspection from basement to attic to assess your home’s total energy consumption. This evaluation helps you understand your current energy use and identify potential upgrades for improved efficiency. A trained professional examines various components of your home, including insulation, windows, doors, heating and cooling systems, and air leakage.
The EnerGuide evaluation includes two stages: the pre-retrofit and post-retrofit audits. After the initial audit, you receive a detailed renovation report with recommended upgrades, a breakdown of your energy usage, and your EnerGuide home rating before and after suggested improvements, along with additional energy-saving tips.
Once you’ve completed your retrofits, the auditor performs a second assessment to evaluate the effectiveness of your energy improvements.
Why Get a Home Energy Evaluation?
A home energy evaluation identifies how your home uses energy and highlights areas for improvement. This assessment helps you plan effective retrofits by revealing where energy efficiency can be enhanced.
Since your home operates as an interconnected system, changes in one area can impact others. While contractors may focus on specific upgrades, our Registered Energy Advisors evaluate your home’s overall energy performance to ensure balanced and optimal results.
The evaluation also provides valuable insights into your home’s current performance, enabling you to make informed retrofit decisions and address underlying issues for improved efficiency and comfort.
Why Retrofit Your Home?
- Reduce your carbon footprint and support global efforts to combat climate change.
- Lower your energy bills through improved efficiency and reduced consumption.
- Address issues like drafts, uneven temperatures, and inadequate insulation.
- Create a more comfortable living environment and improve indoor air quality.
- Energy-efficient upgrades boost your property’s value and enhance its appeal to potential buyers.
Green Venture Can Help You Access Rebate Programs Such As:
Home Renovation Savings Program (HRSP)
The HRSP helps homeowners make energy-efficient upgrades through two streams: the Home Energy Assessment stream, which requires a pre- and post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation, and the Non-Audit stream, which allows one or more upgrades from a set list without a full audit. Eligible upgrades include insulation, air sealing, windows and doors, heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, smart thermostats, and more. Rebates vary depending on the type and number of upgrades completed. Green Venture can guide you through the process, and provide you with the required energy assessments to participate.
Learn more about the HRSP →
CMHC EcoPlus Rebate
The CMHC EcoPlus program provides rebates for energy-efficient home retrofits with a single home energy audit. Eligible upgrades include insulation, windows and doors, and heat pumps. The rebate is applied after completion of the work, based on the verified energy improvements. Green Venture can help you access this program by providing an Energuide report, required for program participation.
Learn more about CMHC EcoPlus →
How Much Does an Energy Evaluation Cost?
The cost of a pre-retrofit home energy evaluation is $520 (+HST).
Post-retrofit assessments (follow up) are $330 (+HST).
Surcharges for larger homes are:
- 3000-3500 sq ft: $50.00
- 3500-4000 sq ft: $75.00
- 4000-4500 sq ft: $100.00
- 4500-5000 sq ft: $125.00
Our service area
We service locations in the Hamilton, Halton, Niagara, Georgetown, Orangeville, Brant, Brantford, Paris and Fergus regions.
If you are outside of our service area, check out our partners through Green Communities Canada for other service organizations in Ontario.
