Energy meters on the side of a building.

Wanting to reduce your home’s energy carbon footprint?

Paying too much to heat and cool your home?

Experiencing home performance problems?

Transform your home into a high performance building! The first step is to understand where and how your house is losing energy.

Green Venture can help you plan your home energy retrofits and become eligible for grants and rebates with an EnerGuide Home Energy Evaluation.

The new Home Efficiency Rebate Plus (HER+) program will combine the Canada Greener Homes program and Enbridge’s existing program in Ontario in January 2023. Green Venture will offer the program upon its launch. Watch this page (and this blog) for more information and contact us to learn more about the program. Read the Press Release

Home Energy Audits and Rebates

How Green Venture Can Help You: EnerGuide Home Evaluations

A person conducting an energy audit reading inside of a house.

Our Green Venture EnerGuide evaluation team is here to help start you off on your retrofit journey! We can identify ways to increase your home’s energy efficiency, make your home more comfortable, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. An EnerGuide Home Energy Evaluation, performed by a Natural Resources Canada Registered Energy Advisor, is required to be eligible for the Home Efficiency Rebate Plus reimbursement. 

The best time to have an evaluation is when you are planning some home renovations since that is often when it is easy to add insulation or make other upgrades. Our team of Energy Advisors are here to help make the most of your renovation and help ensure your application process goes smoothly. An evaluation will also show you exactly where the trouble areas exist in your home and what you can do to stop losing energy and money.

Here is a guide to the EnerGuide label you receive after an evaluation

Here is a real-world case study from one of our clients

Side-by-side Comparison: Semi-detached Homes

An evaluation can help you:

  • Lower your energy bills;
  • Set priorities for home renovations; and,
  • Fix moisture problems, drafts, etc.
  • Receive home efficiency rebates of up to $10,600
    • Home insulation (Up to $10,000)
    • Air-sealing (Up to $1,300)
    • Windows and doors upgrades ($325 each)
    • Thermostats (Up to $50)
    • Space and Water Heating (Up to $6,500)
    • Renewable energy systems (Up to $5,000)
    • Weatherproofing  (Up to $1,650)

Best of all? Home energy renovations contribute to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and help us meet our local targets. And they benefit the local economy through the businesses that do the work and sell the materials. 

Green Venture is a registered not-for-profit organization. We have been helping our community reduce energy use since 1993. We serve Hamilton, Halton, Niagara and Brant regions.

Why Green Venture?

Green Venture has more than two decades of experience in conducting energy audits under the EnerGuide Rating System. We offer independent, unbiased expert advice – our auditors are Natural Resources Canada Registered Energy Advisors that share our objective of improving energy efficiency in our clients’ homes to ensure maximum impact for money spent.

As a community-based, non-profit organization, our focus is on homeowner education and energy efficiency, not trying to sell you related services. Our Advisors complete an extensive certification program before becoming registered that is unrivaled in Ontario. Our advisors are also happy to support our clients’ retrofit journeys by reviewing reports, quotes, and other planning materials. We are striving and have committed to improving the environmental wellbeing of our community and are here to support as best we can! 

 

Our Service Area:

Green Venture is your Service Organization serving Greater Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, Halton Hills, Erin, Brant County, and the Niagara Region.

 

How Much Does it Cost?

$820 +HST is the total cost ($520 for the initial and $300 for the follow up) which is rebatable up to $600

Canada’s federal government has partnered with Enbridge Gas to co-deliver the Canada Greener Homes rebates in Ontario. This means Ontario residents will no longer have to sign up for the Greener Homes Grant through the federal governments web-portal but rather with the NRCan Registered Energy Advisor while on-site.

This new rebate structure streamlines the process by combining both the federal Greener Homes incentives with the Ontario incentives. Through the combined incentives, you can get up to $10,000 in cash-back rebates, plus an additional rebate of up to $600 for the required EnerGuide Home Energy Evaluations.

Surcharge for larger homes and house additions apply. Prices are subject to change

The first step is to book your Home Energy Evaluation.

 

About EnerGuide Home Evaluations: 

The EnerGuide home evaluation and rating system was designed by Natural Resources Canada to help home and property owners make their homes more energy-efficient and reduce the burden of high energy costs. Green Venture provides EnerGuide home evaluations throughout our region under an agreement with Green Communities Canada.

Eligible Retrofits for the Home Efficiency Rebate Plus

FAQs: Home Efficiency Rebate Plus

Canada Greener Homes Loan

Phone: 1-866-292-9517

Email: Questions@cghli.ca

Resources for Incentivized Upgrades:

Heat Pumps

Insulation

Deep Energy Retrofits

Hiring a Contractor

Building Ownership

Solar Panels

Benefits of EnerGuide Audits

Ontario Clean Air Alliance’s Heat Pump Calculator

Heat Pump Webinar

Beware of Deceptive Sales Tactics

HER+

Energy Audits and Rebates FAQ

About Energy Audits in General:

  • An EnerGuide Home Evaluation (or an energy audit) is a basement-to-attic home inspection that calculates the total energy consumption of your house.
  • Can help you understand how your home uses energy now – and identify upgrades to help improve energy efficiency in the future.
  • This will give you an EnerGuide rating for your home. You can also get an energy efficiency report to help you make decisions about doing retrofits or upgrades.
  • An energy audit looks for air leaks and drafts, gaps around doors and windows, poor air quality, poor insulation levels and more.
  • When you are planning any renovations that involve your furnace, water heater, windows, doors or insulation.
  • When you are planning major renovations.
  • If your house is hard to heat or your energy bills are high.
  • If you want to know the best way to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions.
  • If you are experiencing poor air quality or are observing mold and mildew.
  • The initial audit takes about 2 hours, and the follow up audit takes about an hour. This can vary depending on the size and complexity of the home.
  • Energy auditor will measure your home and determine the specifications of all heating equipment.
  • The energy auditor will determine the amount of existing insulation in your attic, walls and basement. 
  • A blower door will be temporarily set-up in an exterior doorway to measure the amount of air leakage in the whole house.

To book an EnerGuide Energy Audit, fill out our form linked below:

  • Home cannot be undergoing any renovations during audit
  • If access to the attic is in a closet, remove all belongings and shelves from the closet. Ensure that access to the basement and crawl space is clear
  • If you have any wood burning fireplaces or stoves remove ashes and do not use for 24 hours prior to the audit
  • Have available your most current copy of one of your gas bills and property tax bill
  • Energy Audit Reports with suggested list of retrofits, and EnerGuide rating, will be sent within approximately 2 weeks
  • Legal homeowner must be present for duration of audit
 A sample EnerGuide Label detailing energy consumption information

A sample EnerGuide Label detailing energy consumption information

  • The EnerGuide home evaluation and rating system was designed by Natural Resources Canada to help home and property owners make their homes more energy-efficient and reduce the burden of high energy costs.
  • The EnerGuide home evaluation provides a standardized, data-driven, baseline measure of the energy performance of your home. 
  • You also receive a personalized renovation upgrade report that includes recommended upgrades, a breakdown of your energy usage, your EnerGuide home rating before and after recommended upgrades, and more tips for saving energy
  • $820 is the total cost: $520+HST for the first audit and $300+HST for the follow-up audit
  • Provided that you meet the requirements of your energy rebate program, these audits are rebateable up to $600 by the Home Energy Rebate Plus Program or Greener Homes Loan
    • Surcharges for larger homes: 3000-3500 sq ft is $50.00, 3500-4000 sq ft is $75.00, 4000-4500 sq ft is $100.00, 4500-5000 sq ft is $125.00  
  • If you are not participating in a program, you do not need a follow-up audit, but you will receive no rebate. 
  • We service locations in the Hamilton, Halton, Niagara, Georgetown, Orangeville and Brant regions.
  • If you are applying for any rebate programs, yes, a follow-up audit is necessary
  • If not, it is optional to have one if you are interested in having an upgraded EnerGuide rating and new information on your reduced energy use and CO2 consumption
  • We require at least 48 hours notice if you need to change your appointment, and a $75 rescheduling fee is charged should you provide less than 48 hours notice. 

About the Enbridge Home Efficiency Rebate Plus Program

  • Yes, our Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) Registered Energy Advisors can conduct the energy audits needed for this program
  • You can register for the Home Efficiency Rebate Plus with the Energy Advisor during your Energuide Home Energy Assessment
  • Have available your government issued ID and your property tax roll number ready.

Here are the upgrades that are eligible for rebates

  • If you previously signed up for the Greener Homes Grant or the 2022 Home Efficiency Rebate you are able to claim these rebates until April 30th otherwise you will be transferred to the new HER+ program
  • Types of homes that qualify:
    • Single and semi-detached homes
    • Row housing
    • Townhomes
    • Mobile homes on a permanent foundation
    • Permanently moored floating homes
    • Mixed-use residential buildings (must be at least 50% residential)
    • Low-rise multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) (three storeys or less)
    • Green Venture is unable to evaluate MURBs or homes with secondary apartments
  • Enbridge Gas clients
  • Enbridge Gas clients with tenants
  • Non-Enbridge Gas clients
  • Enbridge Gas clients
  • Pre-screen here
  • Complete an energy assessment both before and after renovations. The initial audit must be completed before any renovations or demolition happens
  • Complete at least one energy conservation upgrade 
  • Green Venture processes the paperwork on your behalf
  • No more natural gas rebates!
  • HER+ is currently funded until 2027
  • It typically takes about 16 weeks for the rebate to be processed after the follow up assessment has been processed by the Energy Advisor

About the Canada Greener Homes Grant Program (Ended in 2022)

  • Yes, our Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) Registered Energy Advisors can conduct the energy audits needed for this program.
  1. Register or login to the Greener Homes program by logging in to your Sign in Partner account (with your online Canadian banking information) or your GCKey.
    • Select “Green Communities Canada (Green Venture)” from the service organization drop down.

2. Reach out to us through email or by phone to let us know when you’re ready to schedule your first audit.

Here is the Grant Table for the Greener Homes Grant

Here is a technical assistance page & Natural Resources Canada FAQ page

THIS PROGRAM HAS ENDED

  • Provide valid proof of primary residence – non-expired government issued ID with address (i.e. Drivers License, Provincial ID, Provincial Health Cards with address, Ontario Photo Card) 
  • Provide proof of home ownership with your property tax bill number (this number can be found on your municipal property documents)
  • Only one homeowner per residence can apply for the program 
  • Homes that are six months old or younger (based on date of occupancy by first homeowner) cannot apply for this program.
  • the property must be a housing unit
  • you must own the property (either alone or jointly with someone else)
  • you or your immediate family members (spouse, children) must “ordinarily inhabit” the property
    • You can “ordinarily inhabit” a seasonal residence even if you only use it during vacation period, so long as the main reason for owning the property is not to gain or produce income
  • and you must “designate” the property as a principal residence.
  • Owners of small, multi-unit residential buildings, Indigenous governments or organizations, or other bodies that own homes that house Indigenous households can apply for multiple home retrofits.  
  • Indigenous governments or organizations, or housing management bodies, representative bodies or Indigenous service delivery organizations with formal partnerships with Indigenous governments or organizations can also apply for the grant, up to multiple homes, as long as the home is owned by the applicant and is home to an Indigenous household.  
  • If you conducted an audit before April 1, 2020 – you will need a new evaluation.
  • If you conducted an audit between April 1, 2020 and November 30, 2020 you can use your audit for the program but you won’t be reimbursed for the audit itself. To be eligible, your home retrofits must have been completed on or after December 1, 2020 and be both eligible and recommended by an energy advisor in their report.
  • If you conducted an audit after Dec 1, 2020 – you can be reimbursed for both your evaluations and your retrofits if you complete at least one retrofit that is both eligible and recommended by your energy advisor in their report.

About Energy Efficiency Rebates In General

The federal government has partnered with Enbridge Gas to offer the Canada Greener Homes rebates in Ontario. This means that instead of signing up for the rebates through the federal government’s website, Ontario residents will work with a Service Organization and the NRCan Registered Energy Advisor of their choice to complete the required EnerGuide Home Energy Assessment. This new rebate structure combines federal and Ontario incentives, allowing you to get up to $10,000 in cash-back rebates plus an additional rebate of up to $600 for the assessment.

Please see the FAQs. for more information.

The first step to participate is to book your energy assessment with us!

We look forward to working with you!

Receive home efficiency rebates of up to $10,600

    • Home insulation (Up to $10,000)
    • Air-sealing (Up to $1,300)
    • Windows and doors upgrades ($325 each)
    • Thermostats (Up to $50)
    • Space and Water Heating (Up to $6,500)
    • Renewable energy systems (Up to $5,000)
    • Weatherproofing  (Up to $1,650)

Here is the Grant Table

  • Both programs are designed to provide custom advice and recommendations on the upgrades, so they must complete an initial home energy assessment before starting any renovation work. Any upgrades that have been completed prior to the home energy assessment are not eligible to apply for either program.
  • It is very important that the building envelope be intact so no walls, drywall, windows or doors can be removed.

The federal government has partnered with Enbridge Gas to offer the Canada Greener Homes rebates in Ontario. This means that instead of signing up for the rebates through the federal government’s website, Ontario residents will work with a Service Organization and the NRCan Registered Energy Advisor of their choice to complete the required EnerGuide Home Energy Assessment. This new rebate structure combines federal and Ontario incentives, allowing you to get up to $10,000 in cash-back rebates plus an additional rebate of up to $600 for the assessment.

Please see the FAQs. for more information.

If you competed an initial assessment in 2022 and would like to participate in your original programs, you will have until April 30th to complete the work and complete your follow up assessment. Otherwise our Energy Advisor can sign you up for HER+ on-site. If you don’t make the April deadline, you will be automatically transferred into HER+

 

  • The homeowner may only receive one rebate for the home energy assessments, but can utilize the same home energy assessments to meet both the Home Efficiency Rebate and Greener Homes Grant requirements.
  • No, the Energuide Evaluation cost is not rebated unless at least one measure is completed (Greener Homes), and other conditions are met (Enbridge).

About Hiring Contractors

  • We do not recommend specific contractors, but we advise that you get three quotes
  • Reach out to neighbours, family members and friends about who they would personally recommend
  • Contractor should be able to produce their license and insurance upon request if not already advertised
  • Seek contracts for jobs that cost $1000 or more, if not all jobs
  • You should not need to pay cash up-front or for the entirety of their service before they start their work

Contact Us For Further Questions

Email:  energy@greenventure.ca 

Call:  905-540-8787

Audit Booking and Rebate Program Registration

To book your visit from a Registered Energy Advisor, and to determine if you qualify for the new Home Efficiency Rebate Plus Program,

Email:  energy@greenventure.ca  or

Call:  905-540-8787 ext. 1 or 

Register Online:

Home Winterproofing

Over the past two years we have been a delivery agent for Enbridge’s Winterproofing Program to target older homes with low insulation levels to reduce and save on energy use every month. As we are no longer taking applications for the program please click here for the new authorized delivery agents.

Our goal has been to minimize the amount of energy flowing out of older homes in the Niagara Region to ensure comfortable temperatures throughout the winter. This has allowed for households to not only reduce their greenhouse gas emissions but has also helped keep energy prices affordable by improving on existing homes. We are so grateful to our Energy Programs team including the Registered Energy Advisors that have helped make these reductions possible. For more information on the program and to apply online please visit Enbridge Gas’ information page. Please call 1-844-770-3148 to apply over the phone.

We wish all the households we retrofitted an extra cozy winter and many more joyful moments at home!

For other income verified programs please check out the links below:

Energy Affordability Program

Ontario Electricity Support Program

Low-income Energy Assistance Program

Image of a woman drinking out of a mug. Text above and to the right reads: "Ontario's FREE Home-Energy Upgrades. New insulation, draft proofing, and smart themostat. All work done by experienced professionals. Absolutely FREE for income qualifying households."