Determining if a Home is Habitable

In order to be eligible for an energy assessment based on the Natural Resources Canada ecoENERGY program, a home must be deemed 'habitable.'

According to Natural Resources Canada (NRCan):

"As there is no one single definition that exists for defining a habitable house, NRCan uses the following criteria to assist in making a decision as to whether a home is eligible for an evaluation. [...]

• During winter, the heating system must be capable of keeping the interior living space at 22 degrees C;
• The heating system must be in place during the time of the evaluation;
• All windows and doors must be in place(1) and broken windows must be air sealed (patched) for the duration of the blower door test;
• The building envelope, which includes the upper level ceilings, walls, exposed floors, windows and doors, must be intact, including the interior and exterior surfaces (e.g., the interior finish and exterior siding must be in place).
• Any renovations of rooms or sections of the house must affect only interior partitions (not the building envelope);
• The house must be resting on its permanent foundation(s);
• There must be an electrical power supply with standard AC current available throughout the home (electrical power from renewable sources and an electrical generator are acceptable but supply from an adjoining property is not);
• Potable water must be supplied by the municipality or from private sources such as wells or cistern systems;
• Sewer service must be provided by the municipality, a private septic system or a holding tank (outhouses and bio-toilets are permissible as toilets);
• There must be a kitchen space that includes a sink, operating stove (no portable devices) and a minimum of six square feet (0.5 square metres) of counter space (not a kitchen table);
• There must be at least one enclosed bedroom with a privacy door and an operable window large enough for emergency egress.

(1) No more than one (1) window can be missing and temporarily air sealed. Temporary air sealing that fails during the blower door test is consideration for ineligibility

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