IMPORTANT UPDATE: ecoENERGY Grant Program Changes

Effective March 31, 2010, the federal government is no longer providing grants to new entries into ecoENERGY Retrofit Homes energy efficiency grant program.


  • If you have already booked your initial home energy assessment, the federal government has informed us that "the program is confident that all eligible homeowners who previously entered the program by scheduling or completing a pre-retrofit evaluation will still have the opportunity to apply for and receive a grant."

    The federal government had previously been allowing entrance into the grant program a second time. However, this measure has also been suspended, so if you have already completed a follow up assessment within the ecoENERGY program you are not able to apply for grants a second time.

  • If you have not booked an assessment yet, you will not be eligible for federal grants. However, we are still offering energy assessments that provide you with expert energy efficiency advice.

    The Provincial LiveSmartBC program will be re-launching their grants program soon. Please check our website for news as soon as it is available, or contact us to be placed on a waitlist and we'll call you when the grants become available.

  • If you would like to express your opinion on this abrupt program cancellation, contact:
    Christian Paradis
    Minister of Natural Resources
    House of Commons
    Confederation Building
    Room 507
    Ottawa, Ontario
    K1A 0A6
    Telephone: 613-995-1377
    Fax : 613-943-1562
    E-mail : paradc0@parl.gc.ca
You can also contact your local Member of Parliament. You can find their contact information here by entering your postal code.

The federal government’s move to ban new applications into the ecoENERGY Retrofit Homes program is harmful to the economy, and represents a lack of vision and leadership on energy efficiency, job creation and addressing climate change.

Our message to the federal government is:

  • Continue to make energy efficiency upgrades cost effective to homeowners by providing rebates and incentives for homeowners.
  • Dedicate adequate funding to meet the demand for energy efficiency retrofit grants and incentives.
  • Provide leadership on the issue of energy efficiency and climate change

The combined economic, environmental and social benefits of the ecoENERGY program present a strong case for a continued program:

  • Incentives lead to local economic stimulation
  • Each dollar of federal grants generates roughly $6 in local spending.
  • To date, the program has generated more than $1.1 billion in local spending.

Incentives are cost-effective

  • An analysis of the cost-effectiveness of various government incentive programs, by C.D. Howe Institute, indicated that “...energy retrofits are highly cost-effective incentive programs for GHG mitigation...” (“Going Green for Less: Cost-Effective Alternate Energy Sources.” C.D. Howe Institute Commentary No. 282, February 2009, p. 14. )

ecoENERGY Retrofit – participation and results (to September 30, 2009)

  • Number of pre-retrofit “D” assessments: 437,308
  • Number of post-retrofit “E” and “F” assessments: 152,531
  • Average federal retrofit incentive per house to date: $1,216
  • Total incentive grants paid out: $185.5M
  • Average homeowner spending per house (estimated): $6,000

Economic benefits

  • Average homeowner utility bill savings: ~$700 per annum.
  • Lifetime (25 years) utility bill savings per house: $17,500
  • Spending by homeowners on evaluations and retrofits: $1.1 billion
  • Increased employment opportunities for energy advisors and contractors. Every million dollars the government spends on energy efficiency creates 32 jobs.
  • GST returned to federal coffers: $45.76 million.

Net program benefits

  • Total federal grants ($185.5 million)
  • Total homeowner retrofit investment ($915.2 million)
  • Total lifetime bill savings $ 2669.3 million (152,531 houses x $700 per annum x 25 years)
  • Net Benefit $1568.6 million
  • Canadians are $1.568 billion dollars richer as a result of ecoENERGY Retrofit.

Environmental benefits

  • The total annual CO2 savings, to date, would fill 1,000,000 houses or the entire Rogers Centre 174 times!
  • The total annual energy savings would power every home in a city the size of Barrie for more than a year!
  • Marginal CO2 savings to date (tonnes per annum): 500,343
  • Average CO2 savings per house (tonnes per annum): 3.28
  • Total energy savings per annum (GWH electricity equivalent): 2094
  • Average energy savings per house (KWH electricity equivalent): 13,700

Social Benefits

  • Allows homeowners to undertake energy retrofits that might, otherwise be unaffordable.
  • Results in lifetime energy bill savings of $17,500 per house
  • Results in increased home value which contributes to economic stability.
  • Creates employment in the energy advisor and home retrofit industries.


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