LiveSmart BC and ecoENERGY FAQ
We'd like to answer your questions about energy efficiency! Please call us at 1.866.381.9995 or read below.
Questions and Answers about:
Assessments
What qualifications do Energy Advisors working with City Green have? All Energy Advisors working with City Green have gone through extensive training and are certified to perform energy assessments and to model the energy efficiency of your home using energy modelling software developed by Natural Resources Canada. Read More.
Is the blower door test dangerous for me or my pets? No, the blower door test is a harmless and safe test. The fan, however, does create a sound that may scare some pets.
Will I need to provide any equipment (ladder or flash light) for the Certified Energy Advisor? No, the advisor will come with all the required equipment that is needed to conduct your energy assessment.
Why do I need to clean out my fireplace? During the assessment your advisor will conduct a blower door test which depressurizes your home to measure air leakage. Since a fireplace has a large opening, air will be pulled down the chimney lifting ash and soot out of the fireplace and into your home. By cleaning out your fireplace you will avoid this.
When will I receive the report from my initial assessment? You should receive your Energy Efficiency Evaluation Report within two weeks from the initial assessment date. If you have not received your report within this time, please contact City Green at 1.866.381.9995 or outreach@citygreen.ca.
Is there a report for my follow up assessment? City Green does not provide a report after your follow-up assessment. However, you do receive a letter containing your updated EnerGuide rating and an explanation of the grants you will receive for your upgrades. You should receive this letter within a month after your follow-up assessment.
What is an EnerGuide rating? An EnerGuide rating is a standard measure from 0-100 of your home's energy performance, with a score of 100 being the most efficient. The rating system is determined by the federal government, and it shows you (and future buyers) exactly how energy efficient your home is. The rating is calculated based on standard operation assumptions so that you can compare the energy performance of one house against another. More about EnerGuide Ratings.
Can I take a picture of my old furnace and submit it to the office, then just have one visit? No. To receive grants you will need to have a Certified Energy Advisor complete both the pre-retrofit assessment before your upgrades and a post-retrofit assessment after your upgrades in order to qualify for rebates.
Eligibility
Which grant program am I eligible for? Check your confirmation email or contact City Green if you have questions regarding your eligibility for grants. In a nutshell, if you have obtained a registration (CID) number from the federal government between July 13, 2011 and January 28, 2012, AND have receipts for upgrades dated between June 6, 2011 and March 31, 2012, you can be eligible for ecoENERGY grants if you complete all the program requirements. If you do not have a federal registration number and would like to have an energy assessment and start your upgrades now, you can be eligible for LiveSmart BC grants.
For questions about ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes eligibility, visit the federal Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQ) about ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes page.
For questions about LiveSmart BC Efficiency Incentive Program eligibility, visit the LiveSmart BC Frequently Asked questions page.
What homes are eligible for LiveSmart BC grants? Your building is eligible if you are the owner or landlord of:
- a single family home, duplex, or other row townhouse or
- a mobile home on a permanent foundation.
If your house has one part that does not share airflow with another part of the house (eg: a separate suite with a separate heating system), please let our client services staff know when you call to book.
If you are a renter in any of the above type of housing, please have your landlord contact City Green to arrange a home energy assessment.
If you would like an energy assessment for any other type of building, including apartments, condominiums, and commercial/industrial buildings, please see our Commercial and Institutional Energy Saving Solutions page.
What if I'm building an addition? Energy efficient upgrades to the existing home would be eligible for grants, but not new installations to the addition. However, to remain eligible, a home energy assessment must be conducted on the home before any construction begins. There is an additional fee at the time of the follow-up assessment for modeling the addition. If ceiling insulation has been upgraded and the ceiling type changed, the insulation upgrade is not eligible for grants. Additions to your home will reduce the grant amount received for the existing structure. For more information, please contact City Green's technical services at 1.866.381.9995 x. 124 or retrofit@citygreen.ca.
What if I'm building a new home? We provide energy efficiency services for new homes as well as existing homes. Read more, and email newhomes@citygreen.ca or call us at 1.866.381.9995 to get started.
What if I already started my renovations? You will only be eligible for grants on upgrades completed after the first home energy assessment, and an assessment can only happen when your building envelope is intact and all your heating and other systems are in place.
Grants
What paperwork is required for my grant application? During your post-retrofit home energy assessment you will be asked to show the advisor all receipts for the renovations you have completed. Your Advisor will bring a grant application form for you to sign and City Green will then submit all appropriate documentation for you to receive your grant.What information do Energy Advisors need to collect and why? Your Advisor will take measurements of your home and record the energy efficiency of your current heating system, hot water system, windows and doors, insulation, draft proofing, and other aspects of building energy efficiency. These measurements are then used to model your home and calculate the energy rating for your home.
Your Advisor also needs to collect information about your home and your upgrades to provide to the utility and government partners that administer the grant programs. This information includes your property tax roll number, your utility account numbers, and photographs of your upgrades and receipts. All information collected is subject to provincial and federal privacy laws and will not be shared without your prior consent.
Are the grants based on income levels? No. The LiveSmart BC grants are fixed amounts based on the efficiency of the products that you install and/or the improvements in energy efficiency you attain. Please see the Home Energy Efficiency Grants page for details. For free upgrades for people on limited budgets, consider BC Hydro's Energy Conservation Assistance Program (ECAP) or free Energy Saving Kits.
Are the grants based on how much I spend? No. The grants are a standard amount based on the efficiency of the products that you install and/or the improvements in energy efficiency you attain. Please see the Home Energy Efficiency Grants page for details.
Is there a cost to apply? Yes. Your initial home energy assessment will cost either $150 or $300 (plus tax and any additional charges), depending on your eligibility. for the provincial assessment subsidy. Your post-retrofit assessment will cost $150 (plus tax and any additional charges).
Do I have to do everything on the retrofit plan you provide? No. You remain in control of the upgrade decisions for your home. Our goal is to provide you with an on-site consultation and report of cost effective retrofit suggestions aimed at reducing your energy use - and ultimately lowering your energy bills!
How do I know if my air source heat pump (ASHP) qualifies for a grant? If your air source heat pump meets the grant program requirements and is listed on the Natural Resources Canada Product database, it qualifies. City Green can help you or your contractor look it up. Email the AHRI (Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute) number for your air source heat pump system to retrofit@citygreen.ca and our Technical Services department will look it up and let you know if it qualifies for a grant.
Home Upgrades and Renovations
Do you recommend contractors? City Green Solutions does not endorse any contractors. We offer independent energy efficiency advice. We recommend getting at least three quotes before choosing your contractor.How soon can I start the retrofits after the assessment? You can start your retrofits right after your assessment, although you may find it helpful to wait until you have received your Energy Efficiency Evaluation Report which provides customized, expert, and independent advice from your Advisor about priority energy efficiency upgrades for your home.
Can I do the work myself, or do I have to hire someone specific? You can complete all the retrofits yourself or hire a contractor to retrofit your home. Please note that if you choose to complete the work yourself, you may need to meet more stringent documentation requirements to ensure that your upgrades qualify for grants. See the required documentation table below.
How soon does the work have to be completed? To access LiveSmart BC grants, you must complete your renovations within 18 months of your pre-retrofit assessment or by March 31, 2013 (whichever comes first).
If you are eligible for ecoENERGY grants, you must complete your renovations by March 31, 2012 and a post-retrofit assessment by June 30, 2012. (See NRCan’s Dates and Deadlines Page for details.
Do I have to save my receipts? Yes, please save your receipts and invoices. It is important that you keep receipts and invoices from your upgrades to show to your Advisor at the time of your follow-up assessment, and ask your contractors or suppliers to include all necessary information outlined in the “Required Documentation” table below. Your Advisor is required to review your receipts and invoices to determine if the upgrades you have completed meet the grant eligibility criteria. Missing or inadequate receipts and invoices will make you ineligible for grants.
How do I know which upgrades or products will qualify for grants? Before making purchases, please review the LiveSmart BC grant chart, LiveSmart BC Program Terms and Conditions, AND Notes to Contractors that outline the grant amounts and product eligibility criteria. If you are eligible for ecoENERGY grants, please consult the ecoENERGY grant table.
Most grant eligible products must be ENERGY STAR qualified for Canada. ENERGY STAR guidelines may be different in other countries. If you are installing products manufactured or purchased from another country, please verify that they meet ENERGY STAR guidelines for Canada. Products that are ENERGY STAR qualified in another country may not meet the guidelines for Canada.
Natural Resources Canada’s ENERGY STAR qualified products database is available here. Please note both eligible and ineligible products are listed in the database.
If you are unsure whether your upgrades meet the eligibility criteria, contact our Technical Services team for verification at 1.866.381.9995 ext 124 or retrofit@citygreen.ca. Please have the manufacturer and full model number available.
| Product * | Receipts Must Include the Purchase Date, Installation Date AND the following: |
| Air-Source Heat Pump/Cooling Systems | AHRI reference number; inside and outside coil model numbers; furnace/air handler model number (if applicable); Manufacturer. |
| GeoExchange System | Copy of Canadian GeoExchange Coalition Certificate |
| Gas/Oil Furnace or Boiler | Manufacturer; Model number; AFUE rating. |
| Pellet stove, Wood-burning System or Appliance | Manufacturer; Model number. |
| Insulation | Installed by contractor: R value of insulation added to each area of your home. Self-installed: pre-drywall photos of insulation in place, receipt states R value and amount purchased. The modeling of your existing insulation levels is based on the Advisor’s assessment and the building code of the era your home was built. During your renovations, if you find that the insulation levels estimated during your pre-retrofit assessment is incorrect, please document with photos measuring the depth of insulation for each area of your home and forward the documentation to our office. We are unable to model insulation levels lower than the building code of the era your home was built. |
| Windows, Doors and Skylights | • Decal(s) proving product(s) is (are) ENERGY STAR qualified for Canada and stating their climate zone qualification, and dated receipt(s), OR • Receipt(s) from installer stating the brand/manufacturer, number of doors, windows, and/or skylights installed, Natural Resources Canada reference number or the manufacturer’s model code, and climate zone qualification. |
| Heat Recovery Ventilator | Manufacturer; Model number. |
| Bathroom Fan | Manufacturer; Model number. |
| Solar Domestic Hot Water | Manufacturer; Model number; proof installer or company is trained to CSAF383.08. |
| Drain Water Heat Recovery System | Manufacturer; model name; model number; drain size; and efficiency. |
| Gas Water Heater Replacement | For instantaneous type: Manufacturer; Model number; Energy Factor (EF) rating. For condensing gas storage type: Manufacturer; Model number; Thermal Efficiency rating. |
| Electric Heat Pump Water Heater | Manufacturer; Model number; Energy Factor rating. |
| Distributed Power Generation | Manufacturer; Model number; Contact City Green’s Technical Services department for documentation requirements. |
| Draft Proofing/ Weather-stripping | No receipts required. Your advisor will test the upgrades with a depressurization test. |
| Integrated Mechanical System | Manufacturer; Model number. |
| Toilets | Manufacturer; Model number |
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