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Special Notice - March 31, 2010
The ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program is no longer
accepting bookings for pre-retrofit evaluations. The program will continue to
be administered until March 31, 2011. If you have already booked an
appointment for a pre-retrofit evaluation, have completed an evaluation or
applied for re-entry to the program, you remain eligible to apply for a grant. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS. 1. Can you tell me more about the government announcement on grants for renovations? There is grant money available to Canadians who wish to improve their home's energy efficiency with renovations to things like windows, doors and insulation. There are certain criteria you must meet, for instance you must own the home you are considering renovations for, and if you qualify, you can receive up to $5,000 back in grant money from the Federal Government. The Provincial government will match qualifying purchases up to $1,500 for a maximum total of $6,500. This program was updated on March 30, 2009 adding an additional 25% to most federal grant amounts. In addition small mixed-use buildings are also eligible as long as they meet the size requirements and 50% or more of the floor space is used as permanent residences. In addition you may also qualify for
an income tax credit based on your home renovations. 2. Who do I contact to start the process of getting the grant money? First, you'll need to have your home's current energy efficiency assessed by a certified Energy Advisor; we can help you find one. Simply call us or apply online to book an appointment with a qualified energy adviser for you. Then you choose which projects you'd like to do and whether you'd like us to help you locate a contractor to do the work, or you may choose to do it yourself. Once the renovations are done, the Energy Advisor will complete another energy efficiency assessment, then file the grant application on your behalf. 3. Is there a cost for the assessment? The cost of the audit is $150 plus HST for homes up to 3500 square feet. Larger homes will cost a bit more, up to $400. A certified Energy Advisor can tell you the exact cost. Remember, the assessment will show you where your home is using and loosing energy, it makes all your decisions educated ones. Plus, if you decide to make the changes, the money you'll save month over month on your energy bills will off-set the investment. Everyone who has a home energy evaluation will also receive a free "Energy Smart Choices" energy savings kit ($50.00 value). This energy kit will enable you to recover the cost of your audit through savings in less than two years. This assessment cost is paid to the certified Energy Advisor and not to UJ Robichaud TIMBR Mart. 4. Does TIM-BR MART issue the grant money to me? No. The government will issue it to you ninety days after the Energy Advisor does the post-assessment on your home and files the grant application on your behalf. 5. Can TIM-BR MART help me with the renovation? Certainly. If you choose to hire someone to do the work for you, we can put you in touch with a few qualified contractors you can interview. Or, if you choose to do the renovations yourself, our knowledgeable EnerGrade Experts can help you select the right tools and products to complete your projects. 6. What can you do for me that another retailer can't? Plenty! For instance, if you want to get started on renovations now, we can help you find your local qualified Energy Advisor right away. We can also provide you with more information on the kinds of projects you can expect to undertake to qualify for Federal and Provincial incentives and help you navigate the grant process. We are very familiar with the many government grant programs and tax credits that can apply to your home improvement project. Let us help you cut the red tape and find the answers you need. 7. What does "From Information to Installation" mean? Step 1 - You are interested in renovating your home, and saving on energy costs, and approach us as your local TIMBR Mart. Step 2 - If you are interested in an ecoENERGY grant, you have to apply for a home energy audit by a qualified NRCan approved Energy Advisors. To be eligible for a grant you, as the homeowner, must engage the services of an Energy Advisor to perform an energy assessment of the home prior to renovation. Step 3 - After the evaluation has been complete, then you will receive a copy of their assessment, with descriptions of various projects that will improve the energy efficiency of your home. This report prioritizes the recommendations based on potential for savings and outlines the value of grants available for each project. Step 4 - Our instore EnerGrade Expert will review the assessment with the you and discuss which projects we can help you achieve. Step 5 - You purchase the products required to complete the project and either complete the renovation yourself or engage a contractor to complete the renovation. We can assist in referring qualified contractors to do the work for you. Step 6 - After the project is complete, the Energy Advisor performs an additional Energy Assessment of your home. The home's increased R-Value, proof of work completed and receipts are submitted by the Energy Advisor to the office of Energy Efficiency. Step 7 - A cheque covering the value of the grant will be mailed directly from NRCan to the you within ninety days. 8. What are the top five areas of my home I should be looking at for energy efficiency? Saving energy is more than just weatherstripping (although weatherstripping is critical). It's also about using the right products the right way, like setting your programmable thermostat lower at night and during the day when you are away. That said, an energy advisor will generally look at the following five systems within your home: Insulation, Windows and entrance systems, Heating and ventilation, Plumbing and Electrical 9. I can do the work required for the energy upgrade. If I do the work myself, am I still eligible for the grants and incentives? Yes, provided you receive a pre-retrofit energy assessment by a qualified energy advisor. To receive a grant, you must obtain a post-retrofit assessment after the upgrades have been carried out. It is important to keep a copy of your invoices for the materials purchased for the upgrades as you may be asked to submit a copy. Homeowners are responsible for ensuring they obtain all necessary permits and meet all municipal and provincial requirements. 10. What is an Energrade Expert? An Energrade Expert is a TIMBR Mart staff member that is dedicated to energy efficiency, including acting as a liason between you the homeowner, government agencies and qualified energy advisors. Come into our store and ask to speak to our Energrade Expert today! Our Energrade Experts are Chad Comeau and Marc Robichaud. 11. Is there financing available through TIMBR Mart to do energy efficiency upgrades? Yes, our TIMBR Mart Client Card can provide special financing on projects between $5,000 and $25,000. Subject to proper credit approvals, we can offer a low interest rate (9.9% for a term period of 60 months). 12. Is anything available for low income families? Yes. Low to modest income Nova Scotians that
qualify for the Energuide for Houses Assistance program will also receive a $400
grant in addition to the provincial Energuide grant. Qualified
participants will also be reimbursed the cost of the home energy evaluation.
If you are a homeowner with a net single income of less than $25,000 or a
homeowner with a net family income of less than $40,000, you would qualify for
the reimbursement and the additional $400.00 incentive. 13. What is the zero-interest Energuide loan? In October 2008, the province of Nova Scotia also launched a Heat Smart No Interest Five Year Loan for up to $5,000. This option is available to homeowners of good credit who have an Energuide energy evaluation completed in their home. Click here for more information on the No Interest Energuide Loan and download application form. 14. I have already participated in this program but I have more work to, am I permitted to re-apply? Yes - Once you have completed your post-retrofit evaluation, you can re-enter the program using the evaluation as a baseline if you would like to perform more work within a new 18 month deadline, provided you do not exceed the maximum grant of $5,000 (federal) per dwelling unit. To re-enter the program, please complete the Apply Online portion for a Home Energy Audit and indicate clearly that you wanting to participate again in this program. |
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