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Canada Greener Homes Grant vs. the Enbridge Home Efficiency Rebate

Canada Greener Homes Grant vs. the Enbridge Home Efficiency Rebate

The Canada Greener Homes Grant (CGHG) is an initiative that currently offers up to 700,000 grants of up to $5,000 to Canadian homeowners looking to improve their homes’ energy efficiency. It was launched in May 2021 as part of the 2020 Fall Economic Statement.

On the other hand, the Enbridge Home Efficiency Rebate (EHER) offers Ontario homeowners rebates of up to $5,000 for upgrading their homes’ insulation, skylights, furnaces, boilers, doors, and windows.

Both initiatives reward Canadian homeowners for making their homes more energy-efficient. However, only the CGHG is open to all Canadian homeowners. EHER is only available to Enbridge Gas and Union Gas customers.

Is the Canada Greener Homes Grant Open?

As of May 27, 2021, the CGHG is open to all Canadian homeowners. The grant can only be accessed by homeowners who improve the energy efficiency and airtightness of their homes through various renovations.

Apart from helping homeowners to lower their heating and cooling costs year-round, the CGHG is an educative program. It rewards homeowners for reducing their carbon footprint and energy usage, and it teaches them what makes a home energy-efficient, which empowers them to create sustainable, energy-efficient communities. 

Who is Eligible for CGHG?

 All homeowners in Canada, regardless of location, are eligible for the Canada Greener Homes Grant. The grant caters to all types of properties, too, as listed below:

  • All-season cottages
  • Townhouses
  • Rowhouses
  • Mobile homes (provided they are on permanent foundations)
  • Floating homes (they must be permanently moored)
  • Single homes
  • Semi-detached homes
  • Low-rise multi-unit residential (under 600 square meters or three stories)
  • Mixed-use buildings (only the residential portion)

Requirements for the Canada Greener Homes Grant

  • Proof of ownership – you must provide proof of ownership and show that the building is your current residence. 
  • You can only register one homeowner per home. 
  • Indigenous applicants may register more than one home, even if they’re not their primary residence.
  • Housing management bodies, indigenous governments, and representative organizations are also eligible for the CGHG.

Is the Enbridge Home Efficiency Rebate Open?

As of February 2021, Canadian homeowners can get in-home energy audits for the Home Efficiency Rebate. Only Ontario homeowners are eligible for the EHER, and they must be customers of either Union Gas or Enbridge Gas.

Before you qualify for the EHE Rebate, you must consent to home energy audits from the involved parties. The EHER was updated in September 2020. New changes include drastically increased rebate amounts, a new bonus for homeowners that improve their wall insulation. You can earn this rebate by improving the insulation in your basement wall or crawlspace (or both!).

Even though the updated Home Efficiency Rebate has higher reward amounts, the maximum rebate amount is still $5,000. But you can still earn more by upgrading smaller sections of your home, which is enough incentive to get started.

Who is Eligible for EHER?

  • Homeowners with Union Gas memberships
  • Homeowners with Enbridge Gas memberships

Bonus Rebates

 EHER offers bonuses for minor upgrades you perform around the house. You can earn a substantial rebate by getting better roofing insulation or replacing wall insulation. 

  • Completing three energy updates (listed below) earns you $150.
  • Completing five energy updates earns you $500.
  • Completing seven energy updates earns you $750.
  • 100% insulation coverage of basement and crawlspace insulation earns you $500.

 NB: You must have insulation on at least 20 % of your basement and crawlspace to qualify for the EHER. However, if your retrofit upgrades (upgrades made in the past) only need 5 % to result in total coverage, then your minimum is 5 %. 

Attic Insulation

Upgrading a minimum of 20 % of your ceiling area also qualifies you for an EHE Rebate. All rebates, whether your home has a cathedral ceiling or flat ceiling, do not exceed $750.

You can also earn significant rebate amounts by air-sealing your home. Starting from the roof is always a good idea as poor-quality roofs can counteract all your other insulation measures.

Making Your Home More Energy Efficient: Where to Start

The roof is arguably the most significant single component of any home. If there are leaks and spaces in your roof, no amount of wall insulation can improve your energy efficiency.

Visit Logik Roofing & Insulation to learn how you can begin improving your home’s energy efficiency, including insulating your attic, to qualify for either the Canada Greener Homes Grant or the Enbridge Home Efficiency Rebate.