How To Apply


Step One: Schedule A First Home Energy Assessment

The first step in applying for the ecoENERGY Grants is to book a home energy assesment with a Certified Energy Advisor. See pictures of a home energy assessment.

The first assessment takes between 1.5 to 3 hours, depending on the complexity of your home. During this time, your Advisor will:

  • introduce you to the ecoENERGY program resources available
  • take measurements of your home's heated areas
  • spot check for possible moisture or ventilation issues
  • plug your appliances into a SmartMeter to show how much energy is being used, even when they are turned off!
  • introduce you to other sustainable actions you might want to consider from the LiveSmart BC Low Carbon Audit
  • record the current products you have installed in the following areas:
    • windows, doors
    • space heating, hot water heating
    • ventilation (fans, range hoods)
    • attic and wall insulation
  • conduct a 'blower door fan test' to find air leaks

The Advisor will then take this information and enter it into a software program called Hot2000 and calculate your home's current EnerGuide Rating and potential EnerGuide rating. The higher your rating on a scale between 1 and 100, the more efficient your home.

Within one week of the assessment, you will then receive an Energy Efficiency Evaluation Report that provides you with a prioritized list of which upgrade areas would have the largest impact on your home's energy efficiency.

Our recommendations are unaffiliated with renovation contractors, and are focused on independent energy efficiency advice. Our intent is to provide you with tools to make informed decisions about your renovation needs and the improvements to your home. Read more about Choosing A Certified Energy Advisor.

Preparing for your home energy assessment

  • Ensure that your advisor has full access to all rooms in the home
  • Ensure your building envelope is intact (i.e. no holes in the windows, exterior walls, or ceiling)
  • Sweep your fireplace hearth and close dampers
  • Close all windows and doors to prepare for the blower door air leakage test
  • Clear access into the crawl space and/or attic
  • Write down any questions you may want to ask you advisor

Step Two: Complete Your Choice of Upgrades

Using the information in our report, advice from contractors and eligibility requirements for the grant program, you decide which energy efficiency upgrades are best for your home.

Please save your receipts; ask your contractor to provide specific product model and specifications on the receipts to confirm products are grant eligible.

City Green does not endorse any specific contractor; we recommend that you request three quotes for each product. Other tips for hiring a contractor can be found on this fact sheet:

  • Hiring a Contractor

Other valuable resources include:

Deadlines

All upgrades and your follow-up assessment must be completed within 18 months of your first assessment or before March 2011 when the program is set to end, whichever comes first.  

Step Three: Schedule A Follow-up Home Assessment

Schedule a second home visit (see deadline information above). This visit usually takes between 45 minutes - 1 hour. At this time, we will:

  • measure how much your home's efficiency has improved
  • measure any new additions that may have built onto the home
  • complete a second "blower door fan test" to capture your draftproofing efforts
  • review your receipts to confirm grant-eligilble product specifications
  • record the Property Tax Roll number for your home on the forms
  • collect your signature on the grant application form

After the assessment, your Advisor will calculate your new, improved EnerGuide rating. The City Green office will then mail you out an EnerGuide label to place on your utility box. The office will also apply for the grants on your behalf.

Your grant cheque will be sent to you from Natural Resources Canada within 60-120 days of the second visit.

Preparing for your follow up assessment

  • Ensure that your advisor has full access to all rooms in the home, especially the areas in which you have completed work.
  • Ensure your building envelope is intact (i.e. no holes in the windows, exterior walls, or ceiling)
  • Sweep your fireplace hearth and close dampers
  • Close all windows and doors to prepare for the blower door air leakage test
  • Clear access into the crawl space and/or attic
  • Collect documentation to prove that the work you have done meets the criteria of both the federal and provincial grant programs is required
  • Have your Property Tax Roll number, BC Hydro, and Terasen Gas account number available for the advisor to record on the grant application form.
  • Have a person whose name is on the property ownership form present to sign the grant application form.