How to get your home energy rebate
Sep. 23/21
Change for Climate is a climate change initiative from the City of Edmonton.
Sep. 23/21
Change for Climate is a climate change initiative from the City of Edmonton.
Edmonton’s Home Energy Retrofit Accelerator (HERA) program is designed to help you to understand your home’s energy use and take action to improve its efficiency. Insulation, windows and water and space heating equipment are all eligible for rebates with bonuses available for bigger retrofits. Rebate stacking is allowed with other energy efficiency incentive programs, including Canada’s Greener Homes Grant program.
It may seem intimidating to retrofit your house, but the City is working to make home energy improvements as simple as possible for you. Through HERA, you’ll have access to professional advice, and program support through the whole process. A detailed step-by-step guide to participation can be found on the program website under How to Participate, but here is a summary of what is involved:
- Get an EnerGuide Audit. To start the process, hire an expert Energy Advisor to perform an EnerGuide Home Energy Evaluation on your home. You will receive professional advice from your energy advisor on how to retrofit for energy efficiency.
- Enroll in HERA. At the end of your Home Energy Evaluation you will receive an EnerGuide label that helps you understand your home’s energy performance. Use this to complete the Homeowner Enrollment Form.
- Upgrade your home. Select which upgrades you would like to make to your home and make them happen. You can hire a contractor or, for certain projects, you can DIY. Don’t forget that you are eligible for a 20% bonus if you complete at least three upgrades in eighteen months.
All rebate amounts are listed in the Eligible Products & Services List, found within the Program User Guide. Some popular upgrades and their rebate amounts are:
- Attic Insulation: $0.66 per sq ft to a maximum of $1,200 per home
- ENERGY STAR Replacement Windows: $50 per window
- ENERGY STAR Smart Thermostats: $85 per unit
- ENERGY STAR Gas Tankless Water Heater: $415 per unit - Get your rebates. Once your eligible upgrades are complete and you have your documentation, submit the online Rebate Application Form. You will hear back from the program staff and, if eligible, your cheque will be in the mail.
- Get your results. To finish up your HERA project, have your Energy Advisor come back and complete a follow up EnerGuide Home Energy Evaluation. The new EnerGuide label will show the impact of your home upgrades on your energy use.
- Celebrate! Be sure to apply for a rebate to cover your last Home Energy Evaluation and to check out the Home Energy Map to see your success highlighted along with others who are working to reduce their energy use in Edmonton.
How much rebate money is available?
The program has a three-year incentive budget of $600,000 per year, for a total of $1,800,000. While these funds have been allocated to HERA, they are not guaranteed as City of Edmonton budgets are subject to adjustment at any time.
Periodic updates on rebate availability will be made on the website and through the Change For Climate newsletter.
Learn more by visiting the HERA Frequently Asked Questions, Terms & Conditions, and Program User Guide for program eligibility and details.
