Climate Change, Technology & Incentives

CIPH works with numerous parties to invent a new world through innovative, energy-wise technologies. We promote change through new, clean technologies, education and responsible growth.

We are involved with and promote solar thermal, radiant heating, water and energy efficiency.

GOVERNMENT INCENTIVES
The federal government, provinces and some municipalities have programs to help homeowners save money and fight climate change. Typically they'll subsidize part of the cost, plus you'll save each month on energy bills and help protect the planet. In some cases, government helps with financing costs.

ecoENERGY Retrofit-Homes
The ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program provides financial assistance to encourage owners of existing low-rise properties make smart energy retrofit decisions that will result in significant energy savings, more comfortable living spaces and a cleaner environment.

Many provinces, territories, municipalities and energy utilities offer complementary programs which provide grants, rebates and other types of financial incentives based on the results of your ecoENERGY Retrofit post-retrofit evaluation. Even if you are not eligible for a grant from NRCan, you still may be able to participate in these regional programs. Homeowners are encouraged to contact these complimentary programs directly to obtain information on grant amounts and eligibility requirements.

How it works
An advisor performs an energy evaluation on your home, from the basement to the attic, including a blower door test to measure air tightness and to help locate air leakage sites. Approximately two weeks after your evaluation, you should receive a homeowners report with a list of recommended measures and an EnerGuide rating label.

Select your improvements and implement your energy upgrades, leaving time to ensure you complete your post-retrofit evaluation with a licensed service organization within 18 months of the date of the report or by March 31, 2011 (whichever comes first). NRCan recommends that you keep all receipts, and in the case of in-wall insulations, it is a good practice to take photos during installation.

During the post-retrofit evaluation, the energy advisor visits your home again and completes a new blower door test. The advisor completes a grant application form on your behalf and presents it to you for review and signature. The energy advisor then prepares and sends the electronic house file to the service organization who submits the electronic and paper files to NRCan.

NRCan processes the application and, under normal circumstances, most homeowners receive a cheque within 90 days following the date of the post-retrofit evaluation.

Note that subsequent to recent program changes, only homeowners who booked a pre-retrofit evaluation by March 31, 2010 are eligible for the ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program. Homeowners who are not eligible for a grant from NRCan, may still be able to participate in a regional program.

Other homeowner incentives
Links to information on various incentive programs can be found at http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/corporate/incentives.cfm.

The Government of Canada has also created other ecoACTION funding programs to help increase the supply of renewable heat, bio-fuels and power.

Businesses
Incentives are available for industrial, commercial and institutional purchasers of solar air and water heating systems, under a four year, $36 million ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat program administered by Natural Resources Canada. Financial assistance with the costs of solar air and water-heating systems is provided for installations by businesses, industries and public institutions. Assistance is also being provided to ensure that the solar thermal and geo-exchange industries can meet increased demand for their products.

The federal program provides $80,000 per installation, which can represent up to 25% of the cost of approved systems. This rises to 40% in regions qualifying as 'remote' and to 50% for municipalities and non-profits. In Ontario and Saskatchewan the incentives have been matched by provincial governments, creating a total of $160,000 per installation, which can represent 50%, 80% and 100% of costs. Corporate maximums for multiple installations are $4 million in these two provinces, $2 million elsewhere. Complete information can be found at www.ecoaction.gc.ca/ecoenergy.

Another part of ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat is testing methods of encouraging the use of solar water-heating in the residential sector. Natural Resources Canada funds 90% of costs for certification and testing of packaged solar water technologies. The goal is to increase the selection of performance-tested and CSA certified solar heating systems to at least 12 types from the few that are currently approved by 2011.

A nine-year, $1.5-billion ecoENERGY for Biofuels program aims to increase production of biofuels from the current 400 million litres per year to 3 billion litres. It is targeted primarily at Canada's agricultural sector. ecoENERGY for Biofuels will help meet new federal regulations that require a 5% average renewable content in gasoline by 2010 and a 2 percent renewable content for diesel by 2012. Incentive rates are under discussion and await final approval.

In addition the $1.48-billion ecoENERGY for Renewable Power program aims to boost Canada's renewable electricity supply up to 4000 megawatts (MW), enough clean electricity to power about one million homes.

The program is open to businesses, municipalities and other institutions and organizations and provides a one cent per kilowatt hour incentive on eligible renewable electricity projects built and commissioned over the next four years.

So far, 50 projects are registered, including small and large-scale wind farms, biomass and low-impact hydro and geothermal systems representing a total of about 3500 MW.

For more information on these and other ecoACTION initiatives, visit http://www.ecoaction.gc.ca.

RETscreen Software Update
The Ministry of Natural Resources has also released the latest version of its free RETscreen energy software, which includes financially viable clean power, heating and cooling technologies, and energy efficiency measures. The new version includes access to 22 years of NASA global climate data. It comes in 26 languages and is available at www.retscreen.net.