LAST UPDATED: 7 SEPTEMBER 2022

Greener Homes Grant: How to maximize your solar savings

The federal government of Canada has recently announced the Greener Homes Grant (GHG) (the irony of the initialism is not lost on us), an initiative that provides a rebate to homeowners who implement energy saving measures on their homes. Though the GHG can be applied to several energy efficiency upgrades, we at Simple Solar are most excited about how you can use it to get a rebate on solar PV systems. The GHG offers a $1000.00 per kilowatt rebate on PV systems, up to $5,000.00 for a 5 kW or larger system (a complete list of all the available rebates can be found here). So if you're considering getting a rebate on your PV system through the GHG, then read on to find out how.

The GHG will be offered directly to homeowners from Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN), and is tailored towards existing homes. New homes, that is homes that are six months old or less, based on the date of occupancy by the first homeowner, are not eligible. You, the homeowner, is in charge of the process. You'll need to hire and pay for two energy audits on your house, one before any upgrades are done and one after they're done (you can get a rebate of up to $600 for the energy audits). Following the first audit, you can hire contractors to implement energy saving upgrades recommended by the auditor; PV systems being one of the upgrade options and clearly the best one (we're not biased, I swear)! The upgrades need to be completed by certified contractors, so no DIY options for this grant, unfortunately.

The process

  1. Register online here. If this is your first time registering for a government program, then it can be a bit of a process... You'll need either a Sign-In Partner, typically a bank, or a GCKey. If you need to set one of these up, then just remember, patience is a virtue.
  2. Once you've successfully registered, you'll be shown a list of organizations in your area that can perform the initial energy audit. Certain organizations will be better suited to certain upgrades than others, so a bit of research will make the process easier. For example, of the organizations in the Calgary area, 4 Elements specializes in LEED certification and deep retrofits, MAP Energy does shallower retrofits, and 3D Energy is actually based in Edmonton. Regardless of who you choose, NRCAN will forward your contact details to that provider and they'll contact you to arrange the energy audit.
  3. Once your energy audit is complete, the auditor will provide a list of upgrades you can make to your home in order to reduce your energy consumption. It's then up to you to choose which upgrades you wish to undertake and hire the appropriate contractors to carry them out.
  4. Once the upgrades are done, you need to arrange a post-installation inspection with your chosen energy auditor. They'll send the details back to NRCAN.
  5. Finally, you can submit your receipts and invoices for your energy audit and upgrades through the online portal and receive your rebate from NRCAN.

Maximizing your rebate

The GHG is a great program for homeowners to learn about which energy efficiency upgrades are available to them and embark on one or more projects to reduce their home's energy consumption. Remember that many of these upgrades will not only save you money on your monthly utility bills, but will also make your home more comfortable and reduce your environmental footprint. In Alberta, most of our electricity comes from fossil fuel-fired power plants which means our electricity generation releases a lot of greenhouse gases and other pollutants. Upgrading your home with a PV system is a great way to reduce your emissions and save on your utility costs.

For most homes, a 5.0 kW system will be 14 panels and will generate 60 to 80 % of the electricity used. The typical cost to install a system of this size is between $12,000 and $15,000 before the rebate. The $5,000 rebate for a 5.0 kW system is therefore reducing the cost of your system by at least a third. Not a bad deal!

​Finally, if you're considering larger scope energy efficiency upgrades, such as a large PV system or replacing windows and siding, the Canada Greener Homes Loan provides interest free loans of up to $40,000.00.

If you're keen to go green with the help of the Canada Greener Homes Initiative, then you can request a free PV quote to get the ball rolling.

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