Go Green and Save
So your thinking of selling your home and would like to do a few renovations before you put it on the market or you just bought a new home and would like to do renovations to make it your own.
It’s good to keep abreast of grants that are now available for homeowners who want to go green.
Both the provincial and federal governments have new programs designed to encourage energy reduction. By staying up-to-date on the latest programs, you can save money.
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is offering a new residential energy efficiency assessment service to owners of single family homes, including detached, semi-detached and low-rise multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) that are no more than three storeys high.
Under the ecoENERGY Retrofit program, property owners can qualify for federal grants by improving the energy efficiency of their homes and reducing their home’s impact on the environment.
NRCan-certified energy advisors conduct a detailed on-site assessment of the home’s energy use from the attic down to the basement. They provide a personalized report, including a checklist of recommended retrofits to improve the energy efficiency of your home and, in some cases, to reduce water consumption. The report also shows the grant amounts for each eligible upgrade that you can receive by carrying out these energy-saving improvements. The maximum grant you can receive for a home is $6500.
A high efficiency furnace and many of the other retrofits eligible for rebates come with a higher price tag, but environmentally conscious homeowners believe the energy cost savings – and reduced greenhouse gas emissions – are well worth it. Also, from a resale perspective, many potential home buyers will view “greener” homes as a desirable feature.
For more information on the ecoEnergy Retrofit Rebate program visit the following sites:
1. http://www.clean.ns.ca/default.asp?mn=1.377.389.391.392
2. http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/residential/energuide-for-houses.cfm
3. http://www.en.amerispec.ca/retrofit-your-home
4. http://www.sustainablehousing.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5&Itemid=124
5. http://www.en.amerispec.ca/files/retrofit-qualify-grant.pdf
6. http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/residential/personal/home-improvement.cfm?attr=0
There is some great information contained in these links that could help you save money. If you are thinking about buying or selling Halifax Real Estate or doing renovations you have to check these programs out, not only will it save you money, it will up your resale value as well. For more information contact me ,
Andrew Perkins
You’re Halifax Real Estate Expert
