If you are pondering over replacing your windows with new and improved ones, then government window rebates would surely help, right?
It can seem like a daunting task to go through each available program and figure out whether or not you are eligible for it. That’s why we’ve compiled this comprehensive guide on government rebates for window replacements.
What Are the Different Programs?
Greener Homes Renovation Rebate Program
The Greener Homes Renovation Rebate Program was launched on December 1st, 2020 and runs until March 31, 2028, or until the funding limit has been reached.
This grant offers up to $5,000 on eligible retrofits completed after December 2020. Properties qualified for government rebates for window replacements include the following:
- Single and semi-detached homes;
- Row or townhouses;
- Mobile homes on permanent foundations;
- All-season cottages;
- Permanently-moored floating homes; and
- Low-rise residential buildings.
Program Basics:
In order to qualify for the Greener Homes Renovation Rebate Program, you must have proof of home ownership. Then, homeowners are required to have an energy advisor perform pre- and post-energy audits. They will then evaluate the home and provide a list of recommended renovations from qualified measures. The cost of these audits can be reimbursed up to $600 if at least one recommended renovation is completed.
Canada Greener Homes Grant
Created to make your home more comfortable and energy-efficient, the Greener Homes Grant offers interest-free financing. This is perfect for financing eligible products and installations that are part of a retrofit recommended by an energy expert and qualified for the grant.
Those interested in applying for the loan can get a minimum of $5,000 and a maximum $40,000. The loan entails a repayment term of 10 years.
To apply for the Canada Greener Homes Grant, you must be a Canadian homeowner and have completed a pre-retrofit evaluation of your home dated April 1, 2020 or later, among other standard requirements.
Enbridge Home Efficiency Rebate
To get smaller energy bills that provide 365 days of increased household comfort, you might be interested in applying for the Enbridge Home Efficiency Rebate.
This program gives you the opportunity to receive up to $5,000 in rebates for air sealing, insulation, water heaters, boilers, furnaces, new windows, new doors, and home energy evaluations.Eligibility encompasses the following:
- Residential customers of Enbridge Gas.
- Owners of detached, semi-detached, row townhouses, or mobile homes with a permanent foundation.
- Homes heated with natural gas furnaces or boilers.
- Homeowners who plan to renovate or replace old equipment, and have not begun the work yet.
How the Program Works
Step 1: Before you begin any work, you will need to accomplish a home energy assessment with a registered energy advisor.
Step 2: After the completion of a home energy assessment, you will receive a custom report enumerating the recommended upgrades.
Step 3: Complete a minimum of two eligible upgrades. For each additional upgrade that you opt for, you will get a bonus incentive up to $750. In order to qualify for the furnace rebate, you must install three upgrades.
Step 4: Schedule a follow-up energy audit within 120 days after the first one.
Step 5: You can expect to receive the rebate cheque within 12 weeks after approval. A reimbursement amount of approximately $600 to cover energy assessments will be included in the final cheque.
Maximize Your Potential for Eligibility
There are government rebates for new windows that offer incentives to homeowners and landlords who replace their windows with more energy-efficient ones. But the catch is that they will most likely want you to have an energy assessment of your home both before your new windows are installed as well as after.
Tips for Quick Approval
If you’re interested in any of these government rebates for new windows, remember to keep these things in mind for higher chances of a quick approval!
1. Make Sure to Keep Your Assessment Records
With some programs, you will be asked to send in records and files related to any home assessments that have occured with your current windows in position. You will need to have a document that describes the upgrades that have been suggested, any work that has already been completed, as well as the post-upgrade assessment file to qualify.
2. Check Your Property’s Eligibility
Check the criteria beforehand to ensure your property is actually able to qualify for the government rebates for new windows. If you have a holiday home that you are planning to make a window improvement on, then you might not be eligible for a rebate.
3. Ensure You Keep All of Your Original Receipts
Some government rebates for new windows require you to show the original receipts and information from your window replacements so you can prove the model number and price for all of your windows.
4. Make Sure You Keep the Retailer Invoice
This invoice will include your address, how many windows you had put in, the brand of the windows, the name of the manufacturer, when they were installed, and the type of windows too.
5. Different Windows, Different Requirements
With all of the programs for government rebates for windows out there, it probably comes as no surprise that there are different requirements that you must meet for each one. A thorough account of the criteria is usually provided, so it’s easy to make sure whether you qualify for it or not.
Get Window Replacements While Rebates Last
Applying for loans, window rebates, and grants can be a stressful task to complete, however, we hope this guide has given you the peace of mind to conquer that task and get back what you deserve.
Clera Windows + Doors is a multi-awarded company that has improved more than 250,000 homes over the past 44 years. When it comes to window replacements, you can always count on our top-quality, reliable products.
Make the most of government rebates for window replacements; give us a call for a quote today!
