With high utility costs, more homeowners are looking to cut energy bills – and smart renovations are a great place to start. Prioritizing energy efficiency in your next project can lead to long-term savings and a more comfortable home. Upgrading your home with energy-efficient windows, insulation, and HVAC systems not only reduces energy consumption and lowers utility bills, but also helps cut the emissions that drive climate change.

Energy evaluation

Before you start your renovation, schedule a home energy evaluation with a registered energy advisor. An energy advisor will conduct a thorough assessment of your home, measuring and collecting data about all the elements that impact its energy performance, from airtightness to insulation, to heating and cooling systems. Once the assessment is complete, you will receive a report (or label) with a rating of your home’s energy consumption. The report will show the proportion of energy consumed by each system in your home and will compare your home’s performance to that of a typical new house.

The energy advisor will also give you a renovation upgrade report, with a customized action plan to improve the energy efficiency of your home, and will complete any forms required to receive any applicable rebates from utility companies or government programs that may be available. When your renovation is finished, you can schedule another assessment to see how your home is performing and obtain a new EnerGuide rating.

Rebates and incentives

BetterHomesTO, a BILD partner, provides rebates and incentives for home energy efficiency upgrades, including the city’s Eco-Roof Incentive and Home Energy Loan Program, Enbridge’s Home Efficiency Rebate, winterproofing and Smart Thermostat programs, and the Ontario Energy Board Low-Income Energy Assistance Program. You will also find a savings calculator that will help you determine how much energy you will save with certain upgrades.

If you are looking for a renovator who can guide you in making your home more energy efficient, I encourage you to work with a renovation professional who is part of the RenoMark program. RenoMark renovators commit to a code of conduct that requires them to offer a minimum of one-year warranty on all work, carry a minimum of $2 million in liability insurance and provide a detailed written contract. To find a RenoMark renovator in your area, visit bildgta.ca.