It’s not every day that you get a chance to save money on things like your water bills and home repairs. But with the help of the arctic energy alliance, there is a new way for homeowners to save some cash. With rebates for everything from insulation and doors to furnaces and power washing, this program can make it easier and more affordable than ever to keep your home in top condition. Not to mention, these rebates can also help improve the resale value of your property. So, whether you’re looking to save some money now or in the future, the arctic energy alliance can help make it happen. Learn more today and see how you can take advantage of this great program.
What Does the Arctic Energy Alliance Do in Its Program?
The Arctic Energy Alliance (AEA) offers subsidies to homeowners in the Northwest Territories (NWT) who have older, less energy-efficient homes and want to lower their heating bills and emissions. These incentives can help homes save money on insulation, windows, air sealing, and heating system upgrades. Individuals, businesses, nonprofit groups, local governments, and Indigenous governments are all eligible to apply. The partnership administers programs that provide people and companies with federal and territorial funding for modifications that reduce energy usage and save money. According to the CBC, their energy efficiency incentive program — which pays rebates for LED lights, programmable thermostats, and more energy-efficient appliances – ran out of money in the fall due to high demand.
In the first year of the pandemic, the rebate program that helped N.W.T. residents pay for energy-efficient appliances saw a “huge increase” in applications — and has already run out of cash for this year.
Over the previous year, applications for the energy efficiency incentive program, which aims to cut people’s energy expenses and greenhouse gas emissions, increased by 88 percent. Residents in the Northwest Territories received 2,382 refunds totalling $540,000 for equipment such as Energy Star certified washers and dryers, wood and wood pellet stoves, oil furnaces, LED lighting, and programmable thermostats.
Starting in 2018, the AEA received additional funds from the Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund, which allowed them to supplement many rebate schemes for a few years.
According to Heyck, what was left of that money ran out this year after the AEA gave out $187,000 and hit its budget ceiling. He credits the pandemic, the fact that individuals were spending more money on home upgrades, and awareness about greenhouse gas emissions and climate change for the “huge rise” in interest in the initiative last year.
How Does It Work?
Eligibility
This scheme is for single-family dwellings and row housing (no more than three stories). The AEA will need to conduct EnerGuide home evaluations on your home before and after your renovations in order for you to be eligible. Apartment buildings and other multi-unit residential structures are not eligible.
Complete a Pre-Retrofit Assessment. EnerGuide Home Assessment:
An AEA energy advisor will do a thorough study of your home to identify how it consumes energy and present you with a list of recommended changes to make it more energy-efficient. You’ll also get an EnerGuide sticker and a homeowner information sheet that compares your home’s projected annual energy use to that of a typical new home (a house that would be similar to yours but built to the energy requirements of the 2015 National Building Code). You may be pre-approved for a reimbursement when your pre-retrofit evaluation is completed. This implies that regardless of how many other applications are submitted, money will be set aside for your project. You don’t have to do anything.
Energy-Efficient Products’ Impact
According to the AEA’s annual report for 2020-2021, LED lighting received 958 rebates, making it by far the most popular energy-efficient product.
The Arctic Energy Alliance’s 2020-2021 report includes a graphic depicting the kind of things for which people earned rebates through the energy efficiency incentive program. The Arctic Energy Alliance (Arctic Energy Alliance) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting Freezers came in second with 334 rebates, followed by washers with 285 rebates, and refrigerators with 177 rebates. According to the report, all of the goods for which the AEA provided rebates helped the N.W.T. avoid releasing 810 tonnes of greenhouse gases and consuming 1,400,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year.
In 2019, the entire territory produced 1.4 megatonnes of greenhouse emissions (or 1,400,000 tonnes). The North Slave received 1,031 of the total rebates, while the South Slave received 541 and the Beaufort-Delta received 519. The Dehcho and Sahtu regions each earned 141 and 139 refunds, whereas the Tlicho region only received 11.
Complete the Home Energy Efficiency Upgrades that have been Recommended
After you’ve decided on the modifications you want to make, you’ll need to hire and pay for a renovation contractor as well as any products or supplies that need to be installed. Get bids and client references from three separate contractors, according to the AEA, then speak with those references. The AEA may supply you and your chosen contractor with complimentary “home as a system” building science guidance. You’re also in charge of obtaining any necessary licenses, inspections, and approvals for your improvements.
Complete an Energuide Home Evaluation Once you’ve Completed the Retrofit
Following the completion of your modifications, the AEA will evaluate your home again to see how the upgrades have improved your home’s energy efficiency. A new EnerGuide label and homeowner information page will be mailed to you.
You have two years from the date of your pre-retrofit home evaluation to complete your renovations and schedule a post-retrofit evaluation with the AEA. The deadline for completing this review is January 31, 2024.
Fill Out the Application Form
Your AEA energy advisor will supply you with a rebate application form and assist you in filling it out once your post-retrofit evaluation is completed. All required supporting documentation, including paid receipts and ENERGY STAR labels or stickers, must be included in your application.
The Rebates
Furnaces and Boilers
Upgrade your furnace or boiler to a more efficient model and receive up to $3,000 in rebates. You’ll get a rebate that’s twice as much as the AEA’s rebate program for energy-efficient items.
Air Sealing
Get up to $1,000 for minimizing air leakage in your house. During your pre-retrofit and post-retrofit home energy evaluations, air leakage will be evaluated.
Windows
Installing ENERGY STAR® Canada-certified windows will earn you up to $3,000—$250 per window up to 12 windows.
Insulation
The rebate for updating your insulation will be double that of the AEA’s rebate program for energy-efficient products under this program.
Upgrade external wall insulation for up to $8,000, and attics, ceilings, exposed floors, basements, basement headers, and crawl spaces for up to $5,000. Exterior wall insulation is required to be qualified for all other rebates under this program.
Bonus Rebate
Reduce your annual energy use by at least 20% and receive a bonus rebate ranging from $1,000 to $4,000, depending on how much you save.
Shipping
Get up to $2,000 to help with the expense of shipping products to communities in the Northwest Territories that don’t have year-round road access.
How to Apply?
You must schedule a home energy evaluation before applying for a home improvement refund. Your energy advisor will assist you through the application process once your evaluation is complete. Are you not in the process of replacing your outside wall insulation? Or perhaps you don’t require a home energy assessment? Our program for energy-efficient products still offers discounts on insulation, furnaces, boilers, and other items.
At the End
The arctic energy alliance is a nonprofit that provides rebates for home improvements. For the first time, they are offering to pay up to $2,500 towards building materials like insulation and windows in order to help homeowners save money on their utility bills. If you’re looking for a way to make your house more comfortable without breaking the bank, then this might be an opportunity worth exploring. To learn more about how you can take advantage of these incentives or if you have any questions, check their website. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Leave a Reply