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The most important upgrades we make to our homes are the ones that pay dividends. And no more so than creating an energy-efficient home that will save money in the long run and add value to the equity we are building in our homes.

Our friends at Union Gas have a unique plan for ‘energy smart upgrades’ that could help defray the costs of upgrades through a rebate.

By increasing your home’s energy efficiency you can qualify for up to $2,500.00 in assistance with your upgrade costs that could cut energy consumption by as much as 20 per cent. Any upgrades that you install in your home make it more desirable to perspective buyers and that offers a distinct advantage over other homes in your area.

In order to qualify for the rebate, a homeowner needs to contact a Certified Energy Advisor who will conduct a pre-renovation inspection and assessment. When complete, the energy assessment will be reviewed to determine if the upgrades are in-line with renovations options for your home. Choosing from an eligibility list, two projects must be performed by a certified contractor and when completed a post-renovation analysis will be conducted to make sure the renovations conform to the rebate program.

A rebate cheque will be issued 60 days after the work is complete provided as long as the work meets the pre-conditions established by Union Gas.

• A homeowner must have an active Union Gas account
• A furnace or boiler must deliver the heat through a natural gas-powered system
• Homeownership is a must whether it is a detached or semi-detached unit
• The area of your home must be in is central or southwestern Ontario

Also, the minimum gas usage reduction must be within 550 m3 (minimum) or 740 m3 with a new furnace. The rebate program maximum value is $2500.00 and an additional $500.00 is available for the two assessments. The homeowner is responsible for the HST for the costs of the assessments.

Some renovation projects have eligibility requirements and insulation is one project that will yield long-term benefits for energy efficiency. Many different insulation projects come with rebates – if you insulate your basement or crawl space or increase the R-value of your current insulation will qualify for additional monies for the costs of the upgrades.

To make use of the program the homeowner has some responsibilities to assume: The homeowner must ensure their own personal eligibility, they are responsible for hiring a Certified Energy Advisor, hiring a certified contractor, maintaining billing and meeting all deadlines.