In 2015, the Federal Government of Canada put a price on carbon dioxide emissions to create an incentive to use less energy. We, as homeowners, are taxed on our usage of fossil fuels such as gas in our cars, propane or oil for our furnaces, water heaters, laundry, and cooking appliances.
The real kicker is that the carbon tax will cost us 4 times as much in under 10 years from $50 per tonne to $170. For context, the average person produces about 7.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, so by 2030, you will have spent over $7,000 dollars in the carbon tax unless you start making changes now.
The Canadian Government has made some changes to the Canada Greener Home Grant Initiative. Learn about these updates in our latest blog.
What Can You Do To Decrease Your Carbon Footprint And Save On Carbon Tax?
Cue the Greener Homes Grant program (GHG)! The Government of Canada offers support of up to $5,000 to help you make energy-efficient retrofits to your home. This incentive is for homeowners to focus on the energy performance of the entire home system, making homes more comfortable and affordable to maintain.
Here are some options for you to consider that will qualify for the rebate:
- Install intelligent upgrades: When it’s time to replace your existing air conditioner, upgrade to an air source heat pump, which will cool your home the same way your A/C does today, but provide an added benefit of very efficient electric heating during the milder parts of winter. There are more affordable options available now that qualify for the GHG.
- Tighten the envelope of your home: Another option to think about is to spend your GHG rebate on tightening the envelope of your home. Your ‘envelope’ means windows, doors, insulation, air sealing, and weather stripping. With a tighter home envelope, your home will lose less heat, consequently, you may be able to replace your existing HVAC equipment with smaller-sized equipment, using far less electricity and fossil fuels to run.
- Don’t forget to economize your hot water source: Do you have a gas hot water tank? Have you heard of a hybrid heat pump water heater? If not, chop chop!! A Hybrid hot water tank pulls heat energy from the air around it to heat water, making it the most efficient way to hot water supply. Homeowners can access up to $1,000 on Hybrid hot water tanks via the GHG.
- Think long-term: Really want to make a drastic impact in lowering your carbon footprint, and your bills? If you are thinking long-term, and looking to make compound interest work in your favour, geothermal and ground source heat pumps are by far the most efficient and environmentally friendly.
We know – it’s a lot to take in. Give us a call and we’ll help you navigate through all this!
In order to decide how best the grant might apply to your home comfort needs, you will need to start with an energy audit.
What Is An Energy Audit?
The Greener Homes Grant application requires an audit to be done on your home. The audit measures where your efficiencies can come from. Is it your windows? Your doors? Is it air sealing, attic, or wall insulation? The energy audit diagnosis will help determine where your money is best spent.
Remember, support is available from the government if you make smart decisions for your home. We at ClimateCare have systems that qualify. Give us a call and we’ll help you navigate your decision-making!
