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HATSmart Rebate Program Grants
HAT Smart will rebate up to $5,000 for combined retrofits in the Existing Homes Program.
Full details and the maximum rebate for each eligible retrofit can be found in link below.
Fill out the RESERVE FUNDS application, choosing only the upgrades you intend to complete. Your application will be placed in the queue for processing based on the date it is received. The maximum rebate for all combined applications is $5,000.
Your EnerGuide Home Evaluation report is due within 60 days of submitting your reserve funds application (if you did not include it when you applied).
Find the latest information about the grants available to homeowners in Medicine Hat to improve the energy efficiency of their homes through the HATSmart Program.
https://www.medicinehat.ca/en/home-property-and-utilities/hat-smart.aspx
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NRCan Home Energy Improvement Loans
Canada Greener Homes Loan
10 year interest free loan up to $40,000 for approved home energy upgrades. Loans are available to homeowners who undertake retrofits identified through an authorized EnerGuide energy assessment. In combination with the Greener Homes Grant program. The loan would help eligible participants make deeper, more costly retrofits that have the biggest impact in reducing a home’s environmental footprint and energy bills.
Find the latest information about the grants, rebates and loans available to home owners in Alberta to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.
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Now is the time to get an EnerGuide Home Energy Assessment to take advantage of Canada Greener Homes Loan programs and HATSmart ProgramHat Property Inspections is an Independent Registered Energy Advisor licensed with Natural Resources Canada to deliver energy assessment services. I am partnered with A1 NRGwise consulting a Canadian owned and operated energy assessment service provider. Choose A1 NRGwise consulting on the NRCan website for Greener Homes EnerGuide energy assessments in the Medicine Hat area. Contact me directly for a HATSmart Energuide energy assessment.
I assist homeowners by providing Home Energy Assessment services that will help you access available government and utility incentives to improve the energy efficiency of your house.
I help Homeowners SAVE MONEY with a Home Energy Assessment by identifying inefficiencies that help you identify energy savings opportunities and create an action plan that fits your budget and any incentive program qualifications.
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What to expect from an Energy assessment?
A home energy assessment, or energy audit by Hat Property Inspections can help you understand how your home uses energy and identify retrofits to help improve energy efficiency. I will assess your home from basement to attic and you will receive an EnerGuide rating for your home, an energy efficiency report and a renovation road map to help you make decisions about possible upgrades. All data and photos collected during the evaluation are strictly protected within the guidelines of privacy legislation. Photos will be taken of the Inside and outside of your home, its mechanical systems, the attic space and any wood-burning appliances, if present. These photos are for record keeping and quality assurance purposes only. Only one photo of the front of your house to appear in your customized report.
A home energy assessment, or energy audit is 4 Step Process for you to qualify for the Canada Greener Homes Loan.
Step 1 – Initial Energy assessment
I will Complete an Initial D file NRCan energy assessment to obtain a baseline of information about the homes current energy efficiency, and gather information for your Renovation Roadmap.
Step 2 - Energy Analysis & Reports
I will provide you with a house energy rating, report, label, and detailed renovation report that provides a step by step roadmap towards completing qualifying upgrades required to receive Canada Greener Homes Grant funding.
Step 3 – Complete the Upgrades
With the Roadmap in hand, proceed with your upgrades with the contractors of your choice. I can provide referrals if needed.
Step 4 – Follow up Energy Assessment
To claim government incentives, you must complete a post upgrade energy assessment. E file NRCan energy assessment. Simply contact me when you are ready and we will schedule this at your convenience. (Please note that the follow up Energy Assessmnet is not required for the HAT Smart Program)
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How Energy Efficient is your home?
If you're interested in finding out where your home is leaking money, then you've come to the right place!
Windows
Windows, doors and skylights can be a significant source of energy loss in your home – up to 35%. Replacing your windows with ENERGY STAR certified units can save a lot on your energy bill. ENERGY STAR models are up to 40% more efficient than standard windows. Buying ENERGY STAR certified doors and skylights will complement your window purchase and help you save even more energy.
Air Sealing
Seal your Leaky House and save energy. Air leakage can account for 25 to 40 percent of the heat lost from an older home. Eliminating air-leakage problems with a professional air-sealing job can be the single most cost-effective repair you can make to an older home.
Crawlspace Insulation
Uninsulated Crawlspace walls result in a lot of heat loss to the exterior. An insulated crawlspace also leads to warmer floors above it. When insulating the crawlspace, also consider the placement of vapour barrier on unfinished crawlspace floors. Properly sealed, this can significantly reduce the amount of humidity released into the house from your crawlspace.
Attic Insulation
Increase your attic insulation and reduce your heating & cooling cost, while at the same time improving the comfort of your home. Adding attic insulation to your house is one of the easiest ways to improve energy efficiency due to its ease of access in most homes.
Heating System
The best time to upgrade your heating system is after you upgrade your insulation. In some situations, you may require a smaller heating system. An insulated house loses heat more slowly and does not need as much heat generation to maintain comfort levels. There are many types of heating systems including furnaces, boilers, heat pumps, etc.
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What is a Net Zero Energy House?
A Net Zero Energy house generates as much power as it uses in a year, typically through the use of solar panels and some non traditional Energy Conservation Measures. When these two techniques are used most houses can be made to be Net Zero.
What does a Net Zero Energy House Look Like?
It looks almost exactly like your house! The only exterior difference you’ll see are solar panels on the roof. The primary interior difference is a heat pump which looks exactly like your central AC unit and the water heater will also need to be electric or an electric Heat Pump DHW heater. The walls Basement and attic are very well insulated and air sealed.
How is it done?
I study your house’s design and utility bills to size solar panels to offset your annual electricity load. We identify if any Energy Conservation Measures like additional insulation, air sealing, etc. are a better investment than heat pump heating and recommend accordingly.
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Thermal Imaging Screening
I will scan the entire exterior of the house from the inside with a FLIR high resolution thermal imager, A photo summary (separate from your NRCan Energy assessment) will be provided containing photos of specific areas of heat loss and air leaks in your home. This photo record can be invaluable tool during renovations.
The Thermal Imaging screening will provide a photo record and;
Detect missing, damaged and non preforming insulation and weather stripping
Identify areas of thermal bridging and heat loss
Pinpoint air leaks in exterior walls, ceilings, exposed floors, windows, doors, and building envelope penetrations; attic hatch, electrical outlets and lights
The thermal imaging screening is not a part of the NRCan Energy Assessment, it is a separate service that I provide on the same day as your initial energy assessment. There is a small additional fee for this service. You will receive your photo summary the same day, It is easy to understand and includes descriptions of everything.
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Construction Blower Door Test
A residentail mid-construction blower door test by Hat Property Inspections is a diagnostic test which depressurizes or pressurizes the home to identify unintentional leaks and issues with the air barrier. Importantly, the mid-construction blower door test needs to be scheduled at a point in the construction when it is not too late to effectively remedy identified air leakage issues.
A mid-construction blower door test service may include the following:
- Measurements required for volume and area calculations;
- Performing the airtightness test using a blower door fan;
- Locating and documenting the air leakages – while the home is depressurized or pressurized you can walk around the home and feel air being drawn into the house through unintentional gaps in the building envelope;
- Determining preliminary blower door metrics using HOT2000 or other software;
- Air changes per hour (ACH) and/or;
- Normalized leakage area (NLA) and/or,
- Normalized leakage rate (NLR)
The mid-construction blower door test service can also include:
- Blower door guided air sealing (where the energy advisor is on site with the blower door while a crew is conducting air sealing. This allows the builder to benefit from the expertise of the energy advisor and the confirmation that the air leakage target is achieved);
- Providing a formal mid-construction blower door test report (with narrative and images of air leakage areas);
- Other tasks agreed to between the two parties (e.g. repeated test to check for improvement).
Benefits of a mid-construction blower door test include:
- A mid-construction blower door test helps your company avoid surprises and helps you to meet energy efficiency targets early in the process.
- A home built with minimal levels of air leakage (and right ventilation) can reduce heat loss and energy bills in the winter, keep the home cooler in the summer, improve home comfort, enhance air quality, protect the building structure and other materials from moisture damage, and help prevent dust, noise, and insects from entering from outdoors.
- A well-built and air sealed home can also shrink the environmental footprint of the home by reducing the greenhouse gas emissions produced by using energy to heat and cool your home.
- The cost of addressing air leakage issues at the right time in the construction process can be negligible. If you wait until construction has been completed to identify air leakage issues, fixing the problem may be time consuming, expensive, or nearly impossible.
The mid-construction blower door test can be a practical teaching tool for your crews and sub trades. Involve them in the process: the test can be an opportunity for them to learn how to identify and address air leakage issues many builders have called the mid-construction blower door test more educational than weekend-long workshops on air tightness
wes@hatpropertyinspections.ca