Ontario Home Energy Saving Program (OHESP)

The Ontario Home Energy Audit is designed to help homeowners and owners of existing low-rise properties make smart energy retrofit decisions that will result in significant energy savings and a cleaner environment.

A certified energy advisor will perform a pre-retrofit audit of the home and provide you with your own personalized action checklist. We identify improvements you can make to your home’s heating, cooling, hot water heating, ventilation system and other energy uses that could result in hundreds of dollars in energy savings each year. Many of the energy-saving upgrades identified by the advisor will qualify you for grants. When upgrades are completed, call us back to complete the post-retrofit assessment. We then must return to your home to verify retrofits and apply for the grants on your behalf. These grants from the Government of Ontario can reimburse you up to $5,000 when you complete improvements identified by your audit.

The pre-retrofit service includes:

• a detailed energy evaluation of your home carried out by a certified energy advisor
• a blower door test to find air leaks
• a printed report that shows where your energy dollars are being spent and what you can do to improve your home's energy efficiency
• an energy efficiency rating label that shows you how energy efficient your home is compared with others in your region

To qualify for grants:

1. Schedule an appointment with a Building System Solutions’ Energy Advisor to complete the Initial Energy Audit and to provide you with recommendations on site.
2. Select the improvements from your home energy action checklist provided to you;
3. Implement the recommended energy upgrades within 18 months or by March 31, 2011, whichever comes first;
4. Call your energy advisor to perform your post-retrofit evaluation to confirm your new energy rating and to submit your grant application on your behalf.
5. Shortly after you will receive a grant cheque from the Ontario province.

The post-retrofit service includes:

• a blower door test to measure the reduction of air leakage
• confirmation of completed retrofits
• an updated energy rating label
• completion of the application process for the government grants on your behalf

Only homes that have been evaluated using a Natural Resources Canada's residential energy assessment service organization, such as Building System Solutions, will be eligible for provincial grants.