A great resource on home retrofits from our friends in Markham

Conducting an EnerGuide home evaluation(External link) can help you understand your home's energy use and identify areas for improvement. 

The audit is carried out by a registered energy advisor. Your energy advisor will examine the exterior and interior of your home to look for air leaks, indoor air quality, insulation levels, HVAC equipment, and much more.

Once the assessment is complete, you will receive customized recommendations in the form of the following documents: 

• An EnerGuide rating and label
• A Homeowner Information Sheet
• A Renovation Upgrade Report

For more information on how to interpret your results, please visit Natural Resources Canada(External link).

The EnerGuide home evaluation typically costs between $400-600. Homeowners pay up-front for evaluations. However, a number of grants are available to cover the costs of the evaluation.

For programs such as the Canada Greener Homes Grant, you must complete the process in order to receive reimbursement for the pre-retrofit evaluation.

The following steps summarize what to expect when undertaking a home energy retrofit:

1. Arrange an EnerGuide home evaluation

• Contact a Canadian Home Builders Association (CHBA) (External link)Qualified Net Zero Energy Advisor to arrange an EnerGuide home evaluation.

• Registered energy advisors will conduct a detailed audit of your house and identify areas that can save you energy and money.

2. Review results

• Once your home evaluation is complete, your energy advisor will share the following documents with you:
  • An EnerGuide rating and label
  • A Homeowner Information Sheet
  • A Renovation Upgrade Report
• Using this information, you will be able to select the appropriate retrofits for your home.

• For more information on how to interpret your results, please visit Natural Resources Canada(External link).

3. Select and hire contractors

• Work with a CHBA Qualified Net Zero or RenoMark contractor.
• Certain upgrades are only eligible for reimbursement if they are installed by a licensed professional. Contractors may also be able to manage rebates and incentives on your behalf.
• Find a licensed and experienced contractor by visiting the following links:
• (External link)(External link)
  • Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI)(External link)(External link)(External link)
  • Canadian Home Builders' Association (CHBA)(External link)
• Consider supporting the local economy and hire a Markham-based contractor. The following directories can help you find green companies in your area:
  • Canada Green Companies and Consultants(External link)
  • Eco Toronto(External link)
  • Greenfinder – Featured Green Companies(External link)
  • Net Zero Renovators Directory(External link)
• Disclaimer: The City of Markham does not endorse any of the contractors included in the list above, and makes no representation, warranty or guarantee and assumes no responsibility or liability for any work performed by such contractors. This list is meant strictly as a resource to aid home owners in narrowing their search when looking for a contractor, and not as a warranted referral service.
  

4. Apply for incentives and financing

• In order to finalize your reimbursement, you may need to book a post-retrofit evaluation. Check the eligibility requirements of each grant and incentive.

• You may also need to upload documents online to request reimbursement. Submit all relevant documents (invoices, receipts, etc.) using the indicated method and within the given timeframe.

5. Track and manage your retrofits

• A number of tools and resources are available online to help you plan your retrofits.

• Download a copy of our Project Tracker by visiting our "Documents" section on the homepage.

6. Complete a post-retrofit EnerGuide rating

• Once all upgrades have been installed, you can book your post-retrofit evaluation and request reimbursement. 
• The post-retrofit evaluation will include:
  • a new EnerGuide rating and label
  • follow-up information indicating improvements to your home energy efficiency and your EnerGuide rating

• Your energy advisor has up to 30 days to submit documents to Natural Resources Canada.

7. Enjoy upgrades and collect incentives

• Collect your reimbursement and enjoy the benefits of an energy efficient home.

The following rebates and incentives are available to Markham residents:

If you notice information that is out of date, please notify us at [email protected] 

Yes, homeowners can apply for multiple rebates and incentives. Please review the details of each rebate to determine which ones work best for you.

Homeowners are strongly encouraged to hire an expert for deep retrofits. Find a licensed and experienced contractor by visiting the following links:

• Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI)(External link)
• Canadian Home Builders' Association (CHBA)(External link)

Consider supporting the local economy and hire a Markham-based contractor. The following directories can help you find green companies in your area:  

• Eco Toronto(External link)
• Canada Green Companies and Consultants(External link)
• Greenfinder – Featured Green Companies(External link)
• Net Zero Renovators Directory(External link)

Disclaimer:  The City of Markham does not endorse any of the contractors included in the list above, and makes no representation, warranty or guarantee and assumes no responsibility or liability for any work performed by such contractors. This list is meant strictly as a resource to aid home owners in narrowing their search when looking for a contractor, and not as a warranted referral service.

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) recommends asking the following questions when hiring a contractor: 

• How can I be sure that the product you are recommending meets the applicable federal and provincial or territorial legislation?

• Can I see the Material Safety Data Sheet for this product (if applicable)?

• Will the product be installed according to manufacturer’s guidelines?

• Are the workers trained in these procedures?

• Will the retrofit work comply with municipal by-laws as well as any provincial, territorial and/or federal legislation and utility requirements?

• What steps will you take to protect my family and me during and after the renovation?

• What challenges as a contractor have you had working with this product?

• Do you foresee any problems installing this in our home?

• May I contact your references?

For more information, see NRCan's publication Keeping the Heat In(External link) and How to Recognize Energy Scams(External link).

For additional resources and further learning, please visit the following websites:

• Air Leakage Control in Your Home(External link) (Natural Resources Canada)
• Energy Cost Calculator for New Appliances(External link) (Natural Resources Canada)
• Energy Star Appliances(External link) (Energy Star)
• Energy Efficiency for Homes(External link) (Natural Resources Canada)
• EnerGuide Energy Efficiency Home Evaluations(External link) (Natural Resources Canada)
• Energy Journey for Homeowners(External link) (Save on Energy)
• Make Your Home More Energy Efficient(External link) (Natural Resources Canada)

For more information on the City of Markham's sustainability initiatives, please visit:

• Greenprint, Markham's Community Sustainability Plan(External link) (2011)
• Municipal Energy Plan - Getting to Zero(External link) (2018)