If you're building a new home, consider making it energy efficient. You'll save money and cut your greenhouse gas emissions. Under the EnerGuide for New Houses program, a certified energy evaluator examines your building plans and makes recommendations on upgrades to improve energy efficiency. After your home is built, an EnerGuide for Houses evaluation is performed on your home to determine the energy rating. EnerGuide ratings are based on a scale of 1-100.

Cost to you is $250 plus tax, but you get that all back if you build to an EnerGuide rating of 77.

Find out where your home is losing energy by having a home energy evaluation. You could qualify for a grant of up to $6,500 [up to $5,000 maximum from the federal government, up to $1,500 maximum from the provincial government] depending on the energy efficiency improvements you make to your home. Conserve Nova Scotia will also send participants an energy savings kit full of products that can help save up to $100 in energy costs.

If you are a senior over 65 with a net family income under $40,000 or a net single income under $25,000, you may qualify for additional assistance from the province. Seniors may qualify for an additional $400.00 as well as a refund of the $150.00 fee for the audit.

See List Below for Authorized Energuide Audit Organizations
Sustainable Housing (province-wide) 1-877-722-2842
www.sustainablehousing.ca

Clean Nova Scotia (Halifax Regional Municipality) 1-800-665-5377 or 420-3474 - www.clean.ns.ca

ACAP Cape Breton (Cape Breton Regional Municipality) 1-902-567-1628 - www.acapcb.ns.ca

Program Owner:
Department of Energy

1. Online:
   You can get more information or an application form by visiting the website:  http://www.gov.ns.ca/energy/
   
   
2. By Phone:  
   1-800-670-4636
   
   
3. In Person: 
   To any Access NS Centre

Once you’re first audit is completed, if conducted prior to May 12, 2006, you have until March 31, 2007 to have the second audit completed. Upon completion of the second audit, the company that completed the audit will contact you with the results within 14 business days and notify you of your eligible rebate amount, if any. If you are eligible for a rebate, the company that conducted the audit will submit an application to the federal government on your behalf. If approved, you will receive the federal portion of your rebate within 30 days of submission of the results of the second audit. The province will match the federal portion up to $1000.00. The provincial portion of the grant will be issued approximately 30 days after the issuance of the federal grant.

If you are 65 or older, you may also be eligible for an additional Senior’s Home Energy Assistance Grant. Please visit: http://www.gov.ns.ca/energy/ for additional information and application forms. Application form are also available from any Access NS Office or the NS Senior’s Secretariat or from any of the organizations who are certified to perform the Energuide Home Efficiency Audit, see list above.