Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Cathy McLeod says she is pleased the federal government is supporting the renewal of the popular ecoENERGY Retrofit-Homes program.
The program will help Canadians save on home improvements and energy costs while improving the environment, she adds.
"Constituents across our riding have been asking for the renewal of this program, so they can continue to make energy efficient upgrades to their home. With this program, we are not only helping Canadians save money but also creating jobs and protecting our environment."
From July 13, 2011 to March 31, 2012, homeowners may be eligible to receive reimbursements of up to $5,000 to make their homes more energy-efficient. The program could help up to 250,000 Canadian homeowners improve their homes' energy efficiency and generate as much as $4 billion in economic activity across Canada.
Prior to Budget 2011, McLeod says the Stephen Harper government provided retrofit incentives to more half a million Canadians. Homeowners who participated in the program saved an average of 20 per cent on their energy bills, she adds.
There are two important changes to the renewed program:
First, there is a new requirement for participants to register directly with the program before booking their pre-retrofit evaluation.
Second, homeowners will now be required to provide receipts to their energy advisor at the time of the post-retrofit evaluation to confirm eligibility for the grant.
"The final deadline to complete retrofits and obtain a post-retrofit evaluation is March 31, 2012," says McLeod.
"However, program registration will close to new participants if the financial limit has been reached before that date. For this reason, I encourage those interested to register soon."
For more information, visit www.ecoaction.gc.ca/homes, or call 1-800-O-Canada (800-622-6232).