Blog

Many of our clients own detached or semi-detached homes in Toronto from around the WW2 era and are looking to either renovate or add an addition. Today we were wondering whether it makes sense for our clients to combine a Renovation and/or Addition with an overall energy efficiency upgrade on their homes through the use of programs like the City of Toronto’s Home Energy Efficiency Loan Program (HELP). This blog post will drill into that a bit more.

Renovating your home or adding new rooms always involves demolition and construction work. While it is is possible to minimize the disruption caused by construction and demolition through smart design and planning, often there will be disturbances from the normal flow of the home. In this time it makes sense to consider whether there are other improvements and quick-fixes that can be made on your house at the same time to improve it’s Energy Efficiency. Besides avoiding the inconvenience of having your home and life disturbed through multiple renovations, one reason to consider this is because you (the client), the design team, and the builder are already working together on the reno/addition the knowledge and capacity to do the energy efficiency improvements are at-hand and on-site.

A second reason is the City of Toronto’s Home Energy Efficiency Loan Program (HELP) which offer low-interest loans for energy improvements. In this way it is possible to add/renovate as well as install new windows, a high-efficiency furnace, boiler, water heater, toiler, or a heat recovery ventilator in the existing house. The unique part of this program is that the loan is tied to the property itself, and the monthly payments on the loan are done through property tax. In this way the energy improvements, and the cost, is tied to the home owner rather then you.

The following are examples of improvements supported by HELP:

• High efficiency furnace/boiler/central air conditioner
• High efficiency water heater
• Window or door replacement
• Air sealing (for example, weather stripping or caulking)
• Basement/attic/exterior wall insulation
• Toilet replacement
• Drain water heat recovery system
• Heat recovery/energy recovery ventilator

According to the City’s website, you may qualify for the HELP program if:

• you own a detached, semi-detached, or row house;
• all of the property owners on title consent to the program;
• your property tax and utility payments to the City are in good standing; and
• you obtain written consent from your mortgage lender, if applicable.

You can also take advantage of a $650 credit from Toronto Hydro for replacing your Furnace.

Overall we think that combining your renovation/addition with an energy efficiency upgrade on the existing home makes sense in order to avoid disruptions, save money, access a favourable long term loan program and tap into rebate and credits available through other Government Programs.

What do you think?  Would you use the HELP program?  Let us know!