HERA FAQ

Yes, you must complete your EnerGuide evaluation before proceeding with the purchase and installation of upgrades to be eligible for HERA rebates. See the Program Terms & Conditions for further details.

The only exception is under specific emergency situations where a homeowner has water or space heating equipment failure. If your water or space heating equipment (e.g. furnace, water heater, etc.) fails and an EnerGuide evaluation cannot be completed before the replacement equipment is installed, you may still be eligible for rebates. To qualify for rebates under the emergency heat replacement scenario:

• The equipment failure must occur between September 15 and April 30, in any given year. Equipment failure that occurs outside of these months are not considered an emergency according to NRCan.
• The existing equipment must be photographed prior to replacement.
• When enrolling in HERA, the homeowner must indicate that they experienced an emergency heat replacement and details (such as the equipment type and reason for failure) for the emergency replacement must be documented by the contractor and communicated to the energy advisor. This could be communicated by the contractor to the homeowner who then passes it along to the energy advisor.
• An EnerGuide home energy evaluation must take place within 30 days from the equipment replacement date, and the energy advisor must use the specification from the  old equipment for their evaluation.
• All other program and product eligibility criteria must be met.

If you’ve had a version 15 EnerGuide label for a home that you own then your home is eligible for participation, regardless of the date on the EnerGuide label. You can use this guide to determine if your label is a version 15 label.

The EnerGuide evaluation must have been purchased by the current owner(s) of the home to be eligible for HERA. If a previous owner of the home had an EnerGuide evaluation performed, then the new homeowner will need to get another EnerGuide evaluation completed to participate in HERA.

For homeowners who have had an EnerGuide evaluation prior to the launch of HERA and have more recently completed a post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation, the data associated with the most recent EnerGuide evaluation will be considered as the HERA baseline. However, when enrolling in HERA, please use the NRCan file ID from the initial, pre-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation.

To identify which EnerGuide label is the pre-retrofit label, look for the 5th character in the file ID number - which will be a D. For example:

• Pre-retrofit file ID format: SOEAD00123
• Post-retrofit file ID format: SOEAE00123

No, only homes located within the municipal boundaries of the City of Edmonton are eligible for participation in HERA.

Yes, EnerGuide rebates are available for new homes however, only new home builders are eligible for EnerGuide rebates for newly constructed homes. Also, please note that rebates for energy efficiency upgrades are only available for existing homes (those which have been occupied post-construction for at least 6 months).

Some newly constructed homes may have received a new home EnerGuide rating (N) from their home builder. Homeowners are not eligible for rebates for new home EnerGuide evaluations (N) and (if inherited from their builder) these evaluations cannot be used for enrollment in HERA. An existing home EnerGuide evaluation (D) will be required after the home has been occupied for at least 6 months to become eligible for participation in HERA.

New home builders alone are eligible for rebates for EnerGuide labels (N) for their newly constructed homes. Interested home builders can read more here. 

Only single family homes are eligible to participate in HERA. These structures include detached, semi-detached, row homes, or mobile homes on a permanent foundation intended for year-round occupancy.

Unfortunately, low-rise apartment buildings or condominiums are not eligible at this time. However, these buildings may be eligible for rebates through Edmonton’s Building Energy Retrofit Accelerator program.

Eligible home types (single-family detached, semi-detached, row or townhomes) with secondary suites are eligible for HERA, and homeowners are eligible for rebates for upgrades in both their primary and secondary suites. However, certain upgrades, such as HRV’s, are limited to one rebate per home as indicated in the Eligible Products & Services List section of the Program Guide.

Yes. Homeowners are encouraged to take advantage of all rebate programs available to support their renovation pathway. See the Program Terms & Conditions (V4, updated July 13, 2023) for further details and limitations regarding stacking rebates.

NOTE: Effective Nov. 30, 2022 the Home Energy Retrofit Accelerator (HERA) Program is no longer accepting new homeowner enrollments  as its funding is estimated to have been fully subscribed.

Rebate application forms are available online on the HERA program webpage, but the submission portal closes on Dec. 2, 2022 at 4:30pm MST. Rebate applications will be processed on a first come first serve basis as per the terms and conditions of the program. Once funding has been officially fully subscribed, no further rebates will be approved. Program Terms and Conditions and Program User Guide are available at homes.changeforclimate.ca/hera 

Here are some links for the website and other important program documents:

1. The Program website can be found here.
2. The Homeowner enrollment form can be found here (CLOSED).
3. The Program Terms and Conditions can be found here.
4. The Rebate Application form can be found here (CLOSES on December 2, 2022). 
5. The Program User Guide can be found here.

The homeowner is responsible for enrolling in the program and submitting rebate applications. Certain information or documentation may be required from your energy advisor and/or contractor(s) as part of your submission, but submitting the application is the responsibility of the homeowner and cannot be delegated to a 3rd party.

All documentation requirements are listed for eligible evaluations and upgrades in the Eligible Products and Services List, located in the Program User Guide. For example, invoices and photos of installed products are required documentation for all upgrades.

If hiring a contractor, it is strongly recommended that homeowners and contractors review program details, product eligibility and Program Terms and Conditions before starting energy retrofit project(s). Homeowners should make sure their chosen contractors are familiar with the Eligible Products & Services List (found within the Program Guide) to ensure the equipment being installed qualifies for rebate(s). Homeowners can also ask contractors to collect and share the required documents and photos with them to support your rebate application.

HERA does not offer pre-approval, rebate applications must be submitted post-installation. Potential participants are encouraged to check the program website often for information on the availability of rebates.

As of Nov. 30, 2022 the program is estimated to be fully subscribed. Rebate applications received prior to Dec. 2, 2022 at 4:30 pm (MST) will be processed on a first come first serve basis as per the terms and conditions of the program. Once funding has been officially fully subscribed, no further rebates will be approved.

Homeowners may still access the Canada Greener Homes Initiative, which offers up to $5,000 in grants and up to $40,000 in interest-free loans for home energy retrofits and for installing renewable energy systems.

Prior to Nov. 30, 2022 and while there were funds available on the program, enrolled homeowners had 18-months or until the end of the program to complete upgrades eligible for rebate and submit rebate application(s). All upgrades completed within this time period would have been considered for the 20% bundling bonus. 

This 18 month time frame did not apply to homeowners who were interested in renovating to net zero. Eligible expenses for the net zero rebate could have occurred over any period of time, since the initial pre-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation. Please contact the program administrator at (780) 306-4417 or homeretrofit@edmonton.ca to request the template of the Net Zero Worksheet for further details. 

You should receive your rebate cheque via Canada Post within 6 weeks of approval of your rebate application. The program administrator will follow up with participants who submitted incomplete applications, providing them an opportunity to resolve any gaps.

If you have an approved application and have not received your cheque within that time please contact the program administrator at (780) 306-4417 or homeretrofit@edmonton.ca.

A third party program administrator, hired by the City of Edmonton, is available to provide application support and address your questions or concerns. Summerhill staff are providing customer support for the HERA program, please contact them at homeretrofit@edmonton.ca or (780) 306-4417.

Hiring qualified contractors is required for most upgrades, to ensure quality installation that results in homeowners’ expected energy efficiency improvements. However, do-it-yourself installation is acceptable for some upgrades as indicated in the Eligible Products & Services List, including:

1. • Smart thermostats
   • Insulation
   • Windows
   • Air sealing 
   • Drain water heat recovery

It is recommended that you review the product-specific requirements within the Program User Guide for additional details. For example, the installation of ground source heat pumps requires the use of a contractor certified with IGSHPA (International Ground Source Heat Pump Association).

Neither the City of Edmonton or the program administrator(s) will recommend a specific service provider, product, or contracting company. It is recommended that homeowners seek quotes/advice from multiple contractors and ask lots of questions when making decisions. Ultimately, the homeowner is responsible for researching and choosing all service providers, products, and installation companies. 

Service Alberta provides suggestions on how to evaluate and choose contractors, their advice can be found here and is supported by the City of Edmonton and the program administrator.

No, the homeowner is responsible for enrolling in the HERA program and submitting rebate application(s) for work completed on their property.

However, homeowners utilizing a contractor for eligible upgrades should work with their contractor to ensure all required documentation is provided, to support the rebate application and approval process.

No, you must pay your contractor(s) for the work they have completed. Final invoices must be submitted as part of your HERA rebate application. As such, payment to the contractor(s) must be made before rebates will be approved.

The HERA program does not have any formal connection to specific contractors. However, given that their customers will be expecting to receive rebates, it is in the contractor's best interest to support their customers through providing expert advice and supporting documentation as required. It is recommended that contractors proactively understand the program details and product eligibility requirements, as outlined in the Program User Guide, as customers are likely to reach out to them for support.

Contractors are welcome to ask questions of the program administrator at homeretrofit@edmonton.ca or (780) 306-4417.

A list of all products and services eligible for rebates can be found in the Eligible Products and Services List, located within the Program User Guide. Product-specific eligibility criteria, documentation requirements and rebate amounts are described within.

Having a qualified energy advisor perform an EnerGuide home energy evaluation is required to participate in HERA. Along with your EnerGuide label, you will also receive a renovation upgrade report which recommends specific energy efficiency upgrades for your home. Be sure to ask your energy advisor lots of questions to better understand what is being recommended. 

Discussing your options with contractors is also important to understand the opportunities in your home, and the associated costs for equipment and installation. It's recommended that you ask for quotes from multiple contractors before making your final renovation decision. Don’t forget that if you complete 3 or more upgrades during your enrollment, you are eligible for a 20% bundling bonus on all of your rebates.

If you are interested in renovating your home to net zero, then it is recommended that you gather advice from one or more professional net zero renovators. They can help you understand your home's pathway to net zero, and what steps you could take to achieve this goal.

Rental and/or leased equipment is not eligible for HERA rebates. The program is intended to support energy efficiency upgrades that are permanent (with a minimum requirement of 5 years as stated in the Program Terms & Conditions). While leased equipment is commonly installed long-term, unfortunately this cannot be guaranteed.

The City of Edmonton is committed to significantly reducing our community's carbon footprint. To achieve this, HERA was designed to encourage homeowners to consider multiple upgrades that result in significant improvements to the home’s energy efficiency. 

Requiring that participants complete 2 upgrades prior to being eligible for a HERA furnace rebate helps homeowners maximize their energy savings while reducing Edmonton’s carbon emissions as much as possible.

In specific emergency situations where a homeowner has water or space heating equipment failure, they may still qualify for rebates under the emergency heat replacement scenario. If your water or space heating equipment (e.g. furnace, water heater, etc.) fails and an EnerGuide evaluation cannot be completed before the replacement equipment is installed, you can qualify for rebates under the following conditions:

• The equipment failure must occur between September 15 and April 30, in any given year. Equipment failure that occurs outside of these months are not considered an emergency according to NRCan.
• The existing equipment must be photographed prior to replacement.
• When enrolling in HERA, the homeowner must indicate that they experienced an emergency heat replacement and details (such as the equipment type and reason for failure) for the emergency replacement must be documented by the contractor and communicated to the energy advisor. This could be communicated by the contractor to the homeowner who then passes it along to the energy advisor.
• An EnerGuide home energy evaluation must take place within 30 days from the equipment replacement date, and the energy advisor must use the specification from the  old equipment for their evaluation.
• All other program and product eligibility criteria must be met.

Two levels of rebates are available for improved air sealing of homes - standard and advanced. Due to the nature of this energy efficiency upgrade, homeowners must undergo two EnerGuide evaluations, one pre- and one post- retrofit. Rebates are available for both of these evaluations. 

The air sealing rebate amount that the participant qualifies for depends upon the improved air tightness of the home as demonstrated by the blower door test performed by the energy advisor during the post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation. Eligibility for air sealing rebates will be evaluated after the rebate application has been submitted by the participant, based on data collected by the energy advisor while evaluating your home. This data is submitted by the energy advisor to Natural Resources Canada, who then shares this information with the City of Edmonton. For details on data sharing, see the Program Terms and Conditions (V4, updated July 13, 2023). 

A window is defined as a single rough opening, or in other words a single structural framing in a wall separating a heated space from an unheated space. Each panel of glass within a rough opening must have its own ENERGY STAR label. For example:

•  A bay window made up of 3 window units installed into one rough opening is eligible for only one rebate. Each window unit must have its own Energy Star rating to be eligible for the single $50 rebate.
• If a bay window is made up of 3 window units that are each separated by a small exterior wall space, and each window unit is installed into a separate rough opening, then each of the 3 window units are eligible for $50 or a total rebate of $150.
• A smaller window made up of a picture window unit and a slider in the same frame would be considered one window which is eligible for one $50 rebate.
• A picture window and a casement window in the same opening would be considered one window which is eligible for one $50 rebate.
• Skylights are not eligible.

A post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation is required for participants who are interested in the air sealing or renovating to net zero rebates. It is not a requirement for all participants. However, participants are encouraged to have a post-retrofit evaluation completed because it quantifies energy efficiency improvements, helps ensure renovations result in energy savings as expected and provides an updated EnerGuide label that reflects your improvement. This new label will be added to Edmonton’s Home Energy Map.

Keep in mind, there is a rebate for post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluations completed within your HERA enrollment period. Please find details in the Eligible Products and Services List, located within the Program User Guide.

The renovation pathway to net zero will be different for every home, it is recommended that you seek advice from one or more professional net zero renovators. As building science professionals, they can help you understand your home's potential pathways to net zero and the lifecycle costs/savings of these renovations. The typical approach to net-zero retrofits includes greatly increasing air-tightness, insulation, addressing mechanical systems and installing renewable energy generation. But many factors will influence your home’s specific pathway.

The cost of renovating to net-zero varies based on a variety of factors including the current level of energy efficiency in your home, it’s size, age, design and renovation history. If your home requires extensive changes to wall insulation, windows, and mechanical systems, the costs could be over $100,000. Keep in mind that you don’t have to do everything all at once, but being intentional about the sequencing of your upgrades is important.

The renovating to net zero rebate is available to homeowners who decrease their EnerGuide rating to 0, confirmed through a post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation. Rebate applications can be submitted anytime the HERA program is available, regardless of when the energy efficiency upgrades took place in the home (as long as the energy related upgrades occurred between the eligible pre- and post- EnerGuide evaluations).

Homeowners are eligible for up to $10,000 to cover a maximum of 40% of the costs associated with renovating their home to net zero. This rebate amount is stackable with other programs and is in addition to the product-specific HERA rebates. However, the total of all grants and rebates cannot exceed 40% of eligible costs, which includes all energy efficient equipment, installation and professional services required on the pathway to net zero.

If you retrofit your home to a score of zero on your EnerGuide label, you will only qualify for a rebate if your home has a pre-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation that is greater than zero. 

Review the detailed requirements in the Eligible Products and Services List, located within the Program User Guide. Please note that you will be expected to submit a completed Net Zero Worksheet along with your rebate application. You can request a copy of this template from the program administrator at homeretrofit@edmonton.ca or (780) 306-4417.

Solar energy systems are not eligible for rebates through HERA. However, rebates are available for most residential building types through the  Government of Canada’s Greener Homes Initiative.

The impact of a rooftop solar installation can be considered by your energy advisor through the post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation and would likely be necessary to satisfy the renovating to net zero rebate. Visit the MyHEAT Solar Potential Map to learn more about your home's potential.

Rebate amounts are listed on the Eligible Products and Services List, located in the Program User Guide, and are applicable as of the date of your rebate application. 

It is not anticipated that product eligibility criteria and rebate amounts will change often. However, changes to program details including rebate amounts will be shared via email with those who are enrolled in HERA. The City will provide at least 30 days notice before the changes will come into effect. Homeowners are encouraged to enroll in HERA as soon as they have their completed EnerGuide evaluation.

If you complete 3 or more upgrades during your HERA enrollment period, you are eligible for a 20% bundling bonus on all your rebates. The bundling bonus is automatically applied as you submit rebate application(s) to the program. 

Once your third upgrade rebate application is approved, a bonus rebate will be applied to all previous HERA rebates (within 18 months from the time of program enrollment, or by the end of the HERA program, whichever is first) and will be paid on your next rebate cheque. The bundling bonus also applies to all subsequent upgrades within the designated time period. 

EnerGuide evaluations and renovating to net zero do not qualify for bundling. Please make sure that you use the same EnerGuide file ID and property address when submitting multiple rebate applications so eligibility for the bundling bonus can be determined.

Example rebate calculations can be found in the Program User Guide, which demonstrate how the bundling bonus is applied.

The bonus is calculated based on the sum of eligible rebates from upgrade measures completed at the same property within an 18 month period after program enrollment. EnerGuide evaluations and renovating to net zero do not qualify for the bundling bonus. As such, they do not count toward the 3 upgrade count and the bonus is not applied to the value of the rebates received.

For the 4th, 5th, etc. upgrades, the bonus will be applied to each subsequent upgrade and the bonus will be paid out along with the upgrade rebate.

Most Canadians have come across an EnerGuide label and have perhaps even used it to compare the energy cost of appliances or cars. EnerGuide is a rating system developed by the Government of Canada to rate the energy use of various products, arming consumers with credible information about how much that product will cost to operate. This information, that is relied upon when purchasing a clothes washer or oven, is also available for your home. Both existing and newly constructed homes can be rated, allowing home buyers to make an informed decision when it comes to real estate investments.

The City of Edmonton's program is based on version 15 of Natural Resources Canada's EnerGuide Rating System which was launched in the Province of Alberta in the fall of 2016 and provides a gigajoule (GJ) rating.

A sample EnerGuide label with descriptions of the information it contains can be reviewed at this link. Your EnerGuide File ID is also known as you EnerGuide File Number, and is found near the top of your EnerGuide Label. 

A gigajoule (GJ) is a unit of energy. You will likely have seen it on your natural gas bill, but you will not have seen it on your electricity bill (because electricity is measured in kilowatt hours). For the purposes of the EnerGuide evaluation, the electricity used in your home is converted to gigajoules. See this page for some examples of how much a gigajoule of energy is.

The reference house is a theoretical alternative home to the home being evaluated, if that same home were built to the energy efficiency standards mandated by today’s National Building Code. To do this, the size, shape and location of the tested home are generally retained (door and window ratios to wall area may be adjusted) while mechanical systems and insulation levels are changed to reflect requirements of section 9.36 of today’s National Building Code.

The purpose of using a reference house is to ensure a fair comparison, so that the home being evaluated is measured against itself. This ensures that the results of the EnerGuide label reflect on the energy efficiency of the building and are not influenced by its size, shape, location or design.

An EnerGuide evaluation provides a great opportunity to understand the current state of your home's energy efficiency, next steps to reduce energy costs and carbon footprint, and even identify a renovation pathway to net zero. It is a comprehensive evaluation of the “house as a system”, evaluating areas of energy loss (windows, doors, walls, and ceilings) as well as energy consumption (space and water heating), ventilation, and air tightness. 

An EnerGuide evaluation, performed by an energy advisor licensed by NRCan can help explain temperature difference between floors, moisture on the insides of windows and a path toward a more comfortable, efficient, valuable and safe home.

A pre-retrofit evaluation EnerGuide generally costs $400 to $450 plus GST. Larger homes, or remote homes may result in a higher price as quoted by your energy advisor. Prices are set by the service providers, not by the City of Edmonton. It is recommended that homeowners contact multiple energy advisors seeking quotes before making a decision. Keep in mind that Canada’s Greener Homes Grant program provides up to $600 towards the pre- and post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluations.

A post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation is usually completed by the same energy advisor who performed your pre-retrofit evaluation and generally costs $250 plus GST. Prices are set by the service providers, not by the City of Edmonton. HERA offers an $85 rebate for each post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation.

Please find detailed eligibility and documentation requirements within the Eligible Products and Services List, located in the Program User Guide. 

The City of Edmonton lists all homes which have been provided a rebate for an EnerGuide evaluation on an online map called Edmonton’s Home Energy Map. 

Since 2017 the map helps make energy efficiency more visible, identifies homes and home builders that have invested in energy efficiency and high performance homes, encourages discussion about energy efficiency, and enhances the value of energy efficiency in the residential real estate market. Currently, there are over 4,500 EnerGuide labels posted on the map. 

Most energy efficiency is invisible. Insulation and air sealing, high performing windows, and ultra-efficient water or space heating systems all make a home more comfortable and affordable to operate. Trouble is, they’re hard to spot. A low (better) EnerGuide rating is the best way to prove that a home is energy efficient.

Displaying an EnerGuide label on our map will set a home apart from the rest. This tells potential buyers that a new home was built beyond building code requirements in terms of energy efficiency. And for older homes, the EnerGuide label can prove the value of the home energy improvement investments made in the house. 

While your participation in HERA will benefit your home (comfort, value, energy savings, carbon reductions), sharing your EnerGuide label on the map supports broader awareness of energy efficiency in the residential real estate market. Showcasing Edmonton homeowners and buyers the prevalence of EnerGuide labels and the energy efficiency of Edmonton homes helps transform the market to properly value energy efficient homes. Known as energy labelling and disclosure, this approach is common across many jurisdictions in North America and Europe and has demonstrated significant benefits. Read more in the Mandatory Energy Labelling and Disclosure Policy Brief.

Inclusion of your EnerGuide label on Edmonton’s Home Energy Map is a requirement of participation in HERA. 

You may request the removal of your EnerGuide label from the map at any time by emailing homeretrofit@edmonton.ca. City of Edmonton rebates associated with EnerGuide labels removed from the map may have to be refunded as described in the Program Terms & Conditions (V4, updated July 13, 2023). However, requests to remove labels and/or associated information may be approved at the discretion of the City of Edmonton without penalty if a reasonable safety concern is raised.

The City of Edmonton expects homeowners, energy advisors and contractors to follow all relevant public health orders, which can be found on the Government of Alberta website.

Contractors and installers are encouraged to implement all possible precautions to minimize the risks of exposure to COVID-19, and may need to adapt their services based on current public health recommendations. Energy advisors are also encouraged to follow the recommendations of NRCan, a resource entitled: Considerations for conducting EnerGuide evaluations during COVID-19.

The Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP) pilot will provide up to 80 homeowner applicants with financing for their energy efficiency upgrades and/or renewable energy installations. CEIP is currently at capacity and has closed to pre-qualification submissions. Applications that are currently on the waitlist will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis, as space becomes available. CEIP and HERA are complementary programs and homeowners may be eligible to receive HERA rebates they can apply towards their CEIP financing. CEIP participants can also apply to HERA separately for CEIP ineligible upgrades such as self-installed upgrades.

For full CEIP details visit: https://www.myceip.ca/

Homeowners are encouraged to take advantage of all rebate programs, including Canada’s Greener Homes Grant program, available to support their renovation journey. However, all potential sources of funding for upgrades must be disclosed within the rebate application. The total amount of all sources of rebates or funds received by a participant cannot exceed 100% of the total investment paid by the homeowner (which includes equipment purchase and installation). See the Program Terms & Conditions (V4, updated July 13, 2023) for further details and limitations regarding stacking rebates.

HERA will facilitate home renovations that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save energy and support local renovation businesses. Program-specific modelling estimates that for every $1 invested by the City of Edmonton in HERA, an average of $8.35 of total economic activity will take place. Over its operation, HERA will facilitate an estimated 25,941 tonnes of carbon reductions and stimulate over $15M of investment in the local economy.

HERA works to encourage Edmontonians to improve their home energy efficiency. This is done by facilitating awareness of the energy profile of homes, and supporting improvements with financial incentives. Receiving energy efficiency information from licensed professionals is important to take advantage of opportunities to improve household energy efficiency.

Community awareness and action to improve residential energy efficiency supports Edmonton’s greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets as committed to in Edmonton Community Energy Transition Strategy. To maximize the impact of any one participant, EnerGuide labels will be shared publicly to support greater awareness of energy efficiency in the residential sector, encouraging home buyers to consider energy efficiency in their decision-making.

When evaluating retrofit opportunities, consideration should be given to what is needed to renovate your home to net zero. Ask your energy advisor if they can recommend a renovation pathway to net zero through their EnerGuide service, and consider contacting a net zero renovator for their advice.

A challenge to achieving a Climate-Ready Home is that specific home improvements might not be compatible with a long term goal of achieving the energy performance required to support net zero.

It is recommended that you seek out contractors who share your goals of making the most of every upgrade and supporting the deep retrofit journey to a zero emission home. You can do this by looking for builders and renovators who have completed net zero renovation projects.

HERA’s incentive budget is expected to be a total of $1,580,000. While these funds have been allocated to HERA, they are not guaranteed as City of Edmonton budgets are subject to adjustment at any time.

As of Nov. 30, 2022 the program is estimated to be fully subscribed. Rebate applications received prior to December 2, 2022 at 4:30 pm (MST) will be processed on a first come first serve basis as per the terms and conditions of the program. Once funding has been officially fully subscribed, no further rebates will be approved.

Homeowners may still access the Canada Greener Homes Initiative, which offers up to $5,000 in grants and up to $40,000 in interest-free loans for home energy retrofits and for installing renewable energy systems.

HERA was designed to be a 3 year program (launch date January 13, 2021). As of Nov. 30, 2022 the program is estimated to be fully subscribed.  Funds will be distributed on a first-come first-serve basis. The program may be extended, shortened or modified at any time. 

Changes to program details will be shared via email with those who are enrolled in HERA.

The energy advisor (or Service Organization administrator) will be required to complete an online submission form after the homeowner enrolls in the program. The energy advisor submission form will be automatically distributed by email after a homeowner enrolls in HERA. To allow for this, please leave your name and email address with the homeowner at the time of the evaluation.

The energy advisor submission will require some basic data collection to confirm the property and provide data for subsequent rebate applications. Data required for submission includes:

• Homeowner, EA and SO contact info
• Year of construction
• Type of structure (detached, semi detached, townhome, etc.)
• Square footage (real estate definition)
• Primary space heating fuel source
• Type & count of space heating technology
• Primary water heating fuel source
• EF of primary heating appliance
• Area of attic - open attic, and flat/cathedral
• Exterior wall area, foundation wall area
• Does the home have an accessory suite

Through the same form where the above information was collected, energy advisors should attach the EnerGuide label, Homeowner Information Sheet, and a photo of the front of the home. Completion of this form is required for the homeowner to receive a rebate for the pre-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation. As such, this data should be submitted within 10 business days of the home evaluation.

The homeowner will pay for EnerGuide evaluations. Keep in mind that Canada’s Greener Homes Grant program provides up to $600 towards the pre- and post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluations.

No. Through enrollment, the homeowner accepts the Program Terms and Conditions (V4, updated July 13, 2023) including acknowledging consent for their EA to provide additional data directly to the program administrator who is acting on behalf of the City of Edmonton. The HERA enrollment form triggers an invitation to the EA to complete the EA submission form where additional data and associated attachments are provided and uploaded.

Rebates are available for new home builders who may be using EnerGuide to satisfy NECB requirements and consent to mapping all homes they construct which receive an EnerGuide rating. However, rebates are not available for homeowners who purchase a new home with an EnerGuide label, or for homeowners who purchase a new home EnerGuide evaluation within 6-months of occupancy of the home.

To find more information about EnerGuide rebates for new home builders, please see the Program Terms and Conditions (V4, updatd July 13, 2023) and the Webpage for details, as well as the Program User Guide for rebate amounts. The builder application form can be found here. 

Questions should be directed to the program administrator at (780) 306-4417 or homeretrofit@edmonton.ca.

A new EnerGuide pre-retrofit evaluation will be required for participation in HERA by the new owner since, according to NRCan, the data on the home is owned by the owner. A pre-retrofit EnerGuide rebate is available for the new owner looking to participate in HERA.

In specific emergency situations where a homeowner has water or space heating equipment failure, they may still qualify for rebates under the emergency heat replacement scenario. If your customers water or space heating equipment (e.g. furnace, water heater, etc.) fails and an EnerGuide evaluation cannot be completed before the replacement equipment is installed, they can qualify for rebates under the following conditions:

• The equipment failure must occur between September 15 and April 30, in any given year. Equipment failure that occurs outside of these months are not considered an emergency according to NRCan.
• The existing equipment must be photographed prior to replacement.
• When enrolling in HERA, the homeowner must indicate that they experienced an emergency heat replacement and details (such as the equipment type and reason for failure) for the emergency replacement must be documented by the contractor and communicated to the energy advisor. This could be communicated by the contractor to the homeowner who then passes it along to the energy advisor.
• An EnerGuide home energy evaluation must take place within 30 days from the equipment replacement date, and the Energy Advisor must use the old equipment for their evaluation.
• All other program and product eligibility criteria must be met.

The energy advisors should confirm if their customer has undergone an emergency heat replacement, seems to meet all of these eligibility criteria and intends to apply for HERA rebates. If yes, energy advisors can complete the EnerGuide evaluation as long as they:

• Request photos of the original equipment and collect documentation supporting the nature of the emergency replacement (from the homeowner or contractor).
• Profile the home in Hot2000 using information about the original furnace replaced due to the emergency.