Nova Scotia Rebates
Dowloads:
Performance Plus – New Construction PDF File
This new Efficiency Nova Scotia rebate structure starts April 1, 2012.
Past EnerGuide for Houses participants are allowed into the new program, but must start by having a new initial energy assessment.
*To be eligible for rebates, you must enroll in the EnerGuide for Existing Houses program before equipment is purchased and upgrades are made.
Building Envelope
Maximum rebate for electrically heated homes: $3,000 Maximum rebate for non-electrically heated homes: $1,500
Ceiling Insulation
Insulate a minimum of 20 percent of the total ceiling area. When the roof consists of more than one type (i.e., attic, cathedral ceiling and flat roof), all applicable rebates are pro-rated based on the ceiling area and roof type. The rebate for any combination of attic, cathedral ceiling and flat roof cannot exceed $750. Rebates listed reflect 100 percent of the ceiling area being of one roof type. You must add additional insulation in the same location (e.g., attic floor vs. attic ceiling) as the insulation present at the time of the pre-retrofit evaluation.
Insulation level at the time of pre-retrofit evaluation
Increase the insulation value of the following:
RSI 2.11 (R-12) and less
Greater than RSI 2.11 (R-12) and up to RSI 4.40 (R-25)
Greater than RSI 4.40 (R-25) and up tp RSI 6.16 (R-35)
Your attic to achieve a total minimum insulation value of RSI 7.04 (R-40).
$500
$250
N/A
Your attic to achieve a total minimum insulation value of RSI 8.81 (R-50).
$750
$375
$125
Your flat roof and/or cathedral ceiling to achieve a total minimum insulation value of RSI 4.93 (R-28).
$750
$250
N/A
Insulate your uninsulated flat roof or cathedral ceiling to increase its insulation value by a minimum of RSI 1.76 (R-10) to qualify for a rebate of $500.
Exterior Wall Insulation
The rebate is based on the percentage of wall area that you insulate and does not include walls between individual units. For a semi-detached or end unit row house, rebates are 75 percent of the amounts shown. For a middle unit row house, rebates are 50 percent of the amounts shown.
Minimum Additional Insulation
Insulate a minimum of 20 percent of the total exterior wall area.
Percent Area
RSI 0.67 (R-3.8) to RSI 1.59 (R-9)
Greater than RSI 1.59 (R-9)
20%
$225
$375
40%
$450
$750
60%
$675
$1,125
80%
$900
$1,500
100%
$1,125
$1,875*
* For non-electrically heated homes the maximum Efficiency Nova Scotia rebate is $1,500 for the entire home.
Exposed Floor Insulation
This includes overhangs and floors above an unheated space such as an unheated garage, but excludes crawl spaces.
Insulate your entire exposed floor and increase its insulation value by a minimum of RSI 3.52 (R-20). Insulate a minimum floor area of 14 square metres (150 square feet) - $190 rebate.
Foundation Insulation
When both a basement and a crawl space are present, all applicable rebates are pro-rated to a maximum of $1,000 – based on the wall area that is insulated. In the case of a semi-detached or row house that is an end unit, the rebate amount for the insulation of exterior walls, basement or crawl space walls is 75 percent of the amounts shown. In the case of a row house that is a middle unit, the rebate amount is 50 percent of the amounts shown.
Basement Insulation
The rebate is based on the percentage of wall area that you insulate and does not include walls between individual units. For a semi-detached or end unit row house, rebates are 75 percent of the amounts shown. For a middle unit row house, rebates are 50 percent of the amounts shown. When both a basement and crawl space are present, all applicable rebates are pro-rated to a maximum of $1,250 based on the total wall area.
Insulate a minimum of 20 percent of the wall area of the foundation, including basement and crawl space walls.
Minimum Additional Insulation
Percent Area
RSI 1.76 (R-10)
to RSI 4.95 (R-23)
Greater than
RSI 4.05 (R-23)
20%
$125
$250
40%
$250
$500
60%
$375
$750
80%
$500
$1,000
100%
$625
$1,250
Seal and insulate your entire basement header area to increase its insulation value by a minimum of RSI 3.52 (R-20) to qualify for a rebate of $125.
Basement Header Insulation
Seal and Insulate your entire basement header area, including increasing its insulation value by a minimum of RSI 3.5 (R-20) and receive a $100 rebate.
Crawl Space Insulation
When both a basement and crawl space are present, all applicable rebates are pro-rated to a maximum of $1,250 based on the total wall area.
Minimum additional insulation
Crawl Space Insulation
RSI 1.76 (R-10) to RSI 4.05 (R-23)
Greater than RSI 4.05 (R-23)
Insulate 100 percent of your crawl space's total exterior wall area, including the header area. For a semi-detached or end unit row house, rebates are 75 percent of the amounts shown. For a middle unit row house, rebates are 50 percent of the amounts shown. If your house contains multiple foundations, the rebate amounts shown will be pro-rated based on total exterior foundation wall area.
$500
$1,000
OR
Insulate 100 percent of the floor above the crawl space to increase its insulation value by a minimum of RSI 4.23 (R-24).
N/A
$250
Air Sealing
Perform air sealing to improve the air-tightness of your home to achieve the air-change rate target indicated in your “Home Energy Assessment Report.” $190
BONUS: If you reach 10 or 20 percent better than the target included in your report, you can obtain an additional rebate.
10% - $120
20% - $240
Doors, Windows and Skylights - Heated Space Only
Windows, doors and skylights must be ENERGY STAR qualified and installed into a pre-existing rough opening in a wall or roof. Rebate amounts are calculated per rough opening, not per number of windows, doors or skylights. A “rough opening” is defined as the structural framing in a wall or roof separating a heated from unheated space that creates an opening for the installation of a window, door or skylight. For example, a bay window with three window units installed into one rough opening is eligible for only one rebate. “ENERGY STAR qualified” means that the model meets or exceeds the ENERGY STAR levels established for the climate zone where the model is installed. Each qualified model comes with a temporary label showing the appropriate ENERGY STAR climate zones. Do not remove these labels until after your post-retrofit evaluation. Visit the FAQ (oee.nrcan.gc.ca/retrofit/questions#windows) for more information on eligible models or to determine your climate zone. You can insert a qualifying window unit into the existing frame of an old window, but replacements of only the glass, sash or door without a frame are not eligible.
Replace your windows, doors or skylights with ENERGY STAR qualified models - $40 (per rough opening)
Some additional conditions not listed in this guide may be applicable to some upgrades. Contact Sustainable Housing at 1-877-722-2842 for more information.
Efficiency Nova Scotia offers incentives to incorporate energy saving upgrades into the construction of your new home. The program is called Performance Plus, and it offers rebates for homes achieving a final EnerGuide rating of 83 or higher. Available rebates include:
Final EnerGuide Score
Performance Plus Rebate
83 or 84
$3,000
85, 86 or 87
$5,000
88 or higher
$7,000
In addition to the above rebates, there is an additional $1,250.00 rebate for solar domestic hot water available from Efficiency Nova Scotia through a separate application process.
In order to qualify for rebates, you must enrol in the Performance Plus program, and meet the following minimum eligibility criteria:
1. Electric baseboards cannot be the primary heating system. In electrically heated homes, there are two different ways to ensure this criterion is met:
a) The house can have a central warm air or hot water baseboard distribution system, or
b) For homes with ductless mini-split heat pumps but no central distribution system, and where electric baseboards are only supplementary, they will allow the home to access rebates as long as the heat pump(s) are sized to provide at least two-thirds of the home’s annual space heating requirement.
Please note that ETS (electric thermal storage) room units are considered the same as electric baseboards, thus a home with electric baseboards and/or ETS room units (but no central distribution system) are also not eligible.
2. Basements must be insulated to at least the minimum standard required by the Nova Scotia Building Code regardless of the home’s EnerGuide score.
3. The house must be registered in Performance Plus no more than 30 days after obtaining the building permit.
4. The house must be built and have final tests completed within 12 months of the registration date.
The process is simple:
- You start by contacting Sustainable Housing at 1-877-722-2842 to register for the service. Your Energy Advisor will discuss the project with you and request a set of your building plans.
- After receiving your plans, your Energy Advisor will model your home using sophisticated software to determine what the EnerGuide Rating would be if it were to be built according to your initial plans.
- We will then contact you again to discuss various options for upgrading your plans, how those upgrades would impact the EnerGuide Rating of your new home, the resulting reduction in energy consumption, and available government rebates to assist you with those upgrades. This is a critical stage in the process. We will work closely with you to arrive at the right combination of upgrades to optimize energy savings and rebates, and to maximize the return on your investment.
- Once construction is complete, we will visit the home to ensure it is built according to the revised plans, and to perform an air leakage test. This test determines the air tightness of the house, which is factored into the overall EnerGuide Rating for your home.
- Your Sustainable Housing Energy Advisor will submit applications on your behalf for any eligible government rebates.
You will also receive an official Natural Resources Canada EnerGuide label confirming the EnerGuide Rating of your home. This label confirms that the house was evaluated by a licensed advisor according to Natural Resources guidelines, and may be an important selling feature should you decide to sell your home in the future.
Get started today!
Contact Sustainable Housing at 1-877-722-2842
This new Efficiency Nova Scotia rebate structure starts April 1, 2012.
Past EnerGuide for Houses participants are allowed into the new program, but must start by having a new initial energy assessment.
*To be eligible for rebates, you must enroll in the EnerGuide for Existing Houses program before equipment is purchased and upgrades are made.
Building Envelope
Maximum rebate for electrically heated homes: $3,000 Maximum rebate for non-electrically heated homes: $1,500
Ceiling Insulation
Insulate a minimum of 20 percent of the total ceiling area. When the roof consists of more than one type (i.e., attic, cathedral ceiling and flat roof), all applicable rebates are pro-rated based on the ceiling area and roof type. The rebate for any combination of attic, cathedral ceiling and flat roof cannot exceed $750. Rebates listed reflect 100 percent of the ceiling area being of one roof type. You must add additional insulation in the same location (e.g., attic floor vs. attic ceiling) as the insulation present at the time of the pre-retrofit evaluation.
| Insulation level at the time of pre-retrofit evaluation | |||
| Increase the insulation value of the following: |
RSI 2.11 (R-12) and less
|
Greater than RSI 2.11 (R-12) and up to RSI 4.40 (R-25)
|
Greater than RSI 4.40 (R-25) and up tp RSI 6.16 (R-35)
|
| Your attic to achieve a total minimum insulation value of RSI 7.04 (R-40). |
$500
|
$250
|
N/A
|
| Your attic to achieve a total minimum insulation value of RSI 8.81 (R-50). |
$750
|
$375
|
$125
|
| Your flat roof and/or cathedral ceiling to achieve a total minimum insulation value of RSI 4.93 (R-28). |
$750
|
$250
|
N/A
|
Insulate your uninsulated flat roof or cathedral ceiling to increase its insulation value by a minimum of RSI 1.76 (R-10) to qualify for a rebate of $500.
Exterior Wall Insulation
The rebate is based on the percentage of wall area that you insulate and does not include walls between individual units. For a semi-detached or end unit row house, rebates are 75 percent of the amounts shown. For a middle unit row house, rebates are 50 percent of the amounts shown.
Minimum Additional Insulation
Insulate a minimum of 20 percent of the total exterior wall area.
|
Percent Area
|
RSI 0.67 (R-3.8) to RSI 1.59 (R-9)
|
Greater than RSI 1.59 (R-9)
|
|
20%
|
$225
|
$375
|
|
40%
|
$450
|
$750
|
|
60%
|
$675
|
$1,125
|
|
80%
|
$900
|
$1,500
|
|
100%
|
$1,125
|
$1,875*
|
* For non-electrically heated homes the maximum Efficiency Nova Scotia rebate is $1,500 for the entire home.
Exposed Floor Insulation
This includes overhangs and floors above an unheated space such as an unheated garage, but excludes crawl spaces.
Insulate your entire exposed floor and increase its insulation value by a minimum of RSI 3.52 (R-20). Insulate a minimum floor area of 14 square metres (150 square feet) - $190 rebate.
Foundation Insulation
When both a basement and a crawl space are present, all applicable rebates are pro-rated to a maximum of $1,000 – based on the wall area that is insulated. In the case of a semi-detached or row house that is an end unit, the rebate amount for the insulation of exterior walls, basement or crawl space walls is 75 percent of the amounts shown. In the case of a row house that is a middle unit, the rebate amount is 50 percent of the amounts shown.
Basement Insulation
The rebate is based on the percentage of wall area that you insulate and does not include walls between individual units. For a semi-detached or end unit row house, rebates are 75 percent of the amounts shown. For a middle unit row house, rebates are 50 percent of the amounts shown. When both a basement and crawl space are present, all applicable rebates are pro-rated to a maximum of $1,250 based on the total wall area.
Insulate a minimum of 20 percent of the wall area of the foundation, including basement and crawl space walls.
Minimum Additional Insulation
| Percent Area |
RSI 1.76 (R-10)
to RSI 4.95 (R-23) |
Greater than
RSI 4.05 (R-23) |
|
20%
|
$125
|
$250
|
|
40%
|
$250
|
$500
|
|
60%
|
$375
|
$750
|
|
80%
|
$500
|
$1,000
|
|
100%
|
$625
|
$1,250
|
Seal and insulate your entire basement header area to increase its insulation value by a minimum of RSI 3.52 (R-20) to qualify for a rebate of $125.
Basement Header Insulation
Seal and Insulate your entire basement header area, including increasing its insulation value by a minimum of RSI 3.5 (R-20) and receive a $100 rebate.
Crawl Space Insulation
When both a basement and crawl space are present, all applicable rebates are pro-rated to a maximum of $1,250 based on the total wall area.
| Minimum additional insulation | ||
| Crawl Space Insulation |
RSI 1.76 (R-10) to RSI 4.05 (R-23)
|
Greater than RSI 4.05 (R-23)
|
| Insulate 100 percent of your crawl space's total exterior wall area, including the header area. For a semi-detached or end unit row house, rebates are 75 percent of the amounts shown. For a middle unit row house, rebates are 50 percent of the amounts shown. If your house contains multiple foundations, the rebate amounts shown will be pro-rated based on total exterior foundation wall area. |
$500
|
$1,000
|
| OR | ||
| Insulate 100 percent of the floor above the crawl space to increase its insulation value by a minimum of RSI 4.23 (R-24). |
N/A
|
$250
|
Air Sealing
Perform air sealing to improve the air-tightness of your home to achieve the air-change rate target indicated in your “Home Energy Assessment Report.” $190
BONUS: If you reach 10 or 20 percent better than the target included in your report, you can obtain an additional rebate.
10% - $120
20% - $240
Doors, Windows and Skylights - Heated Space Only
Windows, doors and skylights must be ENERGY STAR qualified and installed into a pre-existing rough opening in a wall or roof. Rebate amounts are calculated per rough opening, not per number of windows, doors or skylights. A “rough opening” is defined as the structural framing in a wall or roof separating a heated from unheated space that creates an opening for the installation of a window, door or skylight. For example, a bay window with three window units installed into one rough opening is eligible for only one rebate. “ENERGY STAR qualified” means that the model meets or exceeds the ENERGY STAR levels established for the climate zone where the model is installed. Each qualified model comes with a temporary label showing the appropriate ENERGY STAR climate zones. Do not remove these labels until after your post-retrofit evaluation. Visit the FAQ (oee.nrcan.gc.ca/retrofit/questions#windows) for more information on eligible models or to determine your climate zone. You can insert a qualifying window unit into the existing frame of an old window, but replacements of only the glass, sash or door without a frame are not eligible.
Replace your windows, doors or skylights with ENERGY STAR qualified models - $40 (per rough opening)
Some additional conditions not listed in this guide may be applicable to some upgrades. Contact Sustainable Housing at 1-877-722-2842 for more information.
Efficiency Nova Scotia offers incentives to incorporate energy saving upgrades into the construction of your new home. The program is called Performance Plus, and it offers rebates for homes achieving a final EnerGuide rating of 83 or higher. Available rebates include:
| Final EnerGuide Score | Performance Plus Rebate |
|
83 or 84
|
$3,000
|
|
85, 86 or 87
|
$5,000
|
|
88 or higher
|
$7,000
|
In addition to the above rebates, there is an additional $1,250.00 rebate for solar domestic hot water available from Efficiency Nova Scotia through a separate application process.
In order to qualify for rebates, you must enrol in the Performance Plus program, and meet the following minimum eligibility criteria:
1. Electric baseboards cannot be the primary heating system. In electrically heated homes, there are two different ways to ensure this criterion is met:
a) The house can have a central warm air or hot water baseboard distribution system, or
b) For homes with ductless mini-split heat pumps but no central distribution system, and where electric baseboards are only supplementary, they will allow the home to access rebates as long as the heat pump(s) are sized to provide at least two-thirds of the home’s annual space heating requirement.
Please note that ETS (electric thermal storage) room units are considered the same as electric baseboards, thus a home with electric baseboards and/or ETS room units (but no central distribution system) are also not eligible.
2. Basements must be insulated to at least the minimum standard required by the Nova Scotia Building Code regardless of the home’s EnerGuide score.
3. The house must be registered in Performance Plus no more than 30 days after obtaining the building permit.
4. The house must be built and have final tests completed within 12 months of the registration date.
The process is simple:
- You start by contacting Sustainable Housing at 1-877-722-2842 to register for the service. Your Energy Advisor will discuss the project with you and request a set of your building plans.
- After receiving your plans, your Energy Advisor will model your home using sophisticated software to determine what the EnerGuide Rating would be if it were to be built according to your initial plans.
- We will then contact you again to discuss various options for upgrading your plans, how those upgrades would impact the EnerGuide Rating of your new home, the resulting reduction in energy consumption, and available government rebates to assist you with those upgrades. This is a critical stage in the process. We will work closely with you to arrive at the right combination of upgrades to optimize energy savings and rebates, and to maximize the return on your investment.
- Once construction is complete, we will visit the home to ensure it is built according to the revised plans, and to perform an air leakage test. This test determines the air tightness of the house, which is factored into the overall EnerGuide Rating for your home.
- Your Sustainable Housing Energy Advisor will submit applications on your behalf for any eligible government rebates.
You will also receive an official Natural Resources Canada EnerGuide label confirming the EnerGuide Rating of your home. This label confirms that the house was evaluated by a licensed advisor according to Natural Resources guidelines, and may be an important selling feature should you decide to sell your home in the future.
Get started today!
Contact Sustainable Housing at 1-877-722-2842
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