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The RetrofitHH pilot program advances the Town’s Climate Change goals by providing access to interest free financing for energy retrofits to homeowners in Halton Hills. This project was carried out with assistance from the Green Municipal Fund, a Fund financed by the Government of Canada and administered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

Applications are now closed. Subscribe to this page to receive updates about future program developments.

RetrofitHH Pilot Program Approves Financing for 9 Proposals

The launch of the Retrofit Halton Hills pilot program was very well received in the community, with 20 homeowners applying to participate. Funding was distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and the Town was able to approve 9 of these proposals within the allotted budget of the pilot program.

Examples of retrofit projects approved to date include:

Improving insulation in basements, attics, and main walls;
Installing heat pumps;
Replacing furnaces, air conditioners and hot water tanks;
Upgrading of doors and windows; and
Installing solar panel arrays.

Success to date:

Total estimated energy reduction of 807 gigajoules/year – equivalent energy use of 6.75 Halton Hills homes*
Total estimated greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction of 44 tonnes/year – equivalent GHG emissions of 9 Halton Hills homes*

These initiatives help support the Town’s goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

*On average, the participating homes reported initial energy usage (GJ/yr.) and GHG gas emissions (tonnes/yr.) that were, respectively, approximately 1.67 and 1.79 times the Halton Hills average

Program Overview

You may qualify for a loan through the RetrofitHH pilot if:

you own a detached, semi-detached, or row house in the Town of Halton Hills that is at least 5 years old;
all the property owners on title consent to participate in the program; and,
your property tax and utility payments to the Town are in good standing

You may combine RetrofitHH with energy efficiency rebates and incentives available from the Government of Canada, and utility companies.

A non-exhaustive list of the categories of measures eligible under the Pilot Program includes:

Thermal envelope upgrades: attic, wall and basement insulation, windows, air sealing.
Mechanical systems: furnace and boiler replacement, water heater replacement, thermostats and controllers, drain water heat recovery systems.
Renewable energy: geothermal heat pumps, solar photovoltaics, solar water heating.

Ineligible measures include equipment or products not permanently affixed to the property, previously installed in another home, and are deemed general maintenance.

Application Process

Step 1: Complete an Application Form

Once the Town receives and approves your application, we will send you a funding offer that states the maximum amount that your property is eligible to receive through RetrofitHH.

RetrofitHH Application Form

You may print and mail the application, or complete it online and email it to Retrofit Halton Hills.

Note: Because RetrofitHH is currently in a pilot stage, it is anticipated that only 15-20 applicants will be accepted during this stage. Applicants who qualify for the program will be selected on a first-come-first-served basis until the pilot is full.

All qualifying applicants not selected for the pilot program will be notified when/if the Town begins accepting more applicants in a full program launch anticipated in 2023.

Step 2: Home Energy Assessment and Funding Request

a. Book a home energy assessment with an Energy Advisor registered by Natural Resources Canada

The assessment will include a basement-to-attic assessment of your home’s insulation, heating and cooling systems, and detect any air leaks or drafts.

When the assessment is complete, you will receive:

a Renovation Upgrade Report with recommendations for specific improvements
an EnerGuide¹ rating based on your home’s current energy performance
information on available incentives and rebates

To find a Registered Energy Advisor (REA) consult NRCan’s database of REAs or visit Enbridge Gas to find REAs in your area and information on incentives and rebates available for home energy assessments

b. Submit your funding request

Determine which improvements you wish to make and get quotes from the contractor(s) of your choice, based on your goals, budget and recommendations of the Energy Advisor. Make sure you see which rebates and incentives currently available.

Your funding request will include:

a list of the improvements you intend to undertake;
details and cost estimates based on contractor quote(s); and
the estimated incentive and rebate amounts available to you from the utility companies.

Funding Request Form

Step 3: Property Owner Agreement

Once the Town has approved your Funding Request, we will send you a Property Owner Agreement (POA), which is the funding agreement between the property owner(s) and the Town.

You must sign the POA and return to the Town. Once the POA is approved by the Town, we can provide, if requested, up to 30 per cent of the funds to help you get your project underway.

See a sample POA here

Step 4: Complete your improvements and submit your project completion report

Homeowners assume full responsibility for the work performed, which includes selecting, hiring and paying contractors, and obtaining all required municipal and/or provincial permits, if applicable.

When your project is complete, book your post-retrofit home energy assessment with your Energy Advisor. The Advisor will verify the improvements and provide a new EnerGuide¹ rating for your home.

Submit a Project Completion Report signed by your Energy Advisor, along with your contractor’s invoices and your new EnerGuide[1] rating label. The Town will then provide you with the remaining funds for your project.

Project Completion Report

Step 5: Repay the loan over time via your property tax bill

Once your project is complete, the Town will notify you when your loan payments will begin. You will be enrolled in the Town’s Pre-authorized Tax Payment plan and repay the Town via eleven monthly instalments per year over the term of your loan. Loan payments made via the property tax bill are treated in the same manner, and subject to the same penalties, remedies, and lien priorities, as property taxes.

At any time during the term of the loan, you may pay the outstanding balance, without penalty, to clear the loan from your property.

[1] EnerGuide is an official mark of Natural Resources Canada

Selecting a Contractor

Town staff are not able to recommend a contractor or provide a list of contractors. The following sources may be able to help you when selecting a contractor:

Recommendations from family, friends and neighbours

An endorsement from someone you know and trust can help you make your decision.

Consider a local company

Look for a company with an established business history in your community. Your local hardware store may be able to provide you with trusted local contractors. The Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce maintains a directory of member businesses here.

The following resources can also help you select a contractor:

The Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) has members who specialize in home repair and renovations. RenoMark contractors abide by industry-set codes of ethics and conduct. Please visit their Greater Toronto Area website for more information and to find a RenoMark contractor
RenoMark also publishes a RenoGuide to help you through the process which is available from their website
Larger building supply stores offer installation services using a roster of professional renovation contractors.
The Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) maintains an Authorized Contractor Program for electrical contractors. Visit ESA's website or call them at 1-877-372-7233 to find an authorized contractor.
the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and the Canadian Home Builders’ Association have collaborated on the Get it in Writing project, a website with many resources to help make your renovation a success.

Background

Buildings play an important role in the climate solution

When it comes to ‘green buildings,’ attention is typically paid to new construction as it is comparatively easier to incorporate energy efficiency measures during building and the design stage. Although more complex, retrofitting existing buildings also represents a significant opportunity to reduce energy use, costs, and associated GHG emissions. Buildings (residential and commercial) can often account for over half of a municipality’s GHG emissions. So, in order to achieve GHG reduction targets in a municipality, it is necessary to address energy use within the existing building stock and find innovative approaches to finance retrofits.

There are approximately 18,000 privately occupied low-rise dwelling units in Halton Hills, representing a significant opportunity to reduce emissions and energy costs for residents. The residential sector (at 22%) is the second largest source of the Town’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Pie chart of Halton Hills Green House Gas Emissions in 2016 by Sector

In support of Town Council’s Climate Emergency Declaration and the resulting net-zero by 2030 target, the Town has developed a home energy retrofit program to provide access to low-interest financing for energy retrofits to homeowners in Halton Hills.

Reports

Retrofit Halton Hills Pilot Program Report ADMIN-2021-0037 approved by Council October 25, 2021
By-Law 2021-0056 approved by Council on November 15, 2021

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I participate?

The launch of the Retrofit Halton Hills pilot program has been very well received in the community, with 20 homeowners applying to this exciting initiative in just one month (since the application process began).

At this time, we are no longer accepting applications while we process the current applications. Subscribe to our RetrofitHH page (link in Contact Us section on the righthand side of the page) to receive updates about future funding opportunities.

Is there a target area for the RetrofitHH Pilot or is it all of Halton Hills?

There is no geographical target area for the program. All residents of Halton Hills are welcome to apply if they meet the eligibility requirements listed above.

What are Local Improvement Charges?

The Local Improvement Charges regulation is an existing tool available under the Municipal Act, 2001.
Local Improvement Charges (LIC), or Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs as they are known in the US, are a financing policy tool uniquely available to local homeowners to help fund home energy retrofits. This financing mechanism gives homeowners access to the upfront capital cost to complete energy retrofits; the amount is paid back through the home-owner’s property tax payment, often for the same term as the lifespan of the work. However, the payment “runs with the land” and stays with the property. If the homeowner moves before the retrofit is completed, the new homeowner will take over the payment, along with the benefit of the retrofit.

Forty states in the US and five provinces in Canada (AB, NS, ON, PE, QC) have programs like this in place. In Ontario, LICs have typically been used (under Ontario Regulation (O. Reg.) 586/06) to finance neighbourhood improvements, for example in rural areas where homes are on septic or wells, to extend water and sanitary systems. In 2012, an amendment (O. Reg. 322/12) allowed municipalities to implement by-laws to use LICs on private properties to support “water conservation, energy efficiency or renewable energy works.”

Why invest in energy retrofits?

Investing in energy efficient retrofits in buildings helps lower energy costs, reduces maintenance requirements, creates a more pleasant interior environment, increases the value and productivity of the building and reduces its environmental footprint.

Retrofitting may involve upgrading lighting fixtures, ventilation systems or windows and doors, or adding insulation where it makes economic sense. It also means including energy efficiency measures in all your renovation and repair activities.

Minor retrofits target "low-hanging fruit" – modifications that are low-cost, easy to implement and offer good value for the money and effort invested. For example: adding insulation, upgrading lighting systems.
Major retrofits take a more holistic approach and can be more complex. For example: replacing window glazing and doors, updating inefficient heating and cooling systems; installing low-flow faucets with sensors.
Deep retrofits are those that can save energy use in a building by 50% or more compared to the baseline energy use. For example: roof replacement, adding windows, replacing the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system with a renewable technology like a ground-source heat pump.

What are the benefits of home energy retrofits?

Investing in energy retrofits in buildings helps lower energy costs, reduces maintenance requirements, creates a more pleasant interior environment, increases the value and productivity of the building, and reduces its environmental footprint.

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