About Home Energy Loan Program

Start off by completing the HELP online application. When the required documentation has been submitted (and the application approved) you will enter into a loan agreement with the City of Toronto to initiate certain qualifying improvements - energy efficiency and/or water conservation. Improvement options are based on a home energy assessment.

The maximum allowable funding is 5% of your property CVA (Current Value Assessment). Once your loan is in place, the City of Toronto will impose a charge on the participating property – it includes the cost of improvements, applicable interest, and an administration fee. As the homeowner, you will repay the loan over an agreed term.

The payment obligation of the HELP loan is attached to the property, and not the owner. It is secured by a property lien through the City of Toronto, and if the property changes owners, the new owner assumes the loan repayment. The new owner continues to make payments to the City of Toronto until the loan is fully paid – the loan can be repaid at any time with no penalty.

How do I qualify?

You could qualify for a low interest loan through the HELP program if:

• you own a detached home, semi-detached home, or row house
• all of the designated property owners on title consent to the loan
• your property tax/utility payments to the City are in good standing
• you obtain written consent from your mortgagor (if applicable)

What types of home energy improvements are eligible?

Examples of improvements supported by HELP:

• High efficiency furnaces/central AC units/boilers
• High efficiency hot water heaters
• Window and/or door replacements
• Air sealing (caulking, weather stripping, etc.)
• Wall insulation in the basement and/or attic
• Wall insulation in the exterior walls
• Installment of water efficient toilet
• Drain-water heat recovery technology
• Heat recovery/energy recovery equipment

Five Easy Steps

Step 1: Pre-Qualification

1. Complete a Pre-Application Form. The City of Toronto confirms your eligibility and the maximum amount of available funding. The total loan amount includes the funding, the interest, and an administration fee. The loan cannot exceed 5% of the property Current Value Assessment.
2. If your home has a mortgage, the City of Toronto will provide documentation for your mortgage lender. Written consent is required from your mortgage lender before proceeding to Step 2.

Step 2: Home Energy Assessment and Funding Request

1. You must book a home energy assessment with a Certified Energy Advisor accredited by Natural Resources Canada. The assessment will include a basement-to-attic evaluation of your insulation, heating/cooling systems, and air leaks/drafts. The assessment provides:

• a full report on the home’s energy efficiency
• recommendations for specific improvements
• an EnerGuide performance score (0-100)
• information on available incentives/rebates

For a list of qualified Energy Advisors and more information on incentives and rebates for home energy assessments, visit the Enbridge Gas website: http://knowyourenergyscore.ca

2. You must complete a Funding Request Form. You have to identify the improvements you intend to make (based on the home assessment); you have to obtain contractor quotes; and you have to submit the funding request with the following:  

• list of intended improvements
• contractor quote and estimates
• applicable incentives/rebates

For most energy rebate programs, you’ll have to contact a registered Service Organization to be eligible. Your chosen Service Organization will schedule an appointment to perform a Home Energy Evaluation (also referred to as an Energy Audit). Evaluations include the following:

• an initial home assessment before any work is performed
• recommendations for upgrading home energy performance
• an official Home Energy Rating after upgrades are finished

Your Home Energy Evaluation is conducted by a Registered Energy Advisor who assesses various aspects of your home - mechanical equipment; air leakage; and insulation performance. A Blower Door Test is performed to diagnose your home’s air tightness. The Energy Advisor uses data from your assessment, along with energy simulation software, to establish a real-life “energy rating”.

With upgrade recommendations from your Energy Advisor, you can pinpoint the improvements and upgrades that will be performed in your home. After the work has been completed, you’ll book a final Energy Audit, at which time your home will receive an EnerGuide Rating Label. The official rating allows homeowners to apply and receive financial incentives, grants, and rebates.

Step 3:  Property Owner Agreement

When the City of Toronto has approved your funding, you will be asked to sign a Property Owner Agreement - the funding agreement between property owner and City. You must sign the POA and return it.

Once your POA is received by the City and certified by the City Clerk, you will receive an initial disbursement of 10% of your funding to get your project underway.

Read the sample Property Owner Agreement (POA)

Step 4:  Complete Your Home Energy Improvements

• Once your hired contractor has completed your improvements, you can book a post-retrofit assessment – again, with your Energy Advisor. Your improvements will be assessed and approved, and you will be provided with a new EnerGuide score.
• You must submit a Project Completion Report to the City which includes your final project costs and your new EnerGuide score. The City then sends a final disbursement cheque upon final verification.

NOTE:Homeowners assume responsibility for all work performed: hiring/paying contractors; selecting building materials; quality control; provincial/municipal permits; and payment of all taxes.

Step 5: Repay the Loan Over Time via Your Property Tax Bill

When your project has been completed, the City will notify you that a “special charge” has been levied on your property. Part of the “special charge” will be added to your annual tax bill. You repay the loan through 11 monthly installments each year. You will be automatically enrolled in a pre-authorized payment plan with automatic monthly deductions.

At any time during the repayment term, you can make a one-time payout of the outstanding balance amount (without penalty). In doing so, the HELP loan is cleared from the property. The City of Toronto collects HELP loan payments in the same manner as property taxes. Payments are subject to the same penalties, remedies and liens as property taxes.

EcoStar Insulation Will Recommend the Rebate that Suits Your Needs

EcoStar Insulation will simplify your home energy upgrades. We’ll recommend the home energy rebate that best suits your needs, and we’ll also recommend the energy upgrades that provide the best return-on-investment. There are a number of rebates available to homeowners in Ontario.

• The Home Reno Rebate Program (Union Gas) offers rebates for upgrading your home’s energy efficiency. You’ll need two Energy Audits (a pre-reno and a post-reno). EcoStar will perform the retrofits that are eligible for rebate.
• The Home Energy Conservation Program (Enbridge Gas) offers incentives for home energy upgrades that will lower seasonal utility bills. Working with a Registered Energy Advisor, you must perform at least two upgrades.
• The Investment in Affordable Housing (Ontario) offers rebates to building owners to make insulation upgrades. Rebates are available when installing high performance insulation that provides R-Values of R40 or greater.
• The Green Home Program (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) offers up to 25% premium refund. The more energy improvements you make the higher refund. A Registered Energy Advisor would be required.
• The AffordAbility Fund (Ontario) helps electricity customers to make improvements that will lower electricity usage and therefore reduce electricity bills. To be eligible, your net income and monthly energy bill are considered.