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The City of Toronto today launched Home Energy Assistance
Toronto (HEAT), a new incentive program offering residents up to
$1,000 when they upgrade their home insulation. HEAT is open to
residents of low-rise residential properties, such as detached
and semi-detached houses, and town homes, and is designed to
encourage Torontonians to undertake improvements to increase
their home's energy efficiency and reduce associated greenhouse
gas emissions.
"Providing grants to make the homes of Torontonians more energy
efficient benefits us all," said Toronto Mayor David Miller.
"Grants like this allow for the creation of green jobs and
decrease our overall energy demands, which in turn reduces
greenhouse gas emissions. HEAT will empower residents to act
locally to not only save money but to clean our air and protect
our environment as well."
There are approximately 450,000 low-rise residential buildings
in Toronto today, which account for 19 per cent of electricity
and 36 per cent of natural gas consumption in the city.
According to research from Ontario Power Authority (2006),
residents who retrofit their insulation and use electricity to
heat and cool their homes will save, on average, more than 2000
kWh of energy, over $150 on their annual energy bill, and 0.5
tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. Residents who use gas will
save 600 cubic metres, more than $250 on their annual energy
bill, and an estimated 1.2 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions
from entering the air.
Home Energy Assistance Toronto is a partnership with Federal
ecoENERGY Retrofit-Homes, and means that homeowners can now
access insulation grants of up to $8,750 in total from all three
levels of government. Residents who undertake other important
energy efficient upgrades (such as improving toilets, doors,
windows or heating and cooling systems) can leverage even more
funds - up to a combined $11,000.
"Our Government is working with partners like the City of
Toronto to deliver results for our economy today and benefits
for homeowners and our environment for years to come," said the
Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Natural Resources. "Canadians
across the country are participating in the ecoENERGY Retrofit
Homes program. This program is creating and protecting jobs in
our communities and putting money in the hands of Canadians at a
time when they need it most."
To be eligible for HEAT funds, homeowners must follow the steps
(web link in Backgrounder) outlined by ecoENERGY Retrofit-Homes.
The steps include hiring a Certified Energy Advisor to conduct a
Home Energy Assessment, both before and after renovations.
Toronto is committed to combating climate change. In 2007, City
Council unanimously adopted the Climate Change, Clean Air and
Sustainable Energy Action Plan, an environmental framework aimed
at reducing Toronto's greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by
2050.
Home Energy Assistance Toronto is an important tactic in this
aggressive plan, which is why $9 million has been earmarked for
HEAT, which will run until March 2012. It is estimated that
approximately 9,000 to 12,000 householders will access these
home improvement grants during this period.
For more information about HEAT and other City of Toronto
environmental programs, visit
http://www.livegreentoronto.ca.
Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government,
and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. It
is the economic engine of Canada and one of the greenest and
most creative cities in North America.
Toronto has won numerous awards for quality, innovation and
efficiency in delivering public services. 2009 marks the 175th
anniversary of Toronto's incorporation as a city. Toronto's
government is dedicated to prosperity, opportunity and
liveability for all its residents.
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