The popular ecoENERGY Retrofit program was set to end on June 6, 2011 but has been extended to March 31st, 2012. Successful applicants will receive grants to invest in the energy efficiency of their homes. This can mean reductions in energy bills of up to 20 percent of your current electricity bill. This article will discuss the details of this grant and explain how it benefits homeowners, as well as describe how you can apply for this grant. This will not reduce your mortgage payments but it may reduce your utility bills which, in the end, amounts to the same thing.

The Grant

The ecoENERGY Retrofit program offers successful applicants up to $5,000 toward energy-efficient upgrades to their home. This includes a wide variety of improvements. For instance, you could improve the insulation of your home by working on your attic or upgrade your windows and doors..

Here is a list of the improvements you can make and links to more details on the requirements for each improvement.

Heating systems
Cooling systems
Ventilation systems
Domestic hot water equipment
Insulation
Air sealing
Windows/doors/skylights
Water conservation

You can only receive one grant per improvement. Notice all applicable health and safety measures must be satisfied when installing the upgrades and that all appliances must be certified Energy Star appliances. For more information on Energy Star click here.

Requirements

The program has two main requirements. First you must register with the program before you request an evaluation from a program consultant, and second, you must provide receipts as proof of the purchases you have made to the energy advisor that is supervising your case.

You also must be willing to allow the energy assessor to perform a blower-door test on your home to determine how good, or bad, is the insulation of your home.

Note you must always use a licensed service organization to perform an energy evaluation of your home. These licensed organizations have certified energy advisors who act as a third and impartial party for the grant process.

Application

If you are interested in applying for an ecoENERGY Retrofit grant you must register with the program. Click here if you are a new participant. If you have already benefited from the program but wish to apply again, click here. Note that applicants who have several properties they wish to claim grants for must fill in a new application for each property.