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Frequently Asked Questions - Energy

 

General Energy FAQs

  1. Apart from hydroelectric power, what other renewable sources of energy resources are being produced in the province?
  2. Does the province have any 'green power' rates?
  3. What is the Atlantic Accord?
  4. What constitutes the offshore area?
  5. What is the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB)?
  6. What is the Energy Council?
  7. Why is Newfoundland and Labrador a member of the Energy Council?

 

Energy Efficiency FAQs

Government Grants for Home Energy Improvements

  1. I'm renovating my home to make it more energy efficient. Is there a government program that can assist me with my retrofits?
  2. How do I access Newfoundland and Labrador Energuide for Houses funding?
  3. What types of renovations are eligible for these grants?
  4. Does the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador offer any grant or subsidy programs for consumers who want to switch to alternate energy sources or more environmentally responsible sources of heat?

Low Income Houses

  1. My income is too low to retrofit my home. Is there a program for people in my situation?

Qualifying for the program

  1. Do I qualify for the program?
  2. What is a "Single Family Home"?
  3. How do I access this funding?
  4. How much money could I receive from the provincial program?
  5. How do I find a certified energy advisor?
  6. I am renting a portion of my home as an apartment. Is the apartment portion of my home eligible?
  7. I own rental properties. Are these eligible?
  8. I own a cottage/four-season recreational property. Is this eligible?
  9. I rent a house, can I participate?
  10. Does the age of my home affect my eligibility for the program?
  11. How does the evaluation fee rebate work?
  12. I completed a pre- or post-evaluation between September 11, 2007 and December 12, 2008. How do I get my rebate on the evaluation fee?

Retrofit Work and Grant

  1. What types of renovations are eligible for these grants?
  2. Can I do the work myself and receive a grant?
  3. Are the grants based on how much I spend for upgrades?
  4. I’ve booked my pre-retrofit evaluation. What’s next?

Program Impact and Statistics

  1. How much can homeowners expect to save in terms of annual energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions?

 

General Energy FAQs

1. Apart from hydroelectric power, what other renewable sources of energy resources are being produced in the province?

Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro, a Nalcor Energy company, currently has agreements to purchase energy produced by two 27-megawatt (MW) wind projects, which each consists of nine three-MW wind turbines. In 2008, Hydro purchased wind power from the first commercial wind development in Newfoundland, located in St. Lawrence. The Fermeuse wind site became operational in May 2009. These two wind developments are owned and operated by private-sector companies that were successful respondents to competitive request for proposal processes implemented by Hydro.

The province is also home to a growing wood pellet industry. Three wood pellet manufacturing facilities are in various stages of development or operation and the Provincial Government offers a wood pellet appliance rebate to encourage homeowners to install wood pellet stoves and furnaces to heat their homes.

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2. Does the province have any 'green power' rates?

Not at present. It is worth noting that almost all the power generated in the province, and about three-quarters of power consumed within the province, comes from a renewable source: water.

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3. What is the Atlantic Accord?

The Atlantic Accord is the agreement (dated February 11, 1985) between the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Government of Canada on offshore petroleum resource management and revenue sharing. Among other things the agreement provides for the joint management of the offshore area by a federal-provincial board (the C-NLOPB opens new window) and the collection of royalties as if the petroleum resources were located on land.

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4. What constitutes the offshore area?

As defined in the Atlantic Accord legislation:

"offshore area" means those submarine areas lying seaward of the low water mark of the Province and extending, at any location, as far as

(a) any prescribed line, or

(b) where no line is prescribed at that location, the outer edge of the continental margin or a distance of two hundred nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea of Canada is measured, whichever is the greater.

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5. What is the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB)?

The C-NLOPB opens new window is the federal-provincial agency put in place to administer petroleum related activity in the offshore area. The C-NLOPB’s duties include (among other things) the issuance and administration of petroleum rights, drilling approvals and seismic program approvals. The C-NLOPB also reviews and approves development plans. Certain decisions of the C-NLOPB (called fundamental decisions) are subject to approval by the federal and provincial energy ministers. Fundamental decisions include decisions regarding lands to be offered in a Call for Bids and the approval of development plans.

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6. What is the Energy Council?

The Energy Council is a legislative organization of ten energy-producing states ranging from the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic Ocean. These member states produce more than 80 per cent of United States (U.S.) oil and gas output and include leading coal, uranium, and renewable energy-producing states. The province of Newfoundland and Labrador, the province of Alberta and the nation of Venezuela are the Energy Council’s three international affiliates.

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7. Why is Newfoundland and Labrador a member of the Energy Council?

Newfoundland and Labrador became a member of the Energy Council in December 2001. Government is committed to actively pursuing all opportunities to encourage and promote new investment in this province’s energy resource base.

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Energy Efficiency FAQs

Government Grants for Home Energy Improvements

1. I'm renovating my home to make it more energy efficient. Is there a government program that can assist me with my retrofits?

To help Newfoundland and Labrador residents to significantly reduce their home heating costs, the Provincial Government administers the Newfoundland & Labrador EnerGuide for Houses Program. This program offers financial assistance to help homeowners complete energy efficiency evaluations on their homes and access grants for energy-saving home improvements.

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2. How do I access Newfoundland and Labrador EnerGuide for Houses funding?

Obtaining the funding is a simple three-step process:

  1. Initial Assessment: Contact a certified energy evaluator and arrange an initial assessment for your home. The evaluator will visit your home, assess its energy efficiency and recommend retrofit renovations that, if completed, can qualify for the Newfoundland and Labrador EnerGuide for Houses Program.
  2. Retrofit Work: Complete the recommended retrofits.
  3. Follow-Up Assessment: Arrange for the energy evaluator to return to your home and conduct a follow-up assessment to verify the recommended work is complete.
  4. Apply for Grant:  The evaluator will complete and submit the necessary paperwork on your behalf.  Your cheques will arrive in 60-90 days.

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3. What types of renovations are eligible for these grants?

A wide range of home improvements to retain more heat in homes during the cold winter months are eligible for retrofit grants. The initial energy evaluation will detail the eligible improvements and the grant available for each type of improvement. The Newfoundland and Labrador EnerGuide for Houses Program Guide PDF (4.8 MB) contains a detailed list of eligible improvements.

Some examples of eligible improvements are:

  • Basement, attic and exterior insulation
  • Window and door replacement with certified Energy Star windows and doors

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4. Does the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador offer any grant or subsidy programs for consumers who want to switch to alternate energy sources or more environmentally responsible sources of heat?

Currently, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador does not offer any grant or subsidy programs to consumers purchasing either alternate or more environmentally friendly methods of producing heat or electricity.

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Low Income Houses

1. My income is too low to retrofit my home. Is there a program for people in my situation?

The province is also offering a new program called the Residential Energy Efficiency Program (REEP) opens new window, which will specifically help lower-income homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. The Provincial Government’s housing agency, Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, is administering that program.

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Qualifying for the program

1. Do I qualify for the program?

Owners of single-family homes, including fully- or partially- rented apartments qualify for:

  • rebates for pre and/or post evaluations completed between September 11, 2007 and December 12, 2008 (i.e. $200 for pre-evaluation and/or $100 for post-evaluation.)
  • reduced evaluation fees if they complete energy evaluations after December 12, 2008
  • retrofit grants if they complete the post-retrofit evaluations after the official launch of the Newfoundland and Labrador EnerGuide for Houses program on December 12, 2008.
Rebates for evaluator travel costs are not retroactive.

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2. What is a "Single Family Home"?

    For this program, a Single–Family Home is defined as a home that meets ALL of the following criteria:
  • Three stories or less fully above ground; AND
  • Five apartments or less; AND
  • All apartments must be able to be opened to a single exterior door. In other words, all the apartments within the house must be interconnected by interior doors.

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3. How do I access this funding?

Obtaining the funding is a simple three-step process:

  1. Initial Assessment: Contact a certified energy evaluators and arrange an initial assessment for your home. The evaluators will visit your home, assess its energy efficiency and recommend retrofit renovations that, if completed, can qualify for the Newfoundland and Labrador EnerGuide for Houses Program and the Federal ecoEnergy Retrofit Program.
  2. Retrofit Work: Complete the recommended retrofits.
  3. Follow-Up Assessment: Arrange for the energy evaluator to return to your home and conduct a follow-up assessment to verify the recommended work is complete.

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4. How much money could I receive from the federal and provincial programs?

The maximum federal grant is $5,000 and the maximum provincial grant is $1,500 for a combined maximum grant of $6,500.

The grant is based on the individual upgrades completed. A flat incentive amount has been calculated for each qualifying upgrade as detailed in the Newfoundland and Labrador EnerGuide for Houses Program Grant Eligibility Guide. The upgrades that save the most energy have the highest value. The potential grant is calculated by adding the total incentive amounts of the upgrades recommended in the Energy Efficiency Evaluation Report's action checklist that is presented by your energy advisor. This makes it easier for you to decide which renovations you want to carry out from the action checklist and in which the order you would like to complete them. The grant is based on the total amounts for those retrofits you have completed.

The size of the grant depends on the specific upgrades you complete from the evaluator’s list of recommendations. The Energy Efficiency Evaluation Report provided by your advisor following your pre-retrofit evaluation includes a personalized list of upgrades and the grant amounts you can expect to receive should you carry out the recommended home improvements. In addition, the report will indicate the relative impact the upgrades will have on the home's energy efficiency level. Grants will not be provided for any upgrades that are not recommended by the evaluator.

Note:  The $5,000 maximum grant under the Federal ecoEnergy Retrofit - Homes Program is only available to those who have booked or completed a pre-retrofit evaluation prior to March 31, 2010.

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5. How do I find a certified energy evaluator?

As of January 1, 2010 there are three companies in the province certified to complete these home energy evaluations:

Check for updates on the list of evaluators at the Natural Resources Canada’s opens new window website :

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6. I am renting a portion of my home as an apartment. Is the apartment portion of my home eligible?

Yes. Single Family Homes held by rental property owners are eligible under the program provided they meet the program definition of “Single Family Home.”

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7. I own rental properties. Are these eligible?

Yes, Single Family Homes held by rental property owners are eligible under the program provided they meet the program definition of “Single Family Home.”

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8. I own a cottage/four-season recreational property. Is this eligible?

A recreational property such as a cabin, cottage or second home may be eligible for evaluation funding or a retrofit grant if it is a fully-serviced, four-season property that meets specific definitions under the National Building Code. The property does not have to be the primary residence of the owner. Contact the Department of Natural Resources if you are uncertain whether your property qualifies.

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9. I rent a house, can I participate?

Any rental property that meets the eligibility criteria can participate, however it is the property owner who is eligible for the grant; therefore, we suggest that you speak with your landlord.

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10. Does the age of my home affect my eligibility for the program?

No.

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11. How does the evaluation subsidy work?

Homeowners pay the difference between the evaluator’s fee and the provincial government’s evaluation subsidy. For example, if the evaluator charges $300 for the initial evaluation, the province pays the first $200 and you pay the evaluator the remaining $100. If the evaluator charges $150 for the post evaluation, the province pays the first $100 and you pay the remaining $50. The evaluator collects the provincial government evaluation subsidy and evaluator transportation cost directly from the Province.

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12. I completed a pre- or post-evaluation between September 11, 2007 and December 12, 2008. How do I get my rebate on the evaluation fee?

If you completed a pre- or post-evaluation between these dates, you are eligible for the retroactive evaluation fee rebate. Contact 1-866-440-4044 or e-mail SavingEnergy@gov.nl.ca to find out how to claim your retroactive rebate.

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Retrofit Work and Grant

1. What types of renovations are eligible for these grants?

A wide range of home improvements to retain more heat in homes during the cold winter months are eligible for retrofit grants. The initial energy evaluation will detail the eligible improvements and the grant available for each type of improvement. The Newfoundland and Labrador EnerGuide for Houses Program Guide contains a detailed list of eligible improvements.

Some examples of eligible improvements are:
  • Basement, attic and exterior insulation
  • Window and door replacement with certified Energy Star windows and doors

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2. Can I do the work myself and receive a grant?

Yes, provided that you obtain the required pre- and post-retrofit energy evaluations by a qualified energy advisor. To receive a grant, you must obtain a post-retrofit evaluation after the upgrades have been carried out. It is important that you keep a copy of the invoices for the materials purchased for the upgrades as you may be asked to submit copies. Homeowners are responsible for ensuring that they obtain all necessary permits and meet all municipal and provincial requirements.

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3. Are the grants based on how much I spend for upgrades?

No. The grant is based on the individual upgrades completed. A flat incentive amount has been calculated for each qualifying upgrade, and the upgrades that save the most energy have the highest value. The potential grant is calculated by adding the total incentive amounts of the upgrades recommended in the Energy Efficiency Evaluation Report's action checklist that is presented by your energy advisor. This makes it easier for you to decide which renovations you want to carry out from the action checklist and the order you would like to complete them. The grant is based on the total amounts for those retrofits you have completed.

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4. I’ve booked my pre-retrofit evaluation. What’s next?

The evaluator who does your pre-retrofit evaluation will provide you with a list of recommended actions to make your home more energy efficient. The evaluator will also provide details of the Newfoundland and Labrador EnerGuide for Houses Program and ecoEenergy Retrofit Program grants that are available.

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Program Impact and Statistics

1. How much can homeowners expect to save in terms of annual energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions?

Upgrades that qualify for the average federal grant of about $1000 generally cost the homeowner about $5000 and are expected to yield reductions in energy use, and therefore energy bills, of approximately 30 per cent. Emissions of greenhouse gases will be reduced annually by approximately four tonnes per house. (Source: Government of Canada)

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