Navigating Deep Home Energy Retrofits: Saskatchewan Rebates

If you’re beginning your journey to a more sustainable home, you may find it challenging to navigate the home energy retrofit programs available in Saskatchewan. In addition to federal programs, homeowners in Saskatchewan have programs available from SaskPower and SaskEnergy, with different qualifications for each program.

In this guide, we will break down the options available to homeowners and renters in Saskatchewan, including what the programs cover and tips on how to qualify.

In Saskatchewan, most programs focus on the building envelope. This includes rebates and grants for home insulation, air sealing, windows, and doors. This is because the building envelope is key to ensuring that further heating and cooling efforts are effective. In a province with cold weather and many high heating days, ensuring that homes are draft-proof and comfortable should be of utmost concern to homeowners. 

Additionally, Saskatchewan has programs available to help with some equipment and appliances, such as furnaces and hot water heaters, as well as smaller upgrades like LED light bulbs and high-efficiency shower heads.

Available across Canada are the Greener Home Loan and CMHC Green Home programs.

Run through the federal government, the Greener Homes Loan helps Canadians finance the cost of renovations by offering up to $40,000 as an interest-free loan for approved energy upgrades. This program can be paired with other incentives and programs that are available to help you get further with your money. 

Canadians using CMHC-insured financing can use the CMHC Green Home program to access a refund of up to 25% to build, buy, or renovate homes. CMHC charges between 2.4% and 4% in interest rates, which could end up being up to 1% of your total home value.

Additionally, the Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program should become available again soon to help low- to medium-income Canadians homeowners and renters. Instead of loans, this program offers financial rebates for qualifying retrofits.

Provincial programs are run primarily through SaskPower and SaskEnergy, and it is recommended that homeowners pair these rebates with the federal programs. Saskatchewan has many programs available provincially, each with their own qualification requirements and included upgrades. 

Residential Equipment Replacement Rebate 

Replacing old equipment with newer, high-efficiency models can help lower your energy bill, increase your comfort, and reduce your greenhouse gas emissions. The Residential Equipment Replacement Rebate, available to SaskEnergy customers, allows you to get rebates on furnaces, hot water heaters, boilers, and ventilation. You must use licensed contractors and eligible equipment to qualify.

Home Efficiency Retrofit Rebate

A program for both SaskEnergy and SaskPower customers, the Home Efficiency Retrofit Rebate (HERR) incentivizes upgrades to your home’s envelope. The program offers rebates of up to $1,800 for high-performance windows, doors, insulation, and air sealing retrofits. An additional $200 can be used to subsidize the necessary EnerGuide evaluations. 

Energy Assistance Program

SaskPower has partnered with CLEAResult to deliver an Energy Assistance Program to help you save money on utility bills. Owners and renters can benefit from this program as long as the power bills are in your name and you have a household income of less than $70,000. The program includes a home visit with an energy coach who will provide insight on how to lower your energy bills, as well as free upgrades such as light bulbs, heater timers, shower heads, and smart thermostats.

Northern First Nations Home Retrofit Program and Furnace Replacement Rebate

For First Nations communities, Saskatchewan offers two programs. The Northern First Nations Home Retrofit Program is open to qualified First Nations communities located in northern Saskatchewan. It offers insulation upgrades, LED lights, windows and doors, and more. The second program focuses on furnace replacements. The First Nations Furnace Replacement Rebate enables communities to increase the energy efficiency of their homes and reduce the reliance on natural gas. 

Unlike other provinces, the only municipality-funded program in Saskatchewan is in Saskatoon. The Home Energy Loan Program is designed to help single-family homes improve energy efficiency, install renewable energy options, or reduce water usage by offering low-interest loans to cover the costs of these upgrades. Loans are repaid through property taxes over 5, 10, or 20-year terms and are attached to the property, not the individual. That means that if you sell your home, the new homeowner will take over the repayment of the loan, as they will benefit from the upgrades.

Navigating the application process for the available programs doesn’t need to be complicated. Most programs have a few mandatory steps to follow, including:

• Homeowners must get pre- and post-inspection done by licensed and approved home energy advisors.
• Larger equipment, such as furnaces and hot water heaters, must be installed by licensed and approved contractors.
• Equipment models must be approved by the rebate provider, which means that you should verify which equipment is covered before making any purchases.

While it may seem challenging to navigate the available energy efficiency programs, the benefits will outweigh any barriers. By implementing retrofits, you can improve the comfort of your home, reduce costs associated with energy usage, and increase the value of your home. 

Properate can help you navigate programs that are available to you. With a free home energy report, you can make better, more informed decisions about what parts of your home would benefit from upgrades.