How Much Is The Energy Efficiency Rebate In Nova Scotia?

This article will cover the various energy efficiency rebates that are available to residents of Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia Power offers rebates and incentives to encourage homeowners to adopt more energy efficient technologies and reduce electricity consumption. We’ll provide an overview of the different rebate programs, eligibility requirements, and rebate amounts for upgrades like insulation, heating systems, lighting, windows, appliances, and solar panels.

With rising energy costs, these rebates help make efficiency upgrades more affordable. They also support Nova Scotia’s goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and shift to cleaner energy sources. Understanding the rebate options can help homeowners decide which energy efficiency investments make the most financial sense.

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Electricity Efficiency Programs

Nova Scotia Power offers several electricity efficiency programs for residential customers to help reduce energy costs and consumption. The two main programs are:

Energy Efficient Appliances and Products

This program provides rebates when you purchase qualifying energy efficient appliances and products like refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers, clothes washers and dryers, electric water heaters, thermostats, lighting products, and more. Rebate amounts range from $10 for LED lightbulbs to $200 for an ENERGY STAR certified electric water heater.

Home Energy Assessment

You can receive rebates up to $500 off the cost of a home energy assessment performed by a Natural Resources Canada licensed service organization. The assessment will evaluate how much energy your home uses and provide recommendations for improvements.

Heating Efficiency Programs

Nova Scotia Power offers rebates on high-efficiency heating systems to help homeowners reduce energy costs. The main programs focus on heat pumps, wood stoves, and other alternatives to conventional electric or oil heating.

Heat pumps are one of the most energy efficient technologies available. Air source heat pumps can provide both heating and cooling, with rebates up to $1,000 available. Ductless mini-split heat pumps are also eligible for up to $1,000, providing zoned heating and cooling.

For homes with access to natural gas, Nova Scotia Power offers rebates up to $600 on high-efficiency natural gas furnaces over 90% AFUE. Natural gas fireplaces also qualify for $250 rebates.

Wood stove upgrades are supported through the Home Energy Assessment program. $250 rebates are available for upgrading to an EPA-certified wood stove, pellet stove, or other clean burning wood heating system.

Other rebates are offered on geothermal heat pumps, solar air heating, and electric thermal storage systems. Combined with proper insulation and air sealing, high-efficiency heating systems can significantly reduce energy usage and costs for Nova Scotia homes.

Insulation & Air Sealing

Air sealing and adding insulation are two of the most effective ways to improve the energy efficiency of your home. Properly insulating attics, exterior walls, basements, and crawl spaces can drastically reduce heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer.

Efficiency Nova Scotia offers rebates for both insulation and air sealing services. The specific rebate amounts are based on the type of insulation added or air sealing work completed.

For attic insulation, homeowners are eligible for $0.60 per square foot up to a maximum rebate of $1,600. Meanwhile, exterior wall insulation rebates are $1.00 per square foot up to $2,000. Basement and crawlspace insulation can receive up to $0.75 per square foot and $1,200 total. Rim joist insulation is also covered at $1.00 per linear foot.

When it comes to air sealing, you may be eligible for 50% of the total project cost up to a maximum of $800. Typical air sealing measures covered include weatherstripping, door sweeps, electrical socket gaskets, and sealants/caulking.

To receive insulation and air sealing rebates, work must be completed by a registered contractor. All products and materials must also meet Efficiency Nova Scotia’s technical specifications.

Windows & Doors

Efficiency Nova Scotia offers rebates for window and door upgrades that meet specific efficiency requirements. Replacing old, inefficient windows and doors with ENERGY STAR certified models can help reduce heat loss and drafts during the winter months.

The rebate amount will depend on the U-value and Energy Rating of the new windows or doors. The lower the U-value, the better the insulating ability. ENERGY STAR certified models will have a U-value of 0.22 to 0.31 for most of Canada.

For windows, homeowners can receive between $15 – $30 per window depending on the U-value. The minimum rebate is $50 per home. For patio doors, the rebate is $30 – $100 depending on the U-value and size of the door. The minimum rebate is also $50.

Homeowners must hire a registered contractor to install the new windows and doors. The products must be ENERGY STAR certified and meet the program’s efficiency requirements. The contractor will provide the proper documentation for the rebate application.

Upgrading old windows and doors provides both energy savings and improved home comfort. The Efficiency Nova Scotia rebates make these upgrades more affordable for homeowners looking to improve energy efficiency.

Appliances & Lighting

When it comes to making your home more energy efficient, your appliances and lighting play a major role. Nova Scotia Power offers rebates on ENERGY STAR certified appliances and LED bulbs to help residents upgrade to more efficient options that will save energy and money over time.

Some of the rebates offered for appliances include:

$100 for ENERGY STAR certified clothes washers

$250 for ENERGY STAR certified refrigerators
$100 for ENERGY STAR certified dishwashers
$50 for ENERGY STAR certified room air conditioners

These rebates apply to new appliance purchases and installations in your home. By opting for ENERGY STAR models, you can reduce the energy use of major appliances by 10-50%.

For lighting, LED bulbs use at least 75% less energy and last much longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. Nova Scotia Power offers the following rebates:

$1 for standard LED bulbs (replacing 40-60W incandescent)

$2 for reflector LED bulbs (replacing 65W+ incandescent)

By replacing all of your home’s bulbs with efficient LEDs, you can significantly reduce lighting energy costs over time. The rebates help make the upgrade to LEDs more affordable.

Taking advantage of these rebates for efficient appliances and lighting is an easy way to start making your home more energy efficient and reduce energy bills.

Solar Electricity

Nova Scotia offers rebates for installing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on homes and businesses. The provincial SolarHomes program provides rebates of up to $1 per watt for residential solar systems up to 15 kW. For example, a typical 6 kW system would be eligible for a $6,000 rebate. The rebate amount is based on the installed capacity in watts. Larger commercial solar systems over 15 kW may also qualify for additional federal rebates.

To receive the SolarHomes rebate, you must obtain pre-approval before installation and use a certified solar installer. The home or business must be connected to the electricity grid and meet all applicable electrical codes and permits. Once the solar PV system is operational, an inspection will be conducted before the rebate is issued. There are additional rules and requirements to qualify, so review the program terms and conditions carefully. The rebate application process is competitive and funds are limited, so act fast if interested. Installing solar panels can significantly reduce electricity costs from the grid while also generating clean, renewable power.

Other Programs

Aside from the major rebate and incentive programs offered in Nova Scotia, there are some lesser-known programs worth mentioning:

Low Income Homeowner Service Program – Help for low income homeowners to improve energy efficiency, health & safety of their homes through free home energy assessments, heating system repairs/replacements, draft proofing, insulation and more.

Commercial Custom Program – Rebates for non-standard energy efficiency upgrades for commercial buildings based on calculated energy savings, available on a case-by-case basis.

Municipal Energy Efficiency Partnership Program – Support for municipalities to implement energy management and energy efficiency projects for municipal buildings and facilities.

There are also some region-specific programs, for example the Clean Foundation offers the Solar City Program in Halifax Regional Municipality, helping homeowners install solar hot water systems.

Checking with your local utilities and municipalities can uncover additional programs not mentioned here that may offer rebates or other incentives for improving home energy efficiency.

Rebate Amounts

Nova Scotia Power offers rebates on energy efficient products and upgrades for your home. Here are some of the key rebate amounts available:

Appliances

Energy efficient refrigerators are eligible for a $100 rebate. Front load clothes washers and clothes dryers can receive $100 and $200 rebates respectively.

Windows

High performance windows with an ENERGY STAR rating can get up to $500 back in rebates. There are also rebates up to $500 available for window film and smart thermostats.

Heating and Cooling

Air source heat pumps, ductless mini split heat pumps, cold climate heat pumps, and ground source heat pumps all have rebates ranging from $250 – $1,500 depending on the type and efficiency rating. Smart thermostats are eligible for a $100 rebate as well.

Insulation

Adding insulation to your attic, exterior walls, basement header, or exposed floors can get you rebates between $0.60 – $1.20 per square foot. Air sealing can also receive $100 rebates.

Be sure to check with Nova Scotia Power for full rebate eligibility requirements. Rebate amounts are subject to change.

Conclusion

Nova Scotia offers a variety of energy efficiency rebate programs to help residents reduce energy costs and consumption. The key programs include efficiency upgrades for heating systems, insulation, windows, appliances, and lighting. There are also solar electricity rebates available.

The rebate amounts vary by program but can be significant, often covering 50% or more of the project cost. Heating system upgrades can receive up to $5,000 while insulation projects are eligible for up to $2,400. Smaller rebates of $50-$100 are available for appliances and lighting.

By taking advantage of these rebates and upgrading to more efficient systems, Nova Scotians can save money on energy bills while also reducing environmental impact. The programs aim to make efficiency upgrades affordable and accessible to households across the province.