Frequently Asked Questions

An energy assessment is a detailed evaluation of a building's energy use. It identifies inefficiencies and recommends improvements to enhance energy efficiency, reduce costs, and lower environmental impact.

A home energy assessment can help you understand how your home currently uses energy and identify upgrades to help improve its energy efficiency. We will assess your home from basement to attic. The assessment will yield an EnerGuide rating for your home and energy-efficiency report to help you make decisions about possible upgrades.

• Cost Savings: Identifies energy waste, leading to lower utility bills.

• Environmental Benefits: Reduces carbon footprint by improving energy efficiency.

• Compliance: Ensures adherence to energy regulations and standards.

• Energy Usage Analysis: Breakdown of current energy consumption.

• Inefficiency Identification: Highlights areas of energy waste.

• Recommendations: Specific actions to improve efficiency.

• Energy Savings Estimates: Impact of proposed changes.

• Action Plan: Prioritized steps for implementation.

An initial home energy assessment takes about two hours. A follow-up home energy assessment takes about an hour.

• All our staff are Certified Professionals with Natural Resources Canada as required. Additionally we have Energy auditors and engineers with specialized training and tools.
  

• Insufficient Insulation: Leads to heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer.

• Inefficient Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Systems: Inefficient heating and cooling.

• Outdated or defective windows or doors

• Air Leaks: Gaps in windows, doors, and walls.

• Blower Doors: Measure air leakage.

• Infrared Cameras: Detect thermal irregularities.

• Energy Meters: Monitor electricity usage.

• Software: For energy modeling and analysis.

Yes: By identifying and addressing inefficiencies, energy assessments can lead to significant cost savings in perpetuity.

• Initial Consultation: Discuss goals and scope.

• On-Site Inspection: Conduct a thorough walkthrough.

• Analysis: Identify inefficiencies and potential improvements.

• Report Preparation: Document findings and recommendations.

• Implementation: Execute recommended improvements.

In an effort to make it accessible to homeowners of all shapes and sizes without compromising quality we offer pricing based on size of the home.

Additionally we price match any competitor with respectable Google reviews.

To offset the cost of the assessments, you will receive a $600 rebate if eligible for the Home Renovation Savings Program.

Energy rebates are financial incentives offered by governments or utilities to encourage energy-efficient upgrades, such as installing energy-saving appliances or improving home insulation.

• Upfront Cost Reduction: Lower the initial investment in energy-efficient products.

• Long-Term Savings: Reduced energy consumption leads to lower utility bills.

• Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Systems: High-efficiency heating and cooling units or more specifically heat pumps.

• Insulation: Improved insulation throughout home.

• Windows: Energy-efficient windows and doors.

• Renewable Energy: Solar panels, wind turbines.

• Air Sealing improvements

• Heat Pump Hot Water Heaters

Contact us to determine what rebates or incentives are available in your area and the qualifications for eligibility.

• The Home Renovation Savings Program is does not have any income restrictions.

• Please contact us to learn more about other program and their respective requirements.

• We submit your application upon booking the service

• We complete the required energy assessment and provide reports outlining the energy usage characteristics, prioritized recommendations to reduce consumption and implications of each recommendation.

• Complete two or more of the recommended upgrades

• Inform us you have completed the upgrades prompting us to review the new efficiency characteristics of the home and submit a claim on your behalf for the maximum available rebate.

• Approval and Disbursement: Wait for approval and receive the rebate.

Yes. Rebates can often be combined with other programs. Toronto homeowners, for example, can claim rebates and finance the work through the Toronto Home Energy Loan Program. Contact us for details on your home, and we will help you get the most from every incentive available.

Provincial Government Initiative: Offers rebates for energy-efficient home improvements.

The Home Renovation Savings (HRS) Program in Ontario launched on January 28, 2025, and is intended to help homeowners save money on energy costs.

Program benefits:

• Homeowners can receive rebates of up to 30% on energy-efficient home renovations. 

• Rebates are paid within 30 to 60 days of an approved application. 

• The program helps homeowners make energy-efficient upgrades to their homes. 

• The program helps homeowners reduce their energy use and improve their home comfort. 

Eligible upgrades: 

• New windows and doors

• Insulation

• Air sealing

• Smart thermostats

• Heat pumps

• Rooftop solar panels

• Battery storage systems

Yes.

You are able to participate in the program for each property you own provided it is heated using Enbridge Natural gas at the time of the pre-assessment OR post-assessment.

The program will continue through 2030.

Program duration:

• The program is part of the 2025-2027 Electricity Demand Side Management Program Plan. 

• The program will expand in 2025 to include rebates for energy efficient appliances, such as refrigerators and freezers. 

The Next Level Consulting is licensed with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) to deliver all active incentive programs.

We work with Amerispec as required for the Home Renovation Savings Program as mandated by Enbridge.

We will send an energy advisor registered with NRCan to complete your home energy assessments and support you every step of the way.

• Heat Pump Water Heaters

• Windows/Doors

• insulation (attic, wall, foundation and exposed floor)

• Air sealing

You must install at least two of these upgrades to qualify for rebates.

Some upgrades, like air sealing, can be tackled with a do-it-yourself approach (minimum air change rate targets are required for air sealing to be counted as an upgrade). For more complex projects, such as installing new windows or a heat pump water heater or adding insulation, you must hire a professional contractor.

Yes. If you have previously participated in another Enbridge Gas or Save on Energy program including, but not limited to, the Home Efficiency Rebate Plus (HER+) or Home Efficiency Rebate (HER) programs, you may participate in this program, provided that you install different energy-saving upgrades for which you previously received a rebate.

For example, if you replaced windows and received a rebate under the Home Efficiency Rebate Plus (HER+) program, then you will not be eligible to also receive a rebate under this program for the same replacement windows.

You’ll receive your rebate after a follow-up home energy assessment has been completed.

We expedite the process to minimize lead times.

No. The Canada Greener Homes Loan is now closed to new applications. Toronto homeowners can pair these rebates with the Toronto Home Energy Loan Program instead.

No. The federal Canada Greener Homes Loan is closed to new applications because its funding is fully committed. If you already have a loan, contact the program directly about your file. Toronto homeowners can now finance upgrades through the Toronto Home Energy Loan Program.

The Toronto Home Energy Loan Program offers fixed-rate loans of up to $125,000 for home energy upgrades, repaid through your property tax bill. Terms run from 5 to 20 years, and you can pay off the balance at any time.

Owners of detached, semi-detached, row and duplex homes, triplexes and other low-rise residential buildings of up to three storeys and six units in Toronto. All owners on title must agree, and a mortgage lender must give written consent.

Yes. You can use the loan to pay for upgrades and still claim rebates through the Home Renovation Savings Program. Both programs rely on a home energy assessment, which Next Level Consulting completes for you.

Book a home energy assessment with Next Level Consulting. We identify the upgrades that qualify, help you prepare the loan funding request and rebate paperwork, and complete the follow-up assessment once the work is done. Call 416-402-5230 or contact us.