Guelph program provides homeowners with no-interest loans for energy efficient upgrades

A new program in Guelph will help residential property owners pay for energy efficient upgrades to their properties.

The Greener Homes Program will provide zero-interest loans of up to $50,000 to people who qualify.

The city says some of the projects that would be considered under the program include: solar panel installations, insulation, window and door repair or replacement, heat pump installations and smart thermostats.

There is also a grant of up to $15,000 for low-income applicants to install air source heat pumps.

Bryan Ho-Yan, the city's manager of corporate energy and climate change, says the goal is to "help the community reduce emissions in an affordable way."

"If each household participates in this, they're taking real action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and playing their part," he said.

Guelph is part ofRace To Zero, a United Nations campaign that mobilizesbusinesses, cities, regionsand investors to become zero carbon by 2050.

Ho-Yan says the city's own goal is to reduce emissions from what it was in 2018 by 63 per cent by 2030.

Similar program in the works for Waterloo region

The Region of Waterloo is working on a similar program named RetrofitWR to support homeowners with upfront costs of deep retrofits and renewable installations.

With funding from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Reep Green Solutions brought together a working group from area municipalities, local utilities, Conestoga Collegeand the community group ClimateActionWR to explore financing options in the Waterloo region.

Mary Jane Patterson, the executive director of Reep Green Solutions, says they recognize energy efficient upgrades are a capital expense, which can be daunting for homeowners.

"Those things do cost money, so some people will find it more supportive to have a loan. It helps to spread the expense over a longer time period and they will be saving money on their energy bills to help pay back that loan," Patterson said.

Patterson says that while the initial design has been submitted, they still require approval and funding from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to implement the program.

"We hope to offer it in the next year or two," she said.