EnerGuide program for houses coming to an end

If you're planning some energy upgrades to your home you may want to act quickly as the EnerGuide for houses program will soon be ending in Saskatchewan.

Saskatoon homeowner Allen Ballardis planningsome energy upgrades because warm air is escaping from his attic.

"There only seems to be about 6 to 7 inches of insulation," Ballard said."So another foot of insulation should really help with heat loss."

Homeownerscan get grants of up to $5,000energy saving retrofits.

"We'll be spending lots more money than that, but it's a little bit of help,"Ballard said.

Homeowners mustcomplete an evaluationbefore the end of June to be eligible for the program, and the upgrades must be completed by the end of October.

'Time is of the essence. Do not leave this until the last bit of October' Kent Mohn, Sun Ridge Residential

Kent Mohn is with Sun Ridge Residential, a company that does energy evaluations on homes, a key part of the program.

He said his schedule is filling up fast and contractors that do the actual renovations are even busier.

"Time is of the essence at this point," Mohn said. "Do not leave this until the last bit of October.We live in Saskatchewan. Anything can happen in terms of weather and timing."

More than 53,700 Saskatchewan homeowners have already used the Energuide program, which is the highest per capita participation rate in Canada.

The government estimates the environmental impact,in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, is a reduction of 711,963 tonnes of greenhouse gas.