| Ontario's Home Energy Audit provides rebates to | | | | Typical styrofoam thickness is 2", which would |
| home owners who improve their home in some | | | | get you the $1,800.00 rebate, however the |
| way to reduce energy consumption and waste. | | | | additional 1/2" will not (or rather, should not) run |
| The program provides rebates from $60.00 per | | | | you an additional $1,200.00, which means you will |
| energy-star qualified window, to $1,000.00 for a | | | | actually save money. |
| high efficiency furnace, to $3,000.00 for insulating | | | | For the technically inclined, a total of R-3.8 to R-9 |
| the exterior of your home. Why is the largest | | | | will qualify you for $1,800.00, while an R-value of |
| grant (by category) given to Exterior Wall | | | | 9 or above qualifies for the full $3,000.00 rebate. |
| Insulation? One of the reasons is it can have the | | | | Type 1 Expanded PolyStyrene (the type of white |
| largest impact on keeping the heat inside your | | | | styrofoam EIFS manufacturers carry and specify) |
| home as home owners typically see a 20-30% | | | | is rated at R-3.71(per inch). This means adding 1" |
| reduction in their heating and cooling bills after | | | | of styrofoam qualifies you for no rebate (yes, |
| renovating the exterior of their walls with EIFS | | | | they are serious about that 0.09 of R value |
| (synthetic stucco). | | | | missing), while 2.5" will qualify you for the whole |
| First Thing is First | | | | $3,000.00 (2.5 x 3.71 = 9.275). The other layers of |
| In order to qualify for the rebates, you need to | | | | EIFS do provide some R-value (arguable enough |
| first have someone do the Ontario Home Energy | | | | that 1" would qualify you for the rebate), |
| Audit. This involves contacting the Government's | | | | however the government stipulates that the |
| ecoENERGY program to have an inspector come | | | | R-value is calculated solely on what is added to |
| to your house and evaluate your eligibility. You will | | | | the wall via styrofoam. |
| fall into various categories ranging from not eligible | | | | Plan All Your Retrofits, Then Proceed |
| (because there is nothing that needs to be done), | | | | You want to consider other renovations at the |
| to partial benefits to improve certain aspects, to | | | | same time as your Synthetic Stucco retrofit. If |
| the full grant for adding something that is not | | | | you intend to add Energy Star qualified windows, |
| currently there. The majority of homes do not | | | | they must be installed prior to adding Synthetic |
| have insulation on the exterior of their homes | | | | Stucco so that they can be properly "tied in" to |
| (from the sheating substrate and outward), which | | | | the wall, that is, to prevent moisture intrusion. You |
| makes most home owners eligible for the full | | | | will want to cover these windows while the EIFS |
| $3,000.00 rebate. From the day of the inspection, | | | | is being installed to lessen the chances of them |
| you have exactly 18 months to complete all your | | | | getting dirty. Again, soffits need to be removed |
| retrofits and get the auditor back. | | | | during installation to avoid unsightly gaps at the |
| Get Quotes For an EIFS Retrofit | | | | top of your wall which double as a point for water |
| It may even be a good idea to do this first so | | | | to penetrate. A little bit of planning goes a long |
| you don't waste time trying to find contractors | | | | way in saving you money and head aches. |
| and prices. It is important to get multiple quotes, | | | | Get The Auditor Back |
| from different contractors to get a feel for what | | | | Once everything is finished it's time to have the |
| the price should be. They can be found via the | | | | inspector come back to re-evaluate your home. |
| internet, yellowpages, referrals, or preferably by | | | | You will need to show him copies of the bills with |
| the EIFS manufacturer who will recommend you | | | | the specifications (for example, the EIFS |
| to a few contractors they know that do quality | | | | contractor would specify "2.5" insulation added" on |
| work. Speaking with different contractors will | | | | his invoice), and pictures of the product being |
| open your eyes to aspects others may not | | | | installed may help -- make sure to find out |
| mention, such as decorative items or things you | | | | exactly what the auditor is looking for during the |
| need to consider like temporarily removing your | | | | first visit. Remember also, that you only have 18 |
| soffit. Things that may affect your quotes include: | | | | months from the first inspection to get him back, |
| - Time of year will affect price, which is higher | | | | otherwise you forfeit any claim you have to |
| during the winter and busy season | | | | rebates. You may only do this once (ever!) so |
| - Not requiring a weather barrier (only if going | | | | make sure you do all your retrofits at one time |
| over brick, concrete or CMU) will save money | | | | for the rebates, or be prepared to pay for future |
| - Small portions (such as dormers) often cost | | | | retrofits out of your pocket. |
| extra | | | | Upon verification that a minimum of 2.5" of |
| - Decorative elements such as mouldings and | | | | insulation has been applied to all wall surfaces on |
| cornices cost extra | | | | the exterior of your home, the auditor will check |
| Let's say you understand what your options and | | | | to see if you qualify for any additional rebates for |
| prices are after getting 5 quotes, which do you | | | | retrofits which may have been undertaken, then |
| choose? To start, if one is far below the others, | | | | electronically submit the result to "Natural |
| toss it immediately. Any money you will save will | | | | Resource Canada" and the "Ontario Ministry of |
| come back to bite you down the road, and the | | | | Energy and Infrastructure". From the time your |
| repair can be more expensive than your synthetic | | | | auditor performs the final evaluation, you can |
| stucco retrofit in the first place. Most of the time | | | | expect to wait anywhere from 5-9 weeks for |
| you want to go with quote #3 or #4 in terms of | | | | the audit to be processed another 1-2 weeks for |
| price. Don't forget that you can add decorative | | | | the cheque to arrive. |
| elements (like window sills, quoins, trim) at a later | | | | Don't forget that on top of the rebate, renovating |
| date -- one of the great benefits of EIFS. | | | | your home with Synthetic Stucco increases the |
| Thickness of Styrofoam | | | | value of your home (you recoup up to 88% of |
| Though this will affect the price and is up to your | | | | the renovation cost via increased home value) |
| discretion, a minimum of 2.5" of "Type 1 | | | | and can reduce your heating bill anywhere from |
| Expanded PolyStyrene" (the white styrofoam) is | | | | 20%-30%, saving you over $500 per year. |
| required to qualify for the full $3,000.00 rebate. | | | | |