This morning Bruce Hanson the energy advisor from Building Insight came back to do the follow-up assessment for our ecoENERGY retrofit grant. We expect to receive about $4,000 in grants from the federal and provincial government for the improvements we have made to the house.
We’ve come to that conclusion based on:
- Upgrading all of the windows and doors
- Installing a high-efficiency boiler
- Insulating approximately 40% of the house
Within a couple of weeks Bruce’s report will be sent to us detailing the grant we will receive and the home energy audit results. He has expressed to us that our estimate should be in the right ballpark.
Doing this ecoENERGY assessment is good for two reasons:
- Obviously the $$
- An energy advisor is very knowledgeable at helping you understand how to make your home more energy efficient. Bruce took me around the house and showed me all of the areas where I could make further improvements in the efficiency of the house. He showed me areas that I never would have known about.
6 responses so far ↓
1 Pip // Dec 9, 2008 at 6:38 am
What sorts of things did he suggest that you hadn’t thought of? Our place is super inefficient at the moment, so we’re always on the look out for energy saving tips!
2 Dan Bortolotti // Dec 9, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Hi Kirk and Anke,
I am a journalist working on a story for Financial Post Magazine and would love to talk to you about your reno experiences. If you’d be up for that, would you mind dropping me an email at dan@danbortolotti.com? Many thanks, and looking forward to hearing from you.
Cheers, Dan
3 anke // Dec 10, 2008 at 12:28 am
Hi Pip
As part of the assessment the advisor plugs in a high powered fan on your front door and puts it on reverse. This sucks out the air from the house. It shows all of the areas in your house that are leaking air.
Our biggest area is our second floor fireplace that does not have a working damper. This was oozing air and showing how much heat is lost.
As well the basement headers leak a lot of air, as does the plumbing stack.
All in all it was a really useful and enlightening exercise.
4 anke // Dec 10, 2008 at 12:30 am
Hi Dan
Thanks for your offer. If our experiences can fit into your story that would be great. We’ll email the address you mention.
5 Alex Melconian // Mar 25, 2009 at 9:29 pm
Hi, I am looking for Bruce’s number. He was my EcoEnergy inspector as well. If you have it, please email me.
Thank you.
6 anke // Mar 26, 2009 at 11:18 am
Hi there Alex
We do not have his direct line, sorry. My suggestion is to use Building Insight’s 1-800# listed on their website.
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