On Monday, the Canadian government announced a $10 million plan to train 2,000 energy advisors across the country to help homeowners make energy-efficient improvements to their homes.
The Honourable Seamus O’Regan Jr., Minister of Natural Resources, and the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, launched a call for proposals.
The energy advisors will support the Canada Greener Homes Grant, a plan to provide as many as 700,000 grants of up to $5,000 each. Homeowners will be assisted by an EnerGuide evaluation which will help consumers identify retrofits that will boost energy efficiency.
“Improving the energy efficiency of our homes is good for our wallets, good for the economy, and good for the planet,” said The Honourable Seamus O’Regan Jr., Minister of Natural Resources.
As well, the Canadian government says the initiative also provides the opportunity to build an energy efficiency workforce that more closely reflects Canada’s population. According to a press release, today’s call for proposals underscores the need for diversity and inclusion by specifically targeting under-represented groups such as women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2 communities, and racialized Canadians.
The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion said “This investment takes an inclusive approach in helping us get closer to our climate goals and ensuring that all Canadians have access to the skills training they need to succeed in the labour market.”
New energy advisors will help meet demand for and provide access to timely EnerGuide evaluations for all Canadians, regardless of location. They will help Canadians make changes to their homes that deliver the greatest return for their investment with advice tailored to their specific situations.
Proposals must be received by July 8, 2021 and Natural Resources Canada will schedule webinars with potential applicants to answer any questions and provide additional support. Canadians with limited internet access can contact the dedicated call centre line at 1-833-674-8282.
According to the International Energy Agency, energy efficiency measures could get the world one-third of the way toward its Paris 2030 targets and help us reach net-zero emissions by 2050. With buildings, including our homes, accounting for 18 percent of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions, retrofitting existing homes — with the help of highly trained energy advisors — is one of the most effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Greener Homes Initiative is available to homeowners retroactive to December 1, 2020. The Liberal government encourages Canadians to take advantage of existing rebates now being offered by other levels of government and utilities.
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