Rebates that start with an advisor, a calculation or a test
These cards are examples, not a full list. Each one names the program page we read. Rules change, so always check the program page before you book anyone.
Ontario Home Renovation Savings: assessment stream
The pre-audit comes before any work. You need at least two qualified upgrades and a post-audit by December 31, 2026. A registered energy advisor at an authorized service organization does both audits.
BC Hydro heat pump rebate: the load calculation
For the full amount, the heat pump must meet 100% of your heating at -5 C, shown by a CSA F280 heat load calculation. The calculation decides which size of heat pump can qualify.
Efficiency Manitoba heat pump rebate: the F280 bonus
Efficiency Manitoba pays the supplier a $100 bonus when the application includes an F280 heat load calculation. The bonus goes to the supplier, not to you, but it shows the calculation is part of the program.
takeCHARGE air sealing (Newfoundland and Labrador): blower door tests
For homes that already exist, you need a blower door test before and after the work. The rebate depends on how much the leaks drop: $200 at 10%, $475 at 20% and $750 at 30% or more.
What an energy advisor does
A registered energy advisor is trained and licensed to evaluate how your home uses energy. In Canada you book through a service organization that Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) lists, and the organization sends an advisor to your home. NRCan says the two evaluations, before and after your upgrades, cost $600 to $1,000 on average, depending on the provider and the province. NRCan also says service organizations do not sell door to door or by unsolicited calls or emails. If someone knocks and says they are from an energy program, check them against the list first.
An advisor is not an installer. The advisor does not sell you a heat pump or a window. That is why many programs ask for one: they want an outside person to measure the home before the money is spent.
What an EnerGuide evaluation is
An EnerGuide evaluation is the visit an advisor makes to rate your home. NRCan says the advisor usually starts outside and works inside. The advisor confirms how to reach the attic, the basement or crawl space and the heating equipment, and collects data on the house. A blower door is used to measure how airtight the home is. The advisor then enters the data into energy simulation software, which calculates your EnerGuide rating.
You get the rating and a report that helps you pick upgrades. The idea is to spend money in the right order. If the report shows that the attic is the biggest leak, you fix the attic before you buy a bigger furnace.
Some programs ask for a second evaluation after the upgrades. If you join one of those, keep your paid invoices and receipts.
How to get ready for the visit
NRCan's preparation page gives a short list. The fan in a blower door test can disturb gas appliances, so fuel-fired heating must be turned down or off, and a fuel-fired water heater must be turned down. Do not burn wood or other solid fuel during the evaluation, and clear ashes beforehand. Make sure the advisor can reach the attic, the basement or crawl space and the mechanical room. The advisor puts the equipment back to its normal settings at the end of the test.
Why a heat load calculation matters
A heat load calculation estimates how much heat your home loses on a cold day, so the heat pump you pick can keep up. The standard is called CSA F280. BC Hydro's rule shows why it matters. To get the full heat pump rebate, the unit must meet 100% of your heating at -5 C, which BC Hydro defines as keeping the home at 22 C at -5 C or colder. Without the calculation, nobody can show that a unit does that. A unit that is too small for the home may not qualify.
The calculation depends on your house: the insulation, the windows, how leaky the walls are and how big each room is. An advisor who visits can look at those things. A calculation done without seeing the home has to rely on what you tell the company, so ask whether the quote is based on a visit. We have not found a program page that says a visit is required, so treat this as a question to ask, not a rule.
What the site visit and blower door test add
The site visit is where the advisor checks the insulation, the windows, the heating system and the age of the house. The blower door test puts a number on leaks. That number matters for money in some places. Newfoundland and Labrador's air sealing rebate pays by how much your leakage falls between a test before the work and a test after. If nobody measures the first number, there is nothing to compare.
When to call an advisor
Call before you sign a contract or let anyone start work. Rebate rules often say which step comes first, and they can be strict. Ontario's assessment stream is the clearest example we have read: the pre-audit has to happen before any work.
You can call an advisor at the planning stage too. If you are not sure whether to replace the furnace, add insulation or fix windows first, the evaluation report helps you decide. Then take the report to two or three installers and ask for quotes against the same list of upgrades.
What advisors do not do
An advisor does not apply for the rebate for you in every program, and does not promise a result. Some programs also have other rules, such as an approved installer or a product list. In BC, for example, the heat pump installer must be a member of the Heat Pump Contractor Network. Read the program page, then ask the advisor what their evaluation covers.
How to book an advisor
- Read the program page for the rebate you want. Note whether it asks for an evaluation, a calculation or a test first.
- Find a registered service organization on NRCan's list, or use the energy advisors directory to see who serves your city.
- Book the evaluation. Ask what it includes, what it costs and whether it counts toward your program's rules.
- Keep the report. Ask installers to quote against the upgrades in it.
- Do not start work until the program's first step is done. Keep every invoice and receipt for the second evaluation and the rebate form.
More for Energy advisors homes
- Energy advisors home rebates: every program in one place
- Registered energy advisors, by city: who serves your area, from NRCan's own list
- Ontario rebates: the Home Renovation Savings streams in one place
- British Columbia rebates: BC Hydro, FortisBC and CleanBC programs
- Canada rebate calculator: see which programs fit your home
Common questions
Do I need an energy advisor for every rebate?
No. Many rebates only need an invoice from a qualified installer. Some programs, such as Ontario's assessment stream, need an advisor to audit before and after. Read the program page first.
How much does an EnerGuide evaluation cost?
NRCan says the two evaluations together, before and after upgrades, cost $600 to $1,000 on average. The price depends on the provider and the province, and it is typically paid after the service.
What is a blower door test?
It is a fan placed in a doorway that measures how airtight your home is. NRCan says fuel-fired heating must be turned down or off during the test, and you should not burn wood or other solid fuel.
What is a heat load calculation?
It estimates how much heat your home loses, so a heat pump can be sized to keep up. BC Hydro asks for a CSA F280 calculation for its full heat pump rebate.
Is an energy advisor the same as an installer?
No. An advisor evaluates your home and writes a report. An installer sells and installs equipment. Some programs ask for one, some for the other, and some for both.
How do I know the person at my door is a real advisor?
NRCan says service organizations do not sell door to door or by unsolicited calls or emails. Book through the NRCan list and ask for the advisor's registration.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 20, 2026: NRCan: find a service organization for existing homes, NRCan: prepare for your EnerGuide home evaluation, NRCan: EnerGuide home evaluations, BC Hydro: renovating your heating system, takeCHARGE air sealing rebate.