Maintenance and Repairs

April 8, 2025 Published by Golden Horseshoe Chapter - By Thomas Noël

Ontario Launches New Energy Efficiency Program for Windows to Save You Money

From the Volume 23, Spring 2025 issue of the CCI GHC Condo News Magazine

Renovating your townhouse? Good news—Ontario has launched a new rebate initiative to help homeowners and owners of rental units to cut energy costs while improving comfort and home value. The Home Renovation Savings Program, introduced on January 28, 2025, is part of a $10.9 billion, 12-year investment in energy efficiency.

This program offers substantial rebates, including:

• $100 per rough opening for Energy Star-certified windows and doors
• $600 reimbursement for a home energy audit
• Up to $250 for air sealing
• Up to $1,500 for attic insulation

To qualify, participants must complete at least two upgrades and undergo an initial home energy assessment before any work begins. A registered energy advisor will inspect your home and identify energy-saving opportunities. After completing the upgrades and final audit, you’ll receive the $600 rebate to offset the audit costs.

Windows and Doors	Upgrade at a minimum, three window rough openings or one door, or one skylight or rough sliding door rough opening wih ENERGY STAR® certified made	$100 per rough opening
Air Sealing	Achieve 10% or more above the base target on your Renovation Upgrade Report	$250
Attic Insulation	Achieve the target in your Renovation Upgrade Report	$200
	Increase attic insulation to at least R-50 from R-12 or less	$1,500
	Increase attic insulation to at R-50 from greater than R-12 up to R-25	$1,200
	Increase attic insulation to at least R-50 from greater than R-25 up to R-35	$900

Eligibility Highlights:

• Both homeowners and owners of rental units in single-family homes or townhouses can apply
• Multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) and high-rise buildings are not eligible
• Products must be Energy Star Certified and made in Canada

What to Look for in Windows and Doors

Qualified products must meet Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan) standards. Look for the Energy Star sticker, ideally with the “Most Efficient” designation. These top-rated windows have an Energy Rating (ER) of 40 or more, and a U-Factor of ≤ 1.05 metric (0.18 imperial)—translating to lower heating costs and improved indoor comfort.

To qualify, you must upgrade:

• Three (3) or more window rough openings, or
• One (1) door or patio door rough opening

Why Condo Boards Should Pay Attention

For condominium boards and property managers, this is an ideal opportunity to improve building performance and lower utility costs. Coordinating large-scale window and door replacement projects can unlock bulk pricing discounts of 30–40%, which dramatically reduces renovation costs compared to piecemeal replacements. It also helps to prevent inflation costs increases such as construction materials which have increased more than 60% since 2019.

Case Studies:

• PCC 357 at 2199 Burnhamthorpe Rd W, Mississauga replaced in 2024, 176 patio doors and 115 doors in 3 months—saving over $225,000 compared to a phased approach over three years.
• PSCC 879 at 5480 & 5490 Glen Erin Dr, Mississauga replaced in 2023 all their windows in 116 townhouses in 4 months instead of 6 years—saving more than $635,000, plus additional rebates from Enbridge.

These examples show how large-scale retrofits not only save money but also reduce future maintenance, simplify logistics, and improve resident satisfaction.

Why Energy Efficiency Matters

Buildings—residential and commercial—are responsible for a significant share of Canada’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Surprisingly, residential windows alone account for up to 35% of heat loss during the heating season.

Switching to Most Efficient Energy Star windows can reduce a home's total energy consumption by up to 9%, helping Canada cut over 5 megatons of GHGs annually.

For a typical 1,911 sq. ft. townhouse heated with a high-efficiency gas furnace, this can mean $183.20 in annual energy savings (based on 2023 results). Beyond cost savings, new windows enhance comfort, increase property value, and reduce noise.

Act Now: Build a Better Community

Condo board members have a unique opportunity to lead their communities toward greater sustainability and cost-efficiency. By embracing these rebates, your building can become a model of environmental responsibility while delivering long-term financial savings to unit owners.

Encourage fellow board members and residents to act now and buy windows and doors manufactured in Canada. These rebates are first-come, first-served, and with rising demand, funding may not last forever.

Remember, every window replaced is a step closer to a brighter tomorrow!

Sources:
1. Fenestration Canada, 2013 Market Study
2. Report to Parliament under the Energy Efficiency Act (2017–2018), NRCan
3. Paving the Road to 2030 and Beyond, NRCan Market Transformation Road Map

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Thomas Noël is the director of the condominium division for Nordik Windows and Doors, the largest window and door replacement company in Ontario for residential sector, including townhouses and condominium complexes 4 storeys or less. Nordik Windows and Doors is the leader in Canada with the largest amount of Energy Efficient windows available to Canadian consumers.

Thomas Noël sits on the Expert Advisory Council for Windows for the Ministry of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and advised on the launch of the $2.6 billion Canada Greener Homes Grant and the Home Efficiency Rebate Plus program.

Specialized in Condominium Projects Including Townhouses Call us 1-888-677-5343 or contact us at: condos@nordik.com