The Carbon Levy was introduced to encourage Albertans to consume less energy, and emit less greenhouse gasses. Yes, you are being taxed for this, but whether you’re against it or all for it, you may as well take advantage of it. The funds raised by this levy will be used to pay for initiatives that reduce emissions and reduce carbon footprints.
Want to take advantage of the Carbon Tax? We’ve outlined some of the home improvements you can make that will make your home more energy efficient, and that are offered under the rebates program for Albertans. Keep in mind that these improvements will also reduce your utility bills, saving you money from month to month.
Installing Energy Efficient Windows
Triple Pane, Energy Efficient Windows
Windows are one of homes’ biggest weaknesses when it comes to heat loss and there are a variety of factors that play a role in this. The material the window frames are made out of, how air tight the windows are, and how well of a vapour barrier they serve to be, can all affect your home’s performance.
By replacing your run-of-the-mill windows with Energy Star® certified windows, you can reduce heat loss in your home by up to 25%. [1]Imagine saving 25% on your heating bill. Other benefits include great sound attenuation, ie. less road noise from outside, and an increase in the value of your home.
What rebates are available for windows?
By installing Energy Star® triple pane, low-e, argon windows in your home, you can receive up to $1500 in rebates. For more info, click here.
Install a Tankless Water Heater
A tankless water heater is exactly that. A water heater that does not feature a storage tank that is constantly using energy to stay hot. When you run hot water from a tankless water heater, water is being heated on demand. Energy Star® estimates that these water heaters can be 8-34% more efficient than your conventional system. This can translate to savings of $100 or more per year.[2]
Tankless water heaters also take up much less space, and are built to last more than 5-10 years longer than the conventional hot water system. If you’re in the market for a new hot water heater, you now know what you need.
What rebates are available for Tankless Water Heaters?
Rebates of up to $1000 are available for the installation of new Energy Star® tankless water heaters. For more info, click here.
Install a Drain Water Heat Recovery System (DWHR)
Want to reduce the energy you’re using to heat your water even more? Then consider installing a Drain Water Heat Recovery System. These systems are designed to capture heat from drain water that would
otherwise be wasted, which will in turn reduce the energy used to heat your water. They require no maintenance, and operate at no added cost to the homeowner.
Hot water down the drain, is money down the drain. Drain Water Heat Recovery systems will capture between 31.5% and 72.2% of hot water that would otherwise be wasted.[3]
What rebates are available under the Carbon Tax program?
By installing a Drain Water Heat Recovery system, you’ll be eligible for a rebate of up to $500. For more info, click here.
How DWHR Works
Upgrade Your Insulation
Last, but certainly not least, rebates are available for upgrading the insulation in your home. Not only will this drastically increase your home’s energy performance, it will also increase its comfort. You’ll no longer have to worry about cold basements and/or cold floors.
There are a variety of benefits of having great insulation. Better home performance, of course, but also less thermal bridging resulting in less condensation resulting in no mould. Increasing the insulation and air tightness of your home will also greatly increase sound attenuation. In a well-insulated home, you can block out the sounds of cars passing by, winds howling outside, and your neighbour’s lawn mower firing up at 7am on a Saturday morning.
What rebates are available?
Insulation has the biggest rebate value to offer, with rebates of up to $3500 available.
To Conclude…
All of the above improvements are partially or fully subsidized by the Energy Efficiency Alberta program and they will all make for a healthier, more comfortable home. So again, whether you’re against the Carbon Tax or all for it, it’s here, and you may as well take advantage of it.
Greener Homes Ltd. is redefining the meaning of energy efficient GREEN housing. Greener Homes prides itself in using high performance products and sustainable building practices to reduce the depletion of our resources. Each new home and renovation is designed to an exacting standard of absolute quality and state of the art efficiency, taking into account details such as passive solar gains and energy consumption. We don’t cut corners when it comes to air quality and the comfort of your home. Click here to see some of our homes’ features, that make them more sustainable and energy efficient.
Have a question about home efficiency? Contact us!
Sources:
[1]https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/products/categories/fenestration/13739
[2]https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/water-heating/tankless-or-demand-type-water-heaters
[3]https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/efficiency/housing/home-improvements/12356