Gravenhurst Plumbing, Heating & Electric

Geothermal Rebates

With geothermal systems continuing to grow in popularity, new Government incentives are being brought forward to encourage home owners to make the switch to geothermal heating & cooling.  Incentives can easily add up to more than $10,000, so get familiar with them.  It is still uncertain whether the original loop can be reused with new equipment when replacing existing geothermal units. To find the dealer closest to you, please visit our automated dealer locator.

If the original loop can be certified that it was installed according to CSA C488 standard, then it should be acceptable. The question becomes: How do I certify?  We will keep you up to date as more information is available. Below is a list of the current incentives available.

ecoEnergy Rebate – increased by 25% on March 30, 2009
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is offering a new residential energy efficiency assessment service to owners of single family homes including, detached, semi-detached, and low-rise multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) that are no more than three storeys high.  Under the ecoENERGY Retrofit program, property owners can qualify for federal grants by improving the energy efficiency of their homes, and reducing their home’s impact on the environment. You can get up to $4,375 in rebates (increased from $3,500 on March 30, 2009) for Geothermal. Click here for more info!

2009 Year – Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC)
Only available for the 2009 tax year the federal government is offering a Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC).  Under proposed taxation changes, you can claim a non-refundable tax credit on your 2009 income tax return based on eligible expenditures incurred for work performed or goods acquired after January 27, 2009, and before February 1, 2010, in respect of an eligible dwelling. The HRTC applies to eligible expenditures of more than $1,000, but not more than $10,000, resulting in a maximum credit of $1,350 [($10,000 - $1000) x 15%].  Click here for more info!

Ontario Home Energy Audit and Retrofit Rebate Programs
Ontario’s Home energy savings program provides homeowners with up to $150 towards the cost of a home energy audit and up to $10,000 (50 per cent paid by the province and 50 per cent paid by the federal government ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes Program) in combined provincial and federal rebates for retrofits that address energy issues identified in the audit.

To help homeowners save energy, save money and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Ontario government has created the Ontario Home Energy Audit and Retrofit Rebate Programs.

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty has announced a $150 million rebate program.  This rebate program, under the Home Energy Retrofit Program, gives incentives to Ontarians to “go green” at home through:

• A Home Energy Retrofit Program providing up to $5,000 for home energy retrofits. Click here for more info!
• Extending the Retail Sales Tax (RST) rebate on qualifying geothermal equipment to January 1, 2010. Click here for more info!
• Developing a program that helps Ontarians purchase 100% green power
• A 50% rebate up to $150 on the cost of the INITIAL home energy audit cost
• The Go Green and Get Green Program Click here for more info

Cool Savings Rebate

The Ontario Power Authority’s Cool Savings Rebate Program provides you with the opportunity to help do your part to reduce Ontario’s electricity consumption, while saving money. The Ontario Power Authority will rebate up to $550 for the installation of a retrofit EnergyStar geothermal system. Many WaterFurnace units meet the energy requirements. Click here for more info

RST Rebate Program

As part of the 2004 Ontario Budget, the Ontario government expanded the current Retail Sales Tax rebate for solar energy systems installed in residential premises to include:

• Wind energy systems
• Micro hydro-electric energy systems
• Geothermal energy systems
• Click here for more info

Municipal Programs:
Local municipalities have introduced their own incentives.  Be sure to check with your local city or township to stay up to date.

Every Kilowatt Counts – Local Programs
The Ontario Power Authority coordinates the rebates that are available through local utilities. To find your local participating power utility please click here.

Electricity Retrofit Incentive Program – Commercial
The Ontario Power Authority has created an incentive program for businesses looking to replace or upgrade any existing electric technologies. Incentives are available for pre-approved projects that result in a notable reduction in electrical peak demand.  Also, the OPA is providing an incentive of $250 per ton with a minimum cooling Coefficient of Performance (COP) of 3.5 when a Ground Source Heat Pump  is installed.  For more information about how your business can receive incentives for moving to a more energy-efficient option, click here

Federal Geothermal Incentive
The Federal incentive, under the ecoENERGY Program, will give homeowners $3,500 with the following conditions:

• The house must have a pre- and post-retrofit energy audit
• The contractor must verify that the retrofit is according to CSA standard C448
• The equipment must be tested and meet the requirements of CSA standard  C13256-1 for water-to-air geothermal units, or CSA standard C13256-2 for water-to-water geothermal units.

Many WaterFurnace units meet the requirements of CSA standards C13256-1 or C13256-2.

iQ Drive® Humidity Control: 
Too Much of a Good Thing?

One of the favorite features of the iQ Drive air conditioner and heat pump is the system’s ability to manage humidity in the home. The homeowner can select a humidity level between 35% and 70%, and the system will work to maintain humidity within 5% of this set point. It can do this because of how the iQ Drive system operates – almost constantly running at low levels. While many systems remove moisture from the evaporator coil by slowing down the blower, the iQ Drive also monitors evaporator temperature so that the coil will never freeze. After dehumidifying for a set time, the blower periodically speeds up again so that air remains uniformly distributed and well-mixed.

While this is a wonderful feature for many homeowners, it’s important to note that the iQ Drive is not a dehumidifier. It can work to maintain this ideal humidity level, but it won’t always be able to meet that level when conditions are less than ideal – like high humidity on a cool day, or extreme humidity in some parts of the country or in some homes (indoor hot tub, anyone?).

So when you’re selling the iQ Drive system to homeowners, please keep in mind that there is a limit to how much dehumidification an air conditioner or heat pump can do. If the homeowner truly has humidity concerns, he or she should consider an additional dehumidifier to make sure the needs are met. For more info on the iQ Drive system, visit www.iqdrive.net/frigidaire.html.

1. Reduce your energy costs:

Providing you with an unheard of efficiency of up to 400%, the Envision WaterFurnace geothermal system can deliver up to $4 of free earth energy for every $1 of electrical energy used.

2. Heating, cooling and hot water in one unit:

One compact WaterFurnace unit provides heating, central air conditioning and supplemental domestic hot water all in one packaged system.

3. 10-year worry-free warranty:

The 10-year Worry-Free Warranty comes standard with the Envision WaterFurnace unit. This warranty covers the unit and provides you with a worry-free labour allowance. The warranty is with the manufacturer, not the distributor or the installing dealer and regardless of what happens to your dealer, you still have a warranty.

4. Long-lasting technology:

The WaterFurnace reputation for reliability has been earned by using only the highest-quality components, design and workmanship. WaterFurnace has been making geothermal systems for over 20 years.

5. Low-maintenance:

When installed properly, the buried loop will last for generations. And because the WaterFurnace unit is housed indoors, it is protected from the harsh weather conditions, increasing the lifespan of the equipment.

6. Quiet operation:

WaterFurnace systems do not require noisy outdoor units that create unsightly additions to your home’s appearance.

7. Safe operation:

There is no combustion, flames or fumes and no chance of carbon-monoxide poisoning because natural gas, propane and oil are not required to operate a WaterFurnace unit.

8. Reduce your carbon footprint:

Installing a WaterFurnace system can be the environmental equivalent ofplanting 750 trees or removing two cars from the road. No fossil fuel means no harmful emissions or greenhouse gases

9. Save future power plants:

If one in 12 Ontario homes installed a geothermal system, the energy saved would equal the output of three new power plants.

10. Increase the value of your home:

With a high-efficiency rating, the value of your home will go up. ENERGY STAR qualified new homes are approximately 30 per cent more energy efficient than those built to minimum building code standards. The increased efficiency of these homes translates into reduced energy costs for homeowners.