Do the Greener Homes rebate funds ever run out before the end of the year?

Yes, the Canada Greener Homes Grant funding can run out before the end of the program year, and this has happened in previous years when demand exceeded the allocated budget.

The federal government sets aside a specific amount of funding each year for the Greener Homes Grant program. When applications reach the funding limit, new applications are typically placed on a waitlist or the program temporarily stops accepting new applications until the next fiscal year's funding becomes available. This usually happens on a first-come, first-served basis based on when complete applications are submitted.

In Ottawa's market, we've seen periods where homeowners had to wait several months for funding to become available again. The program has been popular because it offers up to $5,000 for eligible home energy upgrades, including window and door replacements that meet ENERGY STAR requirements (U-factor of 1.22 or lower for windows).

The timing varies each year depending on uptake and federal budget allocations. Typically, funding is most constrained in late fall and early winter when homeowners rush to complete projects before year-end. Spring and early summer usually have better funding availability as new fiscal year budgets are released.

For window and door projects in Ottawa, it's smart to start the pre-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation early in the year if you're planning upgrades. The evaluation must be completed before any work begins, and there can be waiting periods for both the initial assessment and the post-retrofit verification.

If you're considering energy-efficient window replacement this year, getting your EnerGuide evaluation scheduled sooner rather than later helps ensure you can access the rebate funding when it's available.