Overview
Looking to improve your home’s energy efficiency and save on energy bills? Better Homes Lanark offers low-interest loans for single-family homeowners within Lanark County to complete deep home energy retrofits.
You can access funding for home retrofit measures such as:
- Thermal envelope upgrades (e.g., insulation, air sealing, and weather stripping)
- Mechanical system upgrades (e.g., space heating, cooling and ventilation, water heating)
- Windows, doors, and skylight improvements
- Upgrades to a home’s electrical panel if necessary
- Renewable energy, energy storage, and electric vehicle chargers
- Climate adaptation measures (e.g., sump pumps, basement waterproofing, back-up generators)
- Water efficiency improvements (e.g., low-flow toilets, hot water circulation pump and system)
We know home energy upgrades can be complex, which is why Better Homes Lanark offers a free Retrofit Coach service to all applicants. The Retrofit Coach will guide you through the entire process, ensuring you’re well informed and making the best decisions for your specific situation.
| Applicant Eligibility |
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Participating in the program is your choice. Here’s what makes you eligible:
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| Available Funding |
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As a Better Homes Lanark participant, you may be eligible for:
*Funding through combined grants and loans cannot exceed $40,000. You can stack existing funding programs onto Better Homes Lanark, allowing you to achieve even greater home energy efficiency and cost savings. The Retrofit Coach can help you identify other funding programs you may be eligible for. |
| Application Process |
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Step 1: Submit a Pre-Application Form to confirm your eligibility. Step 2: Receive your notice of eligibility. Step 3: Complete a pre-retrofit EnerGuide assessment through a certified NRCan Energy Advisor Step 4: Meet with the Retrofit Coach to review your EnerGuide assessment and decide on the most effective home improvements Step 5: Collect your quotes and submit a Funding Request Form Step 6: Enter a Property Owner Agreement with your municipality and receive your initial disbursement Step 7: Retrofit your home! Step 8: Complete a post-retrofit EnerGuide assessment once the retrofits are complete Step 9: Submit a Project Completion Report Step 10: Receive your final disbursement Step 11: Begin your repayment through your property tax bill |
| Contact Us |
| For more information, email betterhomeslanark@lanarkcounty.ca or call us at 613-267-4200, extension 3105. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can't find what you are looking for? For further information, email betterhomeslanark@lanarkcounty.ca or call us at 613-267-4200, extension 3105.
| Does my home qualify? |
To qualify:
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| Can I receive funding for upgrades completed before receiving program approval? |
| No, any upgrades that are completed before receiving a fully executed Property Owner Agreement will not be eligible to receive funding. |
| When can I start completing improvements? |
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To receive funding through Better Homes Lanark, you cannot complete any improvements before receiving a fully executed Property Owner Agreement. |
| Can I apply for other funding programs in addition to Better Homes Lanark? |
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Yes, Better Homes Lanark participants are encouraged to apply to other funding programs to support the cost of their deep energy retrofits. The Retrofit Coach will help you find other funding programs you might be eligible for. Any other funding received or expected to be received by the applicant must be indicated in the Funding Request Form. |
| Can I apply to the Better Homes Lanark Program twice? |
| Yes, you can apply to the Better Homes Lanark program twice as long as you are applying for a different single-family home that you own and you meet all program eligibility requirements. |
| How long will it take for my application to be reviewed? |
| It will take approximately two weeks to review your application. Once you submit your application form, the County will contact your municipality to review your tax payment history to ensure all property tax, utility bills, and other payments made to the municipality over the last 5 years have been paid promptly. |
| How long do I have to complete my retrofit project? |
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You have one year to complete your retrofit project from the time you receive your notice of eligibility. |
| How do I receive the loan? |
| When completing your Funding Request Form, you can request an initial loan disbursement of either 30% or 50% of your funding request to help with contractor deposits and other upfront costs. You will receive this initial deposit upon receiving a fully executed Property Owner Agreement. The remainder of your loan will be disbursed after your final Project Completion Report has been submitted and approved. |
| How do I repay the loan? |
| Your loan will appear as a special charge on your property tax bills received through your municipality. To participate in the program, you will be required to enroll in your municipality’s Pre-Authoritzed Property Tax Payment Program |
| What does it mean that the loan is attached to my property? |
| The Better Homes Lanark loan will be attached to your property through a special charge that gets added to your property tax bill. The special is associated to the property, not the owner. This means that if you sell your home, the loan and the energy savings, transfer to the new owner. This lowers the risk of investing in upgrades, even if you don’t plan to stay long-term. You benefit from the energy savings while you live there, and the new owner takes over the payments when you move. |
| How long to I have to repay my loan? |
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Applicants can select a payment term of 5, 10, 15, or 20 years when completing their Funding Request Form. |
| Can I repay my loan early? |
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Yes, you can choose to pay off the remainder of your loan in one lump sum at any time without penalty. |
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What is the interest rate of the loan? |
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The Better Homes Lanark interest rate is fixed at 2.75%. |
Green Municipal Fund
This project was carried out with assistance from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' Green Municipal Fund, an endowment created by the Government of Canada.
Ce projet a été réalisé grâce au soutien financier du Fonds municipal vert, une dotation du gouvernement du Canada à la Fédération canadienne des municipalités.
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