Industry Insight
Our Economy and Environment in the Era of COVID-19
A 2020 look at home energy retrofits and the green economy, with a note on what is available now.
A 2020 look at home energy retrofits and the green economy, with a note on what is available now.
Originally published in December 2020 and kept as a dated snapshot. The programs described here reflect announcements made at that time and may have changed or ended.
The pandemic forced governments, businesses and families to rethink how the economy and the environment fit together. For many Ontario homeowners, time spent at home also highlighted energy use, comfort and household costs. This article looks at how home energy retrofits and a green economy were being discussed during that period.
Buildings are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada, and the Government of Ontario and the federal government have both pointed to retrofits as a way to cut emissions while supporting affordability. In 2018, an estimated 436,000 jobs were in the energy efficiency sector alone. Adapting to the climate crisis means changing how we heat, cool and power our homes.
Beginning December 1, 2020, the federal government planned to provide homeowners with $2.6 billion over several years, supporting up to 700,000 grants of roughly $5,000 each for energy-efficient home upgrades. Free EnerGuide energy assessments were part of the plan, along with additional energy auditors being hired and trained. The government also planned a low-cost loan program tied to energy audits to make financing more accessible for homeowners and landlords.
Update (2026): The Canada Greener Homes Grant is closed to new applicants as of January 2024. For up-to-date programs, see our solar incentives page.
A green economy begins with ethical responsibility and long-term economic development, creating opportunities for future generations. When we invest in a clean, healthy economy, we invest in our environment and our health. Air pollution costs local economies billions of dollars every year through healthcare costs and lost work when people, or their loved ones, fall ill. Pollution affects children, adults and seniors alike.
Solar is one practical way for households and businesses to take part. A rooftop system can reduce reliance on grid electricity and put your own property to work producing clean power.
Policy debates like these can feel distant, but one thing is concrete: Ontario households and businesses can generate clean electricity on their own property today. Rooftop solar reduces how much power you buy from the grid, and a battery can add backup protection. Terawatt Solar designs and installs residential solar and commercial solar systems across the GTA with our own ESA-licensed crews. To see what is available now, visit our incentives page, then book a free site assessment to find out what solar could do for your property.
