The City of Toronto’s Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) is now available to homeowners in all areas of the city. Since its official launch in January 2014, the program had been offered previously in select, pilot neighbourhoods.

“The Home Energy Loan Program has helped many homeowners to make their homes more energy efficient and we are pleased to now offer this program to homeowners all across Toronto,” said Councillor Michelle Berardinetti (Ward 35 Scarborough Southwest), Chair of the Parks and Environment Committee.

Through the program, qualifying homeowners can apply for a low-interest loan from the City for energy-efficient improvements to their home. The loan is then repaid via monthly instalments on the homeowner’s property tax bill. Eligible properties include detached, semi-detached and row houses. Through this three-year pilot program, $10 million of funding is available to support improvements such as upgrading to a high-efficiency furnace, insulation upgrades, and energy-efficient windows and doors.

The City has received more than 230 applications to date and has provided close to $1 million in funding for homeowners.

Zdravko Jeremic, who received a HELP loan in 2014, said “We wanted to increase the comfort of our drafty, 100-year-old home while saving on energy costs. As new homeowners, we were not sure where to begin. We heard about HELP and it was the perfect solution – a structured program to guide us through the improvements along with the cash to fund it. As a result of our energy improvements, our home is warm and comfortable, and we increased the energy efficiency of our home by 31 per cent, while substantially reducing our energy use and monthly bills.”

The City of Toronto established the HELP pilot as a part of its commitment to achieving an 80 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2050. Buildings, including homes, account for about 44 per cent of the greenhouse gas emissions.

Anh Tuan