YOUR ECO-FRIENDLY HOME RENOVATION COULD SAVE YOU THOUSANDS – RÉNOVERT

Did you know the Rénovert tax credit is available for the 2016 and 2017 tax years? If you’ve had some “green” renovations this year, here’s what you need to know.

Over the past few weeks we’ve been surprised to learn that very few of our customers are aware of one of the most exciting news for homeowners to emerge this year.

Recently, Revenu Québec opened up a generous tax credit to encourage its citizens to “go green” when they renovate their homes. The credit is good for up to $10,000, and makes eco-friendly investment in your home more attractive than ever. Just be sure you understand how it works:

Rénovert Tax Credit Basics

First and foremost, it’s important to recognize that the credit is for renovations only, not new construction. But even if your home is relatively new, you may still be able to claim the credit. As long as the “initial” construction of your home was completed before 2016, that home may qualify.

Here are a few more things you’ll need to know about claiming the tax credit:

The Dwelling

You must own or co-own the dwelling and it must be Québec. Plus, it must be either your principle residence or a winterized cottage you normally occupy. That may include:

• a condo
• a row house
• a mobile home
• a duplex or triplex
• a single-family detached house
• a semi-detached house

 

The Grid

The dwelling must be hooked up to the grid. That includes electrical and some combination of:

• a waterworks
• sewer
• septic tank
• artesian well

If you’re not sure whether you or your home qualifies for a tax credit, someone from our team can help. We’re on the road throughout Montreal.

 

The Contractor

The work for which you claim the credit must have been completed by a contractor who is established in Québec as well as licensed. The contractor cannot be the owner or spouse of the person claiming the credit.

 

The Work

Eco-friendly work done must be under contract between March 17, 2016 and April 1, 2017.

 

The Credit

You may claim 20% of eligible expenses paid between March 17, 2016 and October 1, 2017, over $2,500 and up to $10,000.

 

Examples

Here are a few examples of eco-friendly renovation projects that qualify for the Rénovert tax credit:

• A living roof
• Installation of ENERGY STAR doors, windows, or skylights
• Water-proofing your foundation
• Insulating your roof, walls, foundation, and exposed floors
• Switching from oil to a qualified natural gas or propane system
• Switching to central AC (from window units)
• Decontamination of soil that’s been spoiled by fuel oil
• Installation of solar panels

 

There are dozens of other ways to qualify for the Rénovert tax credit this year and next. It’s an exciting proposition for homeowners, as well as a strong argument for “going green” on your home renovations. Want to learn more? We can help –  contact us online or give us a call: +1 (514) 865-6767.

Energy Star in Canada

Looking for high efficiency products? Look for the ENERGY STAR symbol.
ENERGY STAR® is the mark of high-efficiency products in Canada. The familiar symbol makes it easy to identify the best energy performers on the market. Energy star qualified products meet strict technical specifications for energy performance—tested and certified. They save energy without compromising performance in any way. Typically, an energy star qualified product is in the top 15 to 30 percent of its class for energy performance. Saving energy saves you money and reduces your impact on the environment.

• Canada is an international partner in the U.S. energy star program.

About ENERGY STAR

Helping Canadians shop for high efficiency products

The ENERGY STAR® symbol is a consumer icon in the Canadian marketplace. It instantly identifies products that have qualified as high efficiency. The energy star Initiative is a voluntary partnership between the Government of Canada and industry to make high efficiency products readily available and visible to Canadians. NRCan formally enrolls manufacturers, retailers and other organizations as Participants in the energy star Initiative. Participants help promote energy star and ensure energy star qualified products are prominent and readily available in the marketplace and to Canadian consumers.

Partnering with the United States

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) administers and monitors use of the energy star name and symbol in Canada under an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Canada became an international partner in the program in 2001. NRCan works closely with the EPA to develop energy star technical specifications for products. It also develops Canadian specifications for certain energy star qualified products.

Why buy ENERGY STAR

Save, save, save

The ENERGY STAR® symbol is the international mark that identifies high-efficiency products and equipment. It offers consumers a shopping short-cut to top energy performers. There are many good reasons to buy energy star qualified products. Save energy Energy star qualified products use significantly less energy. Typically, they use 20 to 30 percent less than regular models. Save money Using less energy means consumers save money on their utility bills. Save the environment Using less energy reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Energy star qualified products are also backed by a tough performance and testing regime. Tested and certified The energy star symbol means the product has been tested and certified by a government-approved agency. Same quality performance Energy star qualified products have the same features and performance as other quality products.

Find the zone where you live or where the product will be installed. Canada has been divided into four climate zones based on annual average temperature. Zone A is the mildest, and Zone D is the coldest. If you would like to know what is the climate zone where you live, visit Natural Resources Canada.

FAQ on window condensation and how to reduce it

It is important to know that windows do not cause condensation, they simply provide a visible surface for it. Here is an overview of common causes and remedies.

Exterior condensation questions:

What causes exterior condensation?

Exterior condensation occurs when moist air comes into contact with cool surfaces, such as glass. This type of condensation appears when the dew point in the air is higher than the temperature of the glass. This occurs when a cool night follows a warmer day, most typically during the spring and fall seasons.

How does low-emissivity (Low-E) glass affect exterior condensation?

Low-E glass reduces heat conducted through the glass from the warm interior of the home to the outside glass surface. Heat conduction can be reduced by as much as 50 percent with an efficient Low-E coated glass. This reflected heat energy reduces the outside glass temperature and can result in condensation on the glass. Exterior condensation is actually an indication that the insulating glass in the window is performing as it should.

Interior condensation questions:

What causes condensation on the inside glass of windows?

Whenever there is excess humidity in a home, it manifests itself in the form of condensation on the coldest area of a wall, which is normally the windows. The warmer the air, the more moisture it will retain, so when air in your home comes in contact with the colder glass surface, it is subsequently cooled and moisture is released in the form of condensation on the glass.

Do windows cause condensation?

No, condensation on windows is not the fault of the window. However, by replacing drafty windows and doors or installing a new roof or siding, you are reducing air flow in your home and making tighter. Tighter homes actually retain more humidity.

Where on a window does condensation normally form and why?

Condensation often forms at the meeting rail and at the bottom of the lower sash on the interior of the glass. This is because when warm air cools, it falls down across the interior surface of the window at the same time the temperature of the air is falling. The air contacts the horizontal surface of the meeting rail, which acts like a dam, slowing the air’s rate of fall and creating the perfect opportunity for the trapped water vapor to escape and form on the meeting rail’s surface. The air then rolls over the edge of the meeting rail and again gains speed until it encounters the lower handle of the sash. At this point, the water vapor again makes its exit and lies at the bottom of the sash.

Can I reduce the condensation on my windows?

Yes. In order to reduce condensation, humidity must be controlled and air movement must be generated. As the exterior temperature drops, the humidity level needs to decrease if condensation is to be controlled.

What steps can I take to reduce humidity in my home?

The two main things you can do are to control sources of moisture and increase ventilation. To decrease or control excess humidity and condensation:

• Use exhaust fans in your kitchen, laundry and bathrooms.
• Vent gas burners, clothes dryers, etc. to the outdoors.</li>
• Shut off furnace humidifiers and other humidifying devices in your home.
• Be sure that the ventilating louvers in your attic, basement or crawl spaces are open and amply sized.
• Open fireplace dampers to allow an escape route for moisture-laden air.
• Air out your house a few minutes each day.

WHAT IS LOW-E AND CAN I SAVE MONEY BY USING PRODUCTS ACCREDITED BY IT?

Low-E glass is one of the technological marvels of today’s residential construction. The “E” is for “Emissivity” and the dictionary defines emissivity as “the relative power of a surface to emit heat by radiation.” Low-E glass works by reflecting heat back to its source. It does this by utilizing a coating of microscopically thin, optically transparent layers of silver sandwiched between layers of anti-reflective metal oxide coatings.

These “smart” coatings provide optimal year-round energy savings by filtering the suns energy in summer and reducing heat loss in winter. In the summer low-E products let in visible sunlight while blocking infrared and ultraviolet solar energy that drives up cooling costs and damages curtains, window treatments, carpeting, furnishings and art work. In winter low-E glass reflects room-side heat back into the room.

These “smart” coatings provide optimal year-round energy savings by filtering the suns energy in summer and reducing heat loss in winter.

Single pane :: 26 degrees

Regular double pane insulated glass :: 35 degrees

Hard coated Low-E :: 50 degrees

Soft coat Low-E :: 62 degrees

Obviously, the closer the glass temperature is to the actual room temperature the less convection there will be near the window. Low-E glass simply works.

Larger Window Areas

Because Low-E Glass is an energy-efficient, high performance glass, architects, builders, and homeowners have the freedom to incorporate larger window and glass areas in their designs, without the resulting excessive energy costs.

A Source of Free Energy

In addition to its low U-value, Low-E Glass has a high shading coefficient. Compared to other glass products with lower shading coefficients, Low-E Glass allows more of the sun’s rays to enter a home as solar energy to be converted into usable heat in winter.

The original content of this article can be found here.