Short answer
An EnerGuide home evaluation is a two-to-three-hour visit from a registered energy advisor who inspects your home, runs a blower door test and produces an official energy rating with a list of recommended upgrades. Many rebate programs require one before and sometimes after upgrades like insulation or windows, so it is often the first step in a retrofit.
Key takeaways
- A registered energy advisor visits for about two to three hours.
- The blower door test measures how airtight your home is in ACH50.
- Your rating is shown in gigajoules per year, where lower is better, alongside a reference house.
- You get a report with recommended upgrades and the estimated effect of each one.
- Many rebate programs require a pre-retrofit evaluation, and some need a post-retrofit one too.
An EnerGuide home evaluation is an official energy assessment of your house, carried out by a registered energy advisor using the system run by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). The advisor visits your home, measures and inspects it, runs a blower door test and then models your home's energy use. You get an EnerGuide rating label and a report with upgrades ranked by their likely impact.
Most people book one because a rebate program requires it. That is a good reason, but the evaluation is also useful on its own. It tells you where your home actually loses energy, so you spend money on the fixes that matter instead of guessing.
What happens during an EnerGuide home evaluation
Plan to be home for the visit, which usually takes two to three hours for a typical detached house.
1. Walkthrough and measurements
The advisor measures the outside of the house and each floor to calculate the heated area and volume. They note the foundation type, the wall and ceiling construction, and the size and type of every window and door.
2. Inspecting insulation and systems
Expect the advisor to look into the attic, check the basement walls and rim joist, and record your furnace, boiler or heat pump, your water heater and any ventilation equipment. They write down model numbers to look up efficiency ratings. Have your attic hatch clear and your mechanical room accessible.
3. The blower door test
The advisor mounts a large fan in an exterior door frame and closes all windows and other doors. The fan depressurizes the house to 50 pascals below the outdoor pressure and measures the airflow needed to hold it there. The result is your airtightness in air changes per hour at 50 pascals (ACH50). While the fan runs, many advisors walk the house with you to show where air is coming in. See air sealing first for what those numbers mean.
Before the test, the advisor will ask you to shut off fuel-burning appliances, close the fireplace damper and make sure ash is cleaned out of any wood stove.
4. Modelling and the report
Back at the office, the advisor enters everything into NRCan's HOT2000 energy modelling software. A few days to a few weeks later, you receive your rating and report.
Understanding your EnerGuide rating
The rating shows your home's estimated annual energy use in gigajoules per year (GJ/year) under standard operating conditions. A lower number means a more efficient house. The label also shows a reference value for a similar house built to typical new-home standards, so you can see how yours compares.
| What the report shows | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Rated energy use (GJ/year) | Your home's modelled energy use; lower is better |
| Reference house value | How a similar typical new home would perform |
| Energy use breakdown | Shares for space heating, water heating, ventilation, lights and appliances |
| Heat loss by component | Where heat escapes: ceiling, walls, basement, windows, air leakage |
| Air leakage (ACH50) | How airtight the home is |
| Recommended upgrades | Specific improvements and the rating you would reach after them |
Standard operating conditions mean the rating assumes typical thermostat settings, occupancy and weather. Your real bills will differ based on how you live. The rating is designed for comparing homes and measuring improvement, which is why programs rely on it.
Why rebate programs require an evaluation
Programs use EnerGuide evaluations for a few reasons.
- Proof of starting point. A pre-retrofit evaluation records what your home had before. Programs pay on improvement, so they need the baseline.
- Right-sized upgrades. The report flags what will help most, which keeps program money going to effective work.
- Verification. Some programs require a post-retrofit evaluation to confirm the work was done and to calculate the final rebate.
In Ontario, the Home Renovation Savings Program may require an assessment for insulation and window rebates. See Ontario rebates. Programs in other provinces have similar rules. Check rebates in your province and confirm the current requirements before you book any work. Doing upgrades before the pre-retrofit evaluation can make you ineligible.
What it costs and how to book
An EnerGuide evaluation typically costs around $300 to $600, depending on your region, house size and whether it is a pre- or post-retrofit visit. Some programs and utilities partly or fully cover the cost. You book directly with an NRCan-licensed service organization, which you can find through NRCan's website or your provincial program.
How to get the most from the visit
- Pull a year of electricity and gas bills so you can discuss your real usage. Our guide on reading your electricity bill helps.
- List the upgrades you are considering, such as a heat pump, insulation or new windows.
- Ask the advisor which upgrades give the best return for your home, and which ones are not worth it.
- Ask whether your heating system is sized properly and what a smaller system would need.
An evaluation often shows that sealing and insulation should come before big equipment. Read attic insulation R-values and whether replacing windows is worth it before you decide. Then use the heat pump calculator to see how the numbers change once your home is tighter.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an EnerGuide home evaluation cost in Canada?
Most evaluations cost around $300 to $600 depending on your region and home size. Some provincial programs or utilities cover part or all of the cost.
How long does an EnerGuide evaluation take?
The home visit usually takes two to three hours. The report typically arrives within a few days to a few weeks.
What is a good EnerGuide rating?
Lower GJ/year is better. Compare your rating with the reference house value on your label, which shows how a similar typical new home would perform.
Do I need an energy audit before getting insulation rebates?
Often, yes. Many programs, including some Ontario insulation and window rebates, require a pre-retrofit evaluation before work starts, so book it first.
Want numbers for your own home?
Use the heat pump vs. furnace with your province's prices and climate. It takes about two minutes.