Affordable Rentals (4+ units) - Must meet the maximum rental rate criteria in the Comprehensive Affordable Housing Agreement.

Co-Operatives - Must have 4 or more units in the same building and meet the maximum rental rate criteria in the Comprehensive Affordable Housing Agreement.

Rooming Houses - Must have 4 or more rooms, be a rooming house and meet the specific requirements for this property type as laid out in the maximum rental rate criteria in the Comprehensive Affordable Housing Agreement.

Not-for-profit Properties - Eligible applicants must be:

• Registered with the Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stocks as a Society, Non-Profit Cooperative, or Limited Guarantee Company and/or;

• Registered on Canada Revenue Agency’s list of charities and certain other qualified donees.

Non-profit organizations must own their own building; tenants who are renting are not eligible.

• Shelters – Must offer rent-free housing.

• Transition Houses – Must offer rent-free housing.

• Non-bed facilities – Must provide support services for the low-income community. Examples include but are not restricted to: food banks, community outreach and support centres, employment and education centres and social enterprises. Eligibility is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Based on an Energy Advisor’s report for your building, qualified upgrades could include insulation for attics, walls, and basements, improvements to space and water heating, and windows and door replacements. More information about these types of energy upgrades can be found below:

• Insulation reduces heat loss and gain by providing a barrier between the inside or your building and the different temperature outside. If your property qualifies, insulation may be installed in your attic, main walls, and/or basement.

• A heat pump heats and cools your home by transferring thermal energy from the outdoors. While they use electricity to transfer heat from a cool space to a warm space, they’re much more efficient than baseboard electric heaters or a forced air oil furnace, and cost less to operate.

• Windows and doors are a source of heat transfer between the indoors and outdoors. Newer windows and doors are designed to transfer less heat and therefore, keep your interior space more comfortable.

All upgrades must be preapproved by Efficiency Nova Scotia prior to installation to qualify for rebates.

Annual energy savings are meant to offset pressures on tenant rental rates. As such, the customer will notify Efficiency Nova Scotia if average rental rates at the property are expected to increase more the Nova Scotia All-item Consumer Price Index.

Properties not eligible for incentives include but are not limited to; military housing, long-term care facilities, health facilities, condominiums, corporations, hospitality lodging, youth camps, hostels, cottages, campgrounds, academic dormitories, and any rental housing that exceeds the eligible rental rate cut-offs.

New construction projects are not eligible for incentives.

For-profit businesses may submit a maximum 2 existing rental properties for the program per calendar year. Non-profit and charitable organizations are not restricted in the numbers of properties enrolled.

Affordable rental & co-operative rebates are capped at a maximum of $16,155 per affordable unit or $300,000 per project or 80% project cost, whichever is lower.

Rooming house rebates are capped at a maximum of $5,385 per affordable room or $300,000 per project or 80% project cost, whichever is lower.

Not-for-profit shelters and transition houses rebates are capped at a maximum of $300,000 per project or 100% of project costs, whichever is lower.

Not-for-profit non-bed facilities rebates are capped at a maximum of $300,000 per project or 80% of project costs, whichever is lower.

4 or 30% of rental units (whichever is greater) must be less than or equal to the rental rate cut-offs found in the Comprehensive Affordable Housing Agreement at the time of project completion.

The landlord or owner must be willing to commit to 12 years of affordable housing upon acceptance of rebates from Efficiency Nova Scotia, as per the Comprehensive Affordable Housing Agreement.

Eligible upgrades will be determined by a certified energy auditor. Efficiency Nova Scotia reserves the right to determine eligibility for rebates on a case-by-case basis.

Visit Efficiency Nova Scotia for more information about program eligibility requirements. If you are unsure about whether your building is eligible for the program, please contact an Energy Solutions Advisor by calling 1-877-999-6035.