Guide for contractors

Contractors who participate in the HalifACT Home Energy Upgrade (HHEU) program are selected by the property owner and reimbursed by the municipality. 

As a contractor, your involvement in the program will follow the stages outlined below. 

Stage 1: Intake and Registration

Stage 2: Home Energy Assessment

  • Property owners will book a home energy assessment and deliver it to the program administrator to determine whether they are eligible for program financing.
  • Property owners receive guidance from the program administrator on how to request quotes that align with recommended efficiency upgrades to ensure finance approval.

Stage 3: Quotation and financing applications

  • Contractors will receive a request for a quote from the property owner. The municipality does not recommend individual service providers for the program.
  • Contractors have the option of contacting the program administrator to confirm that the property owner has been approved for financing and is eligible to participate. 
  • The contractor provides the property owner with an itemized quote for the requested work.
  • Contractors provide the program administrator with the following documents for review: proof of valid general liability insurance with a minimum of $1,000,000 in coverage; clearance letter from the Workers Compensation Board; an active registry ID with the Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stock Companies; an accepted, itemized quotation that includes the specifications for efficiency upgrades outlined in the section below

Heat Pumps

  • Contractor must ensure that any heating/cooling equipment has been properly sized using a recognized sizing method such as CSA F280-12 (R2021).
  • Heat pump must meet the minimum Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) as suggested in savings report.

Electric Hot Water Heaters

  • Heaters must be Energy Star certified.

Insulation

  • Insulation must meet minimum R value as outlined in the Energy Profile.
  • Locations where insulation will be installed must be clearly identified.

Contractors will submit their quotes and documents to energyupgrade@halifax.ca for review. The program administrator will reach out for clarification on quote details as needed, before approving the property owner for financing.

All equipment must be installed according to local codes and regulations. It is the responsibility of the contractor to obtain all required permits for the efficiency upgrades.  

Guide to permit requirements

Electrical permits are required for:

  • electrical panel upgrades
  • any two pole connection of 50 amps or more

A municipal building permit is required for any work resulting in structural alterations.

A municipal building permit is not required for:

  • installing additional insulation or replacing insulation
  • installing or replacing an air-conditioning unit or heat pump
  • replacing windows or doors, if there is no change in the location or size of the window or door and the structural support for the opening is not affected

Please note: the above permit requirements are a guide only and it is the responsibility of the contractor to ensure necessary permits are obtained.

Stage 4: Financing approval and installation

  • If all submitted documentation meets program criteria, a Participant Agreement is forwarded to the property owner for review and signature.
  • Once the property owner has received an executed copy of their Participant Agreement, they will notify their contractor to proceed with the installation of home energy upgrades. Work should not begin until the executed Participant Agreement is returned to the property owner.
  • Contractor applies for relevant permits and completes installation of the home energy upgrades.

Stage 5: Project close out

To close out the project, contractors must forward the following documents to energyupgrade@halifax.ca for approval:

  • a Certificate of Completion signed by the contractor and all legal property owners
  • the final invoice(s) and installation and equipment summary; invoice(s) cannot be more than 105 per cent of the approved system cost (HST included)
  • all applicable permits and proof of final inspections (e.g., Electrical Permit for panel upgrades)

Upon approval of the certification of completion, the municipality reimburses the contractor for work completed. At this point:

  • the Program administrator will review the project completion report and verify the installation as per the original assessment
  • invoices will be paid by the municipality within 30 days of the approved project completion report

Please note: the municipality will not reimburse the contractor more than 5 per cent of the original quoted price.