A straight walkthrough of a rebate-qualifying retrofit

People are usually surprised by how many steps there are, and almost always surprised that there are two visits. Here is the whole thing, in order.

1. The phone call

We ask for the address before anything else, because municipal programmes vary street by street. We tell you which programmes apply, what they pay, and whether they require an evaluation. Sometimes the answer is that yours does not, and the call ends there.

2. Pre-registration, where required

Some programmes need you registered before anything is installed and before, in a few cases, the evaluation. British Columbia issues an eligibility code that expires in three months. Getting this wrong voids the rebate entirely.

3. The pre-retrofit evaluation

Two to three hours. Measurement of every assembly, the mechanicals, and a blower door test. You get an EnerGuide rating, a label and a Renovation Upgrade Report listing measures with modelled savings.

4. Choosing the work

Your contractor, your choice. In some programmes — Medicine Hat's for 2026 — only measures listed in your Renovation Upgrade Report are eligible, so the report constrains the choice rather than merely informing it.

5. The work

Keep every invoice, itemised by measure, with model numbers. More rebate files are delayed by invoice detail than by anything technical.

6. The post-retrofit evaluation

We come back and measure what changed. Second blower door, second model, second label. Several programmes require the same advisor as the first visit. This is what the programme actually pays against.

7. Submission, and then waiting

The file goes in with both ratings and the invoices. Processing times vary from weeks to a few months. If it goes quiet, tell us and we will find out where it is.