Energy efficient practices are not only popular these days, they can save you thousands of dollars on the cost of building or renovating your Markham, Ontario real estate. If you want to take advantage of government grants for energy efficiency renovations, you can't just expect the government to take your word for it, however. They'll have to come in and perform a home energy audit before and after the renovations to determine the level of improvement. Here's more information on home energy audits.

Home energy auditors are certified by the government. To find one in your area, look in the telephone book or call up your local environmental service department or community group for a referral. Depending on where you live, you audit might be free or it might cost as much as $350 (in Ontario). However, the report on the audit of your Toronto lofts can help you make renovations that save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year, so it's worth it in the end.

A home energy audit takes between two and three hours to complete and you should be home to assist the auditor in finding everything he or she needs (plugs, light switches, etc) and to receive the benefit of the auditor's wisdom while the audit is occurring. If you live in condos for sale in Toronto where you don't have access to all areas of the building, such as the attic or basement, you need to arrange that access before the auditor's arrival or the auditor won't be able to complete the assessment.

The auditor will perform a variety of checks on your homes for sale on PEI to determine their energy efficiency. He or she will do a blower door test to check ventilation and leaks and tour the entire house looking for air seepage that can cause energy loss. Your heating and cooling equipment and your insulation will also be checked. Home energy audits are primarily concerned with home heating efficiency, not electricity usage, so keep that in mind.

At the end of the assessment you will receive a written report on how to improve your home's efficiency. If you renovate according to these recommendations instead of buying new steel coil strapping systems, you will not only save money but also reduce mold growth, have less temperature fluctuations in summer and winter, improve your health, and raise the value of your home. By getting the second audit done and applying for grand money to cover part of the renovations, you'll save even more. The federal government offers up to $5,000 in grants to homeowners, and BC and Ontario homeowners can apply for additional provincial grant money up to $12,000.