Home & Energy

Home Energy

EcoSuperior is committed to helping you reduce your energy costs while reducing your carbon footprint.

22% of our end-use greenhouse gas emissions come from warming, cooling and powering our residential and commercial-institutional buildings. As a homeowner, you can do your part to help Canada reach a net-zero emissions future by making your home more energy-efficient with EcoSuperior's Home Energy Assessment Program.

A home energy assessment, also known as a home energy audit, can help you understand the whole picture of your home's energy use, comfort, and safety. An assessment can help you determine how much energy your home uses, where your home is inefficient, and which problem areas and fixes you should prioritize to save energy and improve the comfort of your home.  A home energy assessment should be your first step before making energy-saving home improvements, as well as before adding a renewable energy system to your home.. 

For More Information or to Book an EnerGuide Evaluation, please call our office at 807-624-2140

Benefits 

  • Helps you reduce energy costs
  • Increases home comfort by eliminating drafty areas
  • Increases the value of your home
  • Contributes to a healthier planet

If you are interested in the Canada Greener Homes Loan which offers interest-free financing to help Canadians make their homes more energy-efficient and comfortable, please contact our office. The loan can help you finance eligible retrofits that are recommended by an energy advisor and that have not yet been started.

IMPORTANT: You should not start any retrofit work before your loan application has been submitted. Any retrofits started before submitting your loan application are ineligible.

The HER+ Program Has Ended but...If you have already opted into the HER+ program and completed your upgrades to receive a government rebate, please call EcoSuperior at 807-624-2140 to book your follow-up evaluation ($400 fee).

 

 

Radon

What Is Radon & How Is Your Health at Risk?

Radon is a colourless, odourless, and radioactive gas that is naturally occurring caused by the breakdown of uranium in soil, and you can’t see, smell, or taste it. Outside, radon gas disperses into fresh air, and is harmless. Though naturally occurring outdoors, radon can be a threat to your health indoors, where it can accumulate to high levels when it enters through pipes, drains, and foundation cracks.

The Ontario Lung Association has shown that smokers who are exposed to high levels of radon have a 1 in 3 chance of developing lung cancer, compared to a 1 in 10 chance for smokers not exposed to radon. Radon is measured in Becquerels per cubic meter (Bq/m 3). Health Canada recommends that homes should not exceed 200 Bq/m3.

Radon in Thunder Bay

According to a study conducted by Health Canada in 2012, over 12% of homes in the Thunder Bay district have high radon levels. A focal study conducted by the Thunder Bay District Health Unit in 2015 found that on average, 16% of homes in our community have radon levels with a concentration of 200 Bq/m3 or higher. 

 

City Ward

Homes Tested

% with radon concentration of 200 Bq/m 3 or higher

McIntyre

82

43%

Neebing

47

30%

Red River

79

15%

Current River

68

13%

McKellar

63

6%

Northwood

75

3%

Westfort

54

0%

Radon in Oliver Paipoonge & Marathon

In 2018, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit conducted a study analyzing radon levels in Oliver Paipoonge and Marathon. The report found that on average, 65% of homes in Oliver Paipoonge and 17% of homes in Marathon have high radon levels. 

Radon Events

November is Radon Awareness Month! Check out our events page for more information on Radon Events.

Radon Testing

The only way to know whether your home has radon is to test it. Fortunately, testing your indoor environments for radon is easy and inexpensive! 

Health Canada recommends testing your environment for 90 days to 1 year, using a long-term detector certified by the Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program. 

Detectors cost approximately $50, and can be purchased at EcoSuperior, local hardware stores, or rented out by your local library for free. 

Click the images below to learn more about radon testing in your home. 

 

radon-test-deviceimg_9922

 

 

 

Water Rebates & Subsidies

Drainage Rebate

The City of Thunder Bay offers financial incentives to install household drainage improvements through the Residential Drainage Rebate Program.

City homeowners may qualify for a rebate toward:

  • Sump pumps
  • Backwater valves
  • The disconnection of weeping tile systems from city sanitary sewer services
  • & the installation of a new storm sewer connection

Please review the required program details and eligibility requirements in the documents below. Ensure applications are submitted as soon as possible. Rebates are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and available until funding is expended. 

Important Information

Application Requirements

  • Completed application form
  • Original receipts for contractor labour and materials
  • A copy of the City of Thunder Bay inspection report

Rebate amounts are listed in the program brochure. Household water accounts and taxes must be in good standing in order for the rebate to be processed.

*Non-profit organizations (such as churches or co-op housing), homeowners who qualify for the City of Thunder Bay Property Tax and Water Credit Programs (for Low-Income Seniors and Low-Income Persons with Disabilities), are eligible for additional rebates up to 80% of the invoiced cost of the work completed.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify:

  • Must be an existing single-family residential or multi-unit home;
  • Downspouts are properly disconnected from City sewer systems;
  • A licensed participating plumber must be hired to install the backwater valve and a qualified contractor to undertake all other work, 
  • Building permits and approved inspections must be obtained for associated work.

Rain Garden Rebate

 

Click Here to Learn More About Our Rain Garden Rebate Program