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It is the logical first step before insulating, air sealing, replacing windows or changing heating systems, because it shows which problems are real and which upgrades would matter most. It is also the gateway to several rebate programs, which require an evaluation before any work begins and another once it is done. Book it early: skipping the first visit can make a project ineligible.
This page explains what happens during the visit, how to read the rating and report, where thermal imaging fits in, how to use the recommendations, which programs were active when this page was reviewed and how to find a registered advisor.
Signs your home would benefit from an energy audit
- Heating bills that seem high for the size of the house, or that keep climbing even though the equipment is serviced.
- Rooms that are much colder or warmer than the rest of the house, or floors and walls that feel cold in winter.
- Drafts around windows, doors, outlets and baseboards, or a basement that stays chilly.
- Frost in the attic, ice dams or condensation on windows, all signs that warm, moist air is escaping.
- A plan to insulate, replace windows or install a heat pump, and a need to know what to do first.
- An upcoming rebate application, a recent purchase or a plan to sell, when an official rating is useful.
What happens during an EnerGuide home evaluation: walk-through and blower door test
You choose a service organization licensed by NRCan, and it sends a registered energy advisor to your home. According to NRCan, the advisor measures and collects data on all the elements of the house, including the insulation levels of the walls, ceilings and basement, the windows and exterior doors, and the ratings of the heating and cooling equipment, and takes photos of the exterior, the mechanical systems, the attic and any wood-burning appliances.
- Before the visit, clear a path to the attic hatch, the basement walls, the electrical panel and the heating equipment; your advisor will also tell you how to prepare, for example by making sure fireplaces and wood stoves aren't in use.
- The blower door is a powerful fan fitted temporarily into an exterior doorway; it depressurizes the house so the advisor can measure how much air leaks through the envelope.
- While the fan runs, the advisor can walk through the house with you and show where air is coming in, around baseboards, outlets, the attic hatch or the rim joist.
- The advisor then enters the data into NRCan's software to calculate the rating and prepare the report.
Your EnerGuide rating, label and renovation upgrade report explained
The EnerGuide rating is expressed in gigajoules per year (GJ/year), and NRCan notes that the lower the number, the better the home's energy performance. Ratings on the older 0 to 100 scale can't be converted to gigajoules, so a new evaluation is needed for an up-to-date label.
- The EnerGuide label, showing the rating, the energy used by source, how the home compares with a benchmark house and its greenhouse gas emissions.
- A Homeowner Information Sheet that summarizes the evaluation.
- The Renovation Upgrade Report, with recommended upgrades and their energy-saving results, a breakdown of your energy use and before-and-after charts of heat loss by building component.
- Your rating before and after the recommended upgrades, with comments from your energy advisor and tips for saving energy.
Thermal imaging and other tools energy advisors use to find heat loss
A blower door measures how leaky the house is overall; pinpointing the leaks takes other tools. NRCan's air leakage guide describes the infrared scanner, used together with a blower door test, as a powerful tool for locating air leaks and missing insulation, and notes that contractors may use smoke pencils while the blower door runs to trace drafts. A thermal camera shows surface temperatures as colours, so an empty stud cavity or a stream of cold air under a baseboard stands out on the screen.
Thermal imaging is a diagnostic aid, not a verdict. Images are most telling when there is a marked temperature difference between indoors and outdoors, and they need interpretation: a cold patch can mean missing insulation, an air leak or moisture. A thermal scan alone doesn't produce an EnerGuide rating, so if you need a label or a rebate, make sure you are booking a full evaluation by a registered energy advisor.
What to do with your energy audit report: air sealing and insulation before new equipment
The report lists upgrades, but the order matters. NRCan calls air leakage control the most important retrofit and recommends considering it first, and insulating the areas the report flags usually comes next. Heating and cooling equipment comes later when possible, because a tighter, better-insulated house needs less capacity, and equipment sized for the old house can end up too big.
- Start with the air sealing your advisor pointed out, especially at the attic floor, the rim joist and around pipes and wires.
- Insulate where the before-and-after charts show the greatest heat loss by building component.
- Replace windows and doors where the report shows it's worthwhile, not by default.
- Improve mechanical ventilation as the house gets tighter, so indoor humidity stays under control.
- Book the post-retrofit evaluation once the work is done to get your new rating and, where a program requires it, your rebate.
Energy audits and rebates: pre- and post-retrofit evaluations in current programs
Programs change often, so confirm the rules on the official page before booking anything. Where a program requires a pre-retrofit evaluation, have it done before any work starts, and keep invoices and product details for the post-retrofit visit. When this page was reviewed, these programs were active:
- Rénoclimat, from the Government of Québec: a pre-retrofit evaluation, then the work, then a post-retrofit evaluation, with an advisor visit that includes a blower door test, an evaluation report and personalized advice; fees apply for the visit.
- Hydro-Québec's LogisVert program, whose measures include roof insulation and caulking; Hydro-Québec notes that insulation work that doesn't meet its requirements may qualify under Rénoclimat instead.
- The Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program, which began delivering no-cost retrofits in 2025 to low-to-median-income homeowners and tenants through participating provinces and territories, including Quebec, with applications made to the provincial or territorial program.
- In Ontario, the Home Renovation Savings Program from Enbridge Gas and Save on Energy, supported by the Government of Ontario, where rebates for insulation, windows and doors and air sealing require a home energy assessment.
How to find an NRCan-registered energy advisor and avoid unsolicited offers
EnerGuide evaluations are delivered by service organizations licensed by NRCan, which send registered energy advisors to homes. NRCan's online directory of service organizations for existing homes lets you search by the first part of your postal code or check a company's name. If you are joining a program such as Rénoclimat, check whether it requires an advisor or organization approved for that program.
NRCan states that only registered service organizations and energy advisors that you have contacted can schedule and invoice an EnerGuide evaluation, and that it never solicits by phone, email or in person to enter Canadians' homes. Treat an unsolicited call or knock offering a free government audit with suspicion, and book with an organization you found yourself.
Energy Audits: frequently asked questions
What is a good EnerGuide rating?
There's no single target, since the number depends partly on the size and type of house. The rating is in gigajoules per year, and lower is better. The label also compares your home with a benchmark house, which is the easier way to judge it, and the report shows how far the recommended upgrades could bring the rating down.
Do I need an energy audit to get an insulation rebate?
It depends on the program. Rénoclimat requires evaluations before and after the work, and Ontario's Home Renovation Savings Program requires a home energy assessment for its insulation and air sealing rebates, while Hydro-Québec's LogisVert page doesn't mention one. Check the current rules before signing a contract, since work done before a required pre-retrofit evaluation may not qualify.
Does an EnerGuide label help when selling a house?
It can. NRCan worked with the Canadian Real Estate Association on a homeowner's guide to energy efficiency for buyers and sellers, and it encourages buyers to look for the EnerGuide rating when shopping for a home. A recent label and report show what has been done and what could still be improved, which gives buyers something concrete to compare.
Is an energy audit the same as a home inspection?
No. A home inspection looks at the condition of the structure, roof, plumbing, electrical and other systems, usually before a purchase. An EnerGuide evaluation measures airtightness and models energy use to produce an official rating and a list of upgrades. The two complement each other, and an inspector's notes on moisture or wiring are worth sharing with your energy advisor.
Someone offered me a free government energy audit. Is it legitimate?
Be careful. NRCan says it never solicits by phone, email or in person to enter homes, and only registered organizations that you contacted yourself can schedule and invoice an EnerGuide evaluation. Decline the offer, then find a service organization through NRCan's directory or your provincial program.
Sources
- Natural Resources Canada: EnerGuide energy efficiency home evaluations
- Natural Resources Canada: EnerGuide Rating System version 15
- Natural Resources Canada: After your EnerGuide home evaluation
- Natural Resources Canada: Find service organizations for existing homes
- Natural Resources Canada: Keeping the Heat In, Section 4: Comprehensive air leakage control
- Natural Resources Canada: Marketing energy efficiency
- Government of Québec: Rénoclimat
- Hydro-Québec: LogisVert program
- Natural Resources Canada: Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program
- Enbridge Gas and Save on Energy: Home Renovation Savings Program
Written by the LokalMatch editorial team. Reviewed by Zubair Afzal on September 10, 2026. How we write and check our guides