Your Home, Made Better.

You may be eligible if you:

• Are a GrandBridge Energy customer in Waterloo Region.
• Own a single-detached, townhome, duplex, or row housing up to three storeys
• Are up to date on energy bills and have a good credit score
• Your home provides a full-time primary residence, for you or someone else

Not sure? Contact us if you have any questions.

In some cases, yes. Eligibility depends on the property and tenancy arrangement. Contact us to learn more.

Eligibility assessments are typically processed within 10 business days after you apply.

Through an agreement between the Region of Waterloo and GrandBridge Energy, loans are repaid through monthly GrandBridge Energy bills. The Region of Waterloo does not currently have a similar agreement with other local utility companies.

Currently there is no timeline or guarantee that this will be possible. The Region of Waterloo is in conversation with other local utility companies to expand the loan program to their customers. Updates will be provided as developments occur.

Yes! If you own a single-detached, townhome, duplex, or row housing up to three storeys anywhere in Waterloo Region, you are eligible for free energy coaching.

All participant data is collected and stored through a personalized DropZone portal. For more information, please visit the Region of Waterloo’s Information Access and Privacy Policy.

• RetrofitWR offers up to $40,000 in low-interest loans.
• The minimum total project value is $10,000.
• Most homeowners invest between $20,000 and $30,000 to meet program criteria.

• The interest rate is 2.5% fixed for the full loan term.

Incentives reduce the amount you repay on your loan.

After your project is complete, any incentives you qualify for are applied to your loan balance. For example, if your project costs $30,000 and you qualify for $2,500 in incentives, you only repay $27,500.

Your Energy Coach will help identify the incentives you may qualify for, including external programs.

Participants need to cover the cost of the initial energy assessment ($500-$700) before being approved for financing.

Participants receive an initial disbursement of up to 40% of approved project costs to help cover contractor deposits and early expenses.

For a limited time, the program administration fee will be waived for early adopters of this program. After this, a fee of $450 applies to each loan. The fee will be added to the loan amount once the renovation project is completed.

The $450 program administration fee is permanently waived for income-eligible households.

Loan repayments are made through instalments on your monthly GrandBridge Energy bill. Your loan instalment amount will be automatically withdrawn through pre-authorized payments.

You can choose a repayment term of 10 or 15 years. Longer terms reduce annual payments but increase total interest paid.

For example, a $30,000 loan with a 15-year term will result in a monthly cost of $202 and $6,345 of total interest charges. The same $30,000 loan with a 10-year term will result in monthly cost of $285 and $4278 of total interest charges.

Yes. You can repay the full loan balance at any time without penalty. You cannot do lump sum partial repayments.

You will need to repay your loan in full before closing your GrandBridge Energy account.

Eligible upgrades focus on improving home comfort, efficiency, and safety. These include:

• Heating and cooling systems
• Insulation, windows, and air sealing
• Water heating and renewable energy
• EnergySTAR appliances
• Electrical and safety upgrades

At least 70% of project costs must be for energy saving upgrades. Your Energy Coach will confirm eligibility before you commit.

Yes. You can choose your own contractor. Some renovations need to be done by a certified tradesperson. Your Energy Coach can help review quotes and confirm eligibility.

These questions can help you determine if a contractor is a qualified professional and a good fit for your project.

• Are you licensed and insured?
• Does this work require a building permit?
• What is anticipated timeline and payment schedule for this work?
• What warranty do you offer?
• Will you be using any subcontractors? Are they insured and licensed?
• Can you provide references for similar projects?

Depending on what renovations you are planning, you may need a building permit. Your loan approval does not replace the need for a building permit. Building permits are issued by your local municipality. More information is available here for Cambridge and North Dumfries. 

No. Only upgrades completed after you are approved and have signed your Property Owner Agreement are eligible for loans.

You can begin your renovation once you have a Property Owner Agreement signed by the Region of Waterloo.

You have up to 12 months from the date of your Property Owner Agreement to complete your approved upgrades.

If your project scope changes or costs increase, contact your Energy Coach as soon as possible. Minor cost increases may be eligible, subject to available funding.

Only completed work with submitted receipts is eligible for loan financing. If changes affect eligibility requirements, your Energy Coach will help you adjust your plan.