Novoclimat program description

The Novoclimat program offers government certification that supports the construction of energy efficiency high-performance houses. Novoclimat houses offer several benefits, particularly in terms of comfort and indoor air quality.

The Novoclimat program defines the technical requirements that must be met during the construction of a home or multiple-unit building in order to achieve energy performance that exceeds the standards of the Québec Construction Code. It includes the training and certification of building contractors and ventilation specialists, the inspection of houses during construction, and the certification of houses that meet program requirements.

The Novoclimat program aims to:

• Reduce energy consumption in buildings
• Improve occupant comfort
• Maintain good indoor air quality
• Promote energy efficiency in buildings
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions

The program includes three components:

• Home: for single-family houses (detached, semi-detached or row houses), intergenerational houses, or single-family houses with an attached dwelling
• Small multiple-unit building: for buildings with three storeys or fewer and an area of 600 m² or less
• Large multiple-unit building: for buildings larger than 600 m² or between four and 10 storeys.

The Novoclimat program also offers financial assistance to the buyer and contractor under the “Home” component and to the project developer under the “Small multiple-unit building” and “Large multiple-unit building” components.

Any individual or legal entity acting as the applicant for one of the eligible building types may participate in the program:

• Homes;
• Multiple-unit buildings (rental or condominium).

Other conditions and types of assistance apply to multiple-unit buildings.

When the house obtains Novoclimat certification, both the contractor and the buyer are eligible for financial assistance.

For a buyer, the assistance is $2,000 (or $4,000 for a first-time house buyer). The contractor receives a financial assistance of $1,500 per dwelling or $2,500 if certified as Novoclimat Select.

For multiple-unit buildings (duplex, triplex, etc.), the assistance granted to project developers ranges from $445 to $1,700, depending on the type of building, the number and type of units.

For buildings intended for social housing, it ranges from $885 to $3,400 per unit.

Investing in Novoclimat can be recovered more quickly thanks to the financial assistance and monthly energy savings. Once the investment is recovered, the house continues to generate savings. An estimate table (PDF 1.83 Mb) is available for more details.

Other financial assistance programs

Other grants are available under financial assistance programs from the provincial and federal governments, energy distributors, and municipalities.

Hydro-Québec’s LogisVert program offers financial assistance for the purchase and installation of high-efficiency heat pumps. Installing another energy-efficient central heating system, such as a geothermal system, may also be eligible.

Check with your municipality to see if there is a financial assistance program for the construction of a home.

Contact the Novoclimat customer service to reach the program and obtain more information.