Why Most Property Managers Leave $8K-$30K on the Table
The Save on Energy Retrofit Program, delivered by the IESO, pays incentives on qualifying high-efficiency upgrades. For commercial HVAC that can mean $200-$1,500 per ton. A typical office or retail retrofit captures $8,000-$30,000.
So why do so many PMs miss it? Timing. The program requires pre-approval before equipment is ordered. If a contractor orders the units first and mentions rebates later (or never), the money is usually gone. On our Airport Rd program in Mississauga, three contractors bid the job. We were the only one who filed. The rebate was $87K.
How We File Save on Energy for You
- Pre-audit. We document existing equipment: nameplates, run hours, condition and the proposed replacement with its efficiency rating (IEER, SEER2).
- Application. We prepare and submit the application with the supporting documents.
- Pre-approval. Approval usually takes 4-8 weeks. Nothing is ordered until it is in hand.
- Install. The retrofit is completed and commissioned to program requirements.
- Rebate netted. The approved rebate comes off your final invoice.
Filing is included on every qualifying project we install.
Rule of thumb
If you have capex approved for HVAC replacement and nobody has mentioned Save on Energy, stop and ask before any purchase order is signed.
What Qualifies?
| Upgrade | Typical incentive basis |
|---|---|
| High-efficiency RTU replacement | Per-ton incentive based on efficiency |
| Chiller replacement or upgrade | Per-ton or performance-based |
| VFDs on fans and pumps | Per-unit or savings-based |
| Heat pump conversions | Save on Energy plus Enbridge HER+ |
Program rules and amounts change, so we confirm eligibility for your exact equipment before you commit. Some Toronto projects can also qualify for Toronto Hydro savingsON support.
Rebate-Net Pricing on Every Quote
Every qualifying quote shows two numbers: the installed price and the rebate-net price. For example, a 10-ton packaged unit installed at $18K-$34K, minus a per-ton incentive, is what you actually pay. See commercial rooftop unit replacement and VFD upgrades for the projects that qualify most often.
Rebates for Portfolio Programs
For owners replacing units across several buildings, we file each phase separately so every phase captures its incentive. That is how phased programs in Mississauga, Scarborough and Brampton turn forced replacements into planned, rebate-funded capex. Chiller projects can qualify too; see commercial chiller service.
