Glossary · Programs & credentials

Registered energy advisor (REA)

Also called: registered energy advisors · energy advisor · energy advisors · NRCan-registered energy advisor · certified energy advisor

A professional registered with NRCan to do official EnerGuide home evaluations, working through a licensed service organization.

What it means

The energy advisor visits your home, measures and inspects it, runs a blower door test, builds a HOT2000 model and produces your EnerGuide rating, label and Renovation Upgrade Report. Advisors work through a service organization licensed by NRCan. Official evaluations happen only when a homeowner requests one, and NRCan hasn't authorized anyone to contact homeowners unsolicited.

Why it matters in an audit

Canadian programs that require an evaluation, including the assessment stream of Ontario's HRSP, need a registered energy advisor's pre- and post-retrofit evaluations.

Sources

Learn more here

Related terms

Service organization (SO) A company licensed by NRCan to deliver EnerGuide evaluations; it employs or contracts registered energy advisors and books your visit.
EnerGuide rating and label Canada's official home energy rating: a home's estimated yearly energy use in gigajoules (GJ/year), where lower is better.
Pre- and post-retrofit evaluations ("D" and "E" evaluations) The EnerGuide evaluation done before upgrades (a 'D' file) and the one done after (an 'E' file), used to verify the work for rebates.
HOT2000 NRCan's energy modelling software that registered energy advisors use to calculate a home's EnerGuide rating and upgrade savings.
Home energy audit A professional check-up of how your home uses and loses energy, with tests and a written, ranked list of upgrades.
Ontario Home Renovation Savings Program (HRSP) Ontario's home rebate program, run by Enbridge Gas and the province's Save on Energy, for insulation, windows, air sealing, heat pumps and more.
EnerGuide home evaluation Canada's official home energy audit: a registered energy advisor inspects and tests your home, then gives you an EnerGuide rating and an upgrade report.

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