How St. John's is built
- Before 1961 22%
- 1961–1990 42%
- 1991–2000 11%
- 2001 or later 26%
What an evaluation finds in St. John's homes
Of St. John's's 42,120 houses (single-detached, semi-detached, row houses and duplexes), 22% were built before 1961 and 64% before 1991, according to the 2021 Census. The typical St. John's house dates from 1971–1980, and an evaluation is how you find out what that means for yours: the blower door measures air leakage, the advisor inspects the attic, walls, basement, windows and heating system, and the report ranks upgrades by what they'd save.
St. John's gets about 4,578 heating degree-days a year and has a winter design temperature of −12.8°C, according to NRCan's HOT2000 climate data for St-John's International. That's about 16% more heating demand than the middle of the 70 cities we cover. The more heating a climate needs, the more each fix is worth, which is why the evaluation's ranked list matters more in some cities than others.
In the St. John's area, 58% of households heat mainly with electric baseboards, about 7% with a heat pump, about 7% with a boiler and radiators and about 6% with a forced-air furnace; electricity is the main heating energy for 65% of households and oil for 12% (Statistics Canada, 2023). The heating system on the report shapes the recommendations: a forced-air furnace invites a ducted heat pump, electric baseboards a ductless one.
What it costs in St. John's
There's no province-wide price; takeCHARGE lists the service organizations working in the province without prices.
- Make the Shift subsidized initial energy audit: For a limited time, Shift Program participants in St. John's can get an initial energy audit (EnerGuide) subsidized to $99, which the City describes as 80% off the regular cost. Book at maketheshiftnl.ca, 709-979-0362 or hello@maketheshiftnl.ca. Details
Most providers quote the initial (pre-upgrade) and follow-up (post-upgrade) visits separately. Rebate programs that pay on measured improvement need both, so ask for the combined price.
How it works
- Initial evaluation, about 2–3 hours. The advisor measures and inspects the house and runs the blower door test.
- Report and EnerGuide rating. You get the home's energy rating in gigajoules per year and a list of recommended upgrades with estimated savings.
- Do the work. Most rebate programs only count upgrades done after the initial evaluation.
- Follow-up evaluation. A second visit measures the improvement, which is what most rebates pay on.
NRCan-licensed service organizations serving St. John's
Every organization below is licensed by NRCan to deliver EnerGuide evaluations and lists St. John's postal codes. Coverage is the share of St. John's's urban postal areas each one lists.
- AmeriSpec Profile
- Canada Energy Audit Profile
- CLEAResult
- Homesol Building Solutions
- Sustainable Housing and Education Consultants Incorporated
- ThermalWise Green Building Cooperative
- Ecostep Energy Services
Rebates and financing an evaluation unlocks in St. John's
Home energy audit in St. John's: common questions
How much does a home energy audit cost in St. John's?
There's no province-wide price; takeCHARGE lists the service organizations working in the province without prices. St. John's also has a municipal evaluation subsidy for eligible homeowners.
How many companies do EnerGuide evaluations in St. John's?
NRCan's list of service organizations shows 7 licensed organizations with St. John's postal codes (checked September 25, 2026).
How long does an EnerGuide evaluation take?
The initial visit usually takes two to three hours, including the blower door test. The follow-up visit after upgrades is shorter.