Getting your home energy audit done is a good way to find out what upgrades would make sense for your home. Such assessments are offered by "energy advisers" certified by Natural Resources Canada’s Office of Energy Efficiency.

Having an assessment is a necessary step in qualifying for federal and provincial grant money that helps cover the costs of improvements.

The energy adviser will take a comprehensive assessment of your house, which includes taking a look at insulation levels throughout the home, measuring the air-tightness of the house to help locate leaks,  as well as examining the heating system and water heater. At the end, the customer will receive a report listing suggested upgrades. 

After some or all of the recommended upgrades are made, the adviser does a "post-assessment" to verify the improvements.

At that point, the homeowner can receive funds through the federal ecoENERGY Retrofit Initiative, and provincial energy efficiency rebates (including rebates to cover partial costs of the assessment itself).

For information on certified energy advisors, visit oee. nrcan. gc.ca.