The Home Upgrades Program has reached capacity and is currently waitlisting all applicants. If you are interested in receiving support through the Home Upgrades Program, we invite you to proceed with your application and we will contact you if the program begins servicing new homes in your area.

We help Albertans reduce their energy consumption by installing energy-saving measures and providing energy education
free of charge.

Improving the Lives and Homes of Albertans
Life is expensive enough without the stress of high and sometimes unaffordable energy bills. For the one in five Albertan families struggling to pay these bills, high energy costs can mean compromising on life necessities such as health, food, safety, and comfort.

We can help.
The Home Upgrades Program offers free energy efficiency education and home upgrades to qualified families living in Calgary, Canmore, and Edmonton. We identify and install upgrades based on each household’s unique needs, such as new furnaces and insulation, and utilize air-sealing to improve efficiency. The program is designed to reduce energy costs and improve the comfort, safety, and efficiency of Albertan homes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies for the program?
The Home Upgrades Program is open to income-qualified Calgarians—both homeowners and renters—living in detached homes, duplexes, or townhouses that are not electrically heated. Homes must be installed on a permanent foundation to be eligible.
Eligibility is based on the number of people living in the home and the total household income (including income from anyone 18 or older who lives in the home).
Number of People living in the Home, Maximum Household Income (Before Tax)
- 1 person, $54,353
- 2 people, $67,665.60
- 3 people, $83,187.10
- 4 people, $100,998.90
- 5 people, $114,552
- 6 people, $120,990
- 7 people or more, $143,839.90
What should I expect if I’m selected for upgrades?
Step 1: Complete an application form
Step 2: You will receive an email confirming if you’re eligible, or not.
Step 3: You may be asked to confirm your household income (from anyone 18 or older living in your home) and share details about your energy and water bills. When reviewing applications, we look at how much of your income is going toward utility bills.
Step 4: If your home qualifies, we’ll contact you to book a time for one of our friendly home assessors to visit. During the walkthrough, they’ll install some immediate energy- and water-saving items such as LED light bulbs, water-saving devices, weatherstripping, and draft proofing. They’ll also complete an official EnerGuide assessment—this helps us understand how your home uses energy and where improvements can be made. Learn more about EnerGuide.
Step 5: Our team will develop a customized plan with all the upgrades we recommend to help lower your utility bills and make your home safer, more comfortable, and more energy efficient.
Step 6: You get to review and approve everything before any work begins. Once you’ve signed off, we’ll take care of the rest—providing the materials and coordinating certified contractors to do the work, all at no cost to you.
Step 7: After the upgrades are complete, we’ll give you tips on how to maintain your new equipment and we’ll always be here to answer any questions you may have.
What are the program’s income qualifications?
Income Qualifications for the Home Upgrades Program are based on the number of people living in the home and the total household income (income from anyone 18+ who lives in the home).
Number of People living in the Home, Maximum Income
1 person, $49,296
2 people, $59,997
3 people, $74,409
4 people, $93,205
5 people, $106,132
6 people, $117,703
7 people or more, $129,276
Applicants living in Canmore who are part of the Affordability Services Program are automatically eligible for the Home Upgrades Program
What happens when I apply?
The program offers targeted upgrades and support based on each household’s unique needs. While not every applicant is guaranteed home upgrades such as a new furnace, additional supports like energy education and energy savings kits are available. You will receive an email shortly after applying informing you of your eligibility. Depending on pre-screening results, applicants may be asked to verify their household income (income from anyone 18+ who lives in the home) and the cost of their energy bills. The program will consider both the potential impact that upgrades could make in the home, paired with how burdensome energy bills are for a household and the percentage of income directed towards paying them. For applicants whose homes qualify for upgrades, the Home Upgrade Program team will schedule a time for our home assessor to do a walkthrough of the home and install energy measures such as LED lighting, water saving devices,weatherstripping, and draft proofing. Based on the assessment, our team will determine which additional upgrades could be installed to further reduce energy consumption and improve affordability. The program team will create a full scope of work detailing the activities and upgrades that will be offered by the Home Upgrades Program. We will communicate this scope of work with the homeowner who will sign off on the proposed upgrades. The program will provide all the materials and our certified contractors will conduct the installations free of charge.
Why is the program free?
The Home Upgrades Program is the first and only Alberta-based program designed to support lower-income households through free energy-efficient upgrades. The program’s funders are committed to supporting Albertans and addressing the challenge of energy poverty. Thanks to their generous support, there are no costs passed on to the homeowners.
Are there any program costs that must be covered by participants?
No, all program costs are covered thanks to the support of our partners. While participants are required to invest time throughout the application, home assessment, and upgrade installation process, there is no financial investment required from participants.
How are upgrades chosen for my home?
The Home Upgrades Program offers varying levels of support, products, and installations depending on the needs of the home, and how difficult it is for a household to pay their energy bills. As such, homeowners receive upgrades that will have the biggest impact on affordability. Our assessment team will determine which, if any, upgrades will result in noticeable changes to your energy bills. Not every home receives all the upgrades listed.
Can I still apply if I live outside of the program’s service areas?
Unfortunately, the program is currently limited to city limits within the designated service areas of Calgary, Edmonton, and Canmore. We hope to continue expanding the program and invite you to follow us on social media or check back for updates.
What types of homes are eligible?
The program is currently limited to detached homes, duplexes and townhouses. All homes in the program must be installed on a permanent foundation. We are not currently accepting applications from mobile homeowners.
Are renters eligible to apply?
We know that renters often struggle with high energy bills and sometimes live in energy-inefficient homes. While we are not accepting renters at this time, we encourage renters to apply, and we will contact you when the program is ready to work with renters and landlords to reduce energy consumption.
When is the program offered until?
Like many programs, the Home Upgrades Program relies on funding. Should more funding become available, we will continue to offer our services. Our hope is that the program will become a fixture on the market.
Can I apply on someone else’s behalf?
The application can be filled in on someone’s behalf, however the legal property owner must sign a consent form indicating their willingness to participate in the program. The legal homeowner must also sign off on the home assessment and any work conducted within the home.
What are Energy Saving Measures?
Energy Saving Measures include home upgrades, such as new insulation, weather stripping or LED lightbulbs that make a home more energy efficient. Behavioural changes, such as programming thermostats or keeping windows shut while a home is being heated or cooled can also help reduce the energy consumption of a home.
Are translators available?
Yes, translators are available to support on installation days depending on language needs and availability. Please connect with us for more information.
Will a lien be put on my house?
No, the Home Upgrades Program will not put a lien on any homes upgraded through this program.
Eligibility Checklist
- Do you live in Calgary, Canmore, or Edmonton?
- Do you own a detached house, duplex, or town house that was built before 1998?
- Do you meet our income qualifications? (See FAQs)
- Are you struggling to pay your energy bills and maintain the comfort of your home?
If you answered yes to the questions above, you may qualify to receive free home upgrades, such as a high efficiency furnace, new insulation, or weatherstripping.

Not sure if you should apply?
Visit our Frequently Asked Questions
Our Team
Our team has worked with close to 5,000 Albertan households to help reduce energy bills, improve the efficiency of homes, and offer in-depth education to support the needs of our communities. As a community-based organization, we hire locally and work with trained professionals who will identify how our program can help meet your needs.

Yasmin Alsarraj
Program Coordinator

Russ Walker,
Construction Manager & Energy Assessor for Edmonton

Patrick Strey
Construction Manager & Energy Assessor for Calgary

Kambo Energy Group and Alberta Ecotrust Foundation partnered to deliver Alberta's first and only program to help homeowners reduce their energy costs through a combination of education and targeted home upgrades.

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Kambo Energy Group is a minority-owned and run social enterprise committed to improving home comfort, safety, and energy efficiency in underrepresented communities. Kambo is home to three in-house programs, including the Home Upgrades Program.
Alberta Ecotrust Foundation is an environmental charity that leads urban climate change action and is a critical source of funding and capacity-building for the province’s environmental nonprofit community.
Partners
The program is supported by generous funding partners who are committed to helping lower-income Albertans improve the comfort, efficiency, and safety of their homes. Thanks to our partners, there are no costs or hidden fees for homeowners benefiting from the program.
Funding for St Albert was carried out with assistance from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund, an endowment created by the Government of Canada and was provided through a previously approved GMF grant program agreement.