How Gatineau is built
- Before 1961 14%
- 1961–1990 44%
- 1991–2000 16%
- 2001 or later 27%
What an evaluation finds in Gatineau homes
Of Gatineau's 80,110 houses (single-detached, semi-detached, row houses and duplexes), 14% were built before 1961 and 58% before 1991, according to the 2021 Census. The typical Gatineau house dates from 1981–1990, 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.
Gatineau gets about 4,354 heating degree-days a year, a measure of how much heating its climate needs, and its winter design temperature, the cold day heating systems are sized for, is −24.3°C. Those figures come from the climate data for Ottawa International in HOT2000, the home-energy software Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) gives energy advisors. That's about 11% more heating demand than the middle of the 70 cities we cover. A long heating season: air sealing and insulation pay back well, and every leak costs money for months.
Gatineau summers are hot and humid, so the air sealing and insulation that cut heating bills also keep the house cooler, and a heat pump can do the cooling more efficiently than an old air conditioner.
In the Gatineau (Quebec) part of the Ottawa–Gatineau region, 45% of households heat mainly with electric baseboards and 30% with a forced-air furnace; electricity is the main heating energy for 60% of households and natural gas for about 22% (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 Gatineau
In Quebec, EnerGuide evaluations are booked through the provincial Rénoclimat program: the pre-retrofit evaluation costs $150 plus taxes, reimbursed when you receive financial assistance under the program, and the first post-retrofit evaluation is free.
How a home energy assessment (EnerGuide evaluation) 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.
Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Southern Ontario and southern Quebec
Gatineau’s climate: Great Lakes–St. Lawrence
Cold winters and hot, humid summers: seal the attic, dry the basement, plan cooling.
This region has real winters and hot, humid summers, so bills come from both heating and cooling. Natural gas heats most Ontario homes, while most Quebec homes use low-cost electricity. An EnerGuide evaluation here should cover air sealing and the attic, cooling and dehumidification, and keeping the basement dry before insulating it.
In Gatineau: Gatineau has cold snaps near −25°C and humid summers, and most homes heat with electricity (about 60% with baseboards or other electric heat), so a cold-climate heat pump can cut winter bills and add cooling. Keep baseboards as backup heat.
Seal air leaks and top up the attic
Air sealing is still the first retrofit. In the snowier Ottawa–Montreal–Sherbrooke belt, a leaky, under-insulated attic also causes ice dams.
Right-size cooling to control humidity
In humid summers, an oversized air conditioner or heat pump cools quickly but shuts off before removing moisture, leaving rooms clammy. A heat pump replacing the air conditioner also covers much of the heating.
Keep the basement dry before insulating
Basements can be about 20% of heat loss, but insulating a damp basement from the inside can rot the new wall. Flash floods have hit Toronto and Montreal repeatedly.
When to book: Book the evaluation in winter (December to February) for clear thermal scans, and start a 3-month radon test in fall. Check the basement after spring thaw or heavy rain, and line up cooling work before summer.
Everything homes in Gatineau need →
Sources for this climate guide · checked October 26, 2026
- National Building Code of Canada 2020, climate data (NRC)
- Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (ECCC)
- Keeping the Heat In (NRCan)
- Air-Source Heat Pump Sizing and Selection Guide (NRCan)
- Heating and Cooling With a Heat Pump (NRCan)
- Heat pump basics (NRCan)
- Gas and heat pump hybrid systems (NRCan)
- Primary heating systems by household, Table 38-10-0286-01 (Statistics Canada)
- Electricity price comparison, April 2025 (Hydro-Québec)
- Canada's top weather stories of 2018 (ECCC)
- Canada's top weather stories of 2022 (ECCC)
- Canada's top weather stories of 2023 (ECCC)
- Canada's most impactful weather stories of 2024 (ECCC)
- Canada's top weather stories of 2025 (ECCC)
- 2024 Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Exposure
- Guide for Radon Measurements in Homes (Health Canada)
- Conditions for thermal scans, ASTM C1060 summary (Cx Associates)
- Canada's top weather stories of 2017 (ECCC)
- Canada's top weather stories of 2019 (ECCC)
NRCan-licensed service organizations serving Gatineau
In Quebec, EnerGuide evaluations for existing homes run through the provincial Rénoclimat program; the organizations below are the ones NRCan lists for Gatineau postal codes.
A service organization is a company that Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) licenses to deliver EnerGuide evaluations; its registered energy advisors do the home visit. Every organization below is licensed by NRCan to deliver EnerGuide evaluations and lists Gatineau postal codes. Coverage is the share of Gatineau's urban postal areas each one lists.
- Expertbâtiment Services-Conseils
- Expertise en batiment Champagne
- Les Services ecoPlus
Rebates and financing an evaluation unlocks in Gatineau
Home energy audit in Gatineau: common questions
How much does a home energy audit cost in Gatineau?
In Quebec, EnerGuide evaluations are booked through the provincial Rénoclimat program: the pre-retrofit evaluation costs $150 plus taxes, reimbursed when you receive financial assistance under the program, and the first post-retrofit evaluation is free.
How many companies do EnerGuide evaluations in Gatineau?
NRCan's list of service organizations shows 3 licensed organizations with Gatineau 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.
Does an energy audit help with summer heat in Gatineau?
Yes. The advisor's upgrade list covers air sealing, attic insulation and windows, which slow summer heat gain as well as winter heat loss, and the evaluation's measurements are the starting point for sizing a heat pump that also cools.