How Saguenay is built
- Before 1961 26%
- 1961–1990 49%
- 1991–2000 9%
- 2001 or later 16%
What an evaluation finds in Saguenay homes
Of Saguenay's 48,955 houses (single-detached, semi-detached, row houses and duplexes), 26% were built before 1961 and 75% before 1991, according to the 2021 Census. The typical Saguenay 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.
Saguenay gets about 5,343 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 −28.9°C. Those figures come from the climate data for Jonquière in HOT2000, the home-energy software Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) gives energy advisors. That's the 10th-highest heating demand of the 70 cities we cover. Cold winters: heating is the biggest energy cost, so stopping leaks and insulating come first.
Saguenay also gets hot spells and heat waves, so plan how the house will stay cool: air sealing, attic insulation and shading help, and a heat pump adds efficient cooling.
In the Saguenay area, 64% of households heat mainly with electric baseboards; electricity is the main heating energy for 76% of households (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 Saguenay
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.
Very Cold East Northern Ontario, Saguenay, Quebec City
Saguenay’s climate: Very Cold East
Deep, snowy winters: stop ice dams, and pair a cold-climate heat pump with backup heat.
Winters here are long and deep, with cold snaps of −25°C to −31°C and the heaviest snow loads of any region we cover. Heat escaping into the attic melts roof snow from below, which refreezes as ice dams. An EnerGuide evaluation here should focus on the attic, the basement and rim joists, and a heating plan with reliable backup heat.
In Saguenay: Saguenay keeps 10 cm or more of snow on the ground about 134 days a year, and cold snaps reach about −30°C. Most homes heat with baseboards or other electric heat, so a cold-climate heat pump with baseboard backup can cut costs.
Stop ice dams at the attic
NRCan says the best way to prevent ice dams is sealing attic air leaks and insulating thoroughly, so roof snow stays frozen. Snow loads here are the heaviest of any region we cover.
Cold-climate heat pump with reliable backup
Cold snaps of −25°C to −31°C are at or beyond many heat pumps' limits, so backup heat is a must: baseboards in most Quebec homes, the furnace in Ontario.
Insulate the basement and rim joists
Basements can be about 20% of a home's heat loss, and the long cold season makes the savings add up. Rim joists are often among the leakiest spots.
When to book: Book the evaluation from November to March for clear thermal scans, and check the attic after the first light snow. Start a 3-month radon test in the heating season.
Everything homes in Saguenay 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 pumps, Canada Greener Homes (NRCan)
- Heat pump basics (NRCan)
- Primary heating systems by household, Table 38-10-0286-01 (Statistics Canada)
- 2024 Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Exposure
- Guide for Radon Measurements in Homes (Health Canada)
- Canada's top weather stories of 2023 (ECCC)
- Conditions for thermal scans, ASTM C1060 summary (Cx Associates)
NRCan-licensed service organizations serving Saguenay
In Quebec, EnerGuide evaluations for existing homes run through the provincial Rénoclimat program; the organizations below are the ones NRCan lists for Saguenay 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 Saguenay postal codes. Coverage is the share of Saguenay's urban postal areas each one lists.
- Expertbâtiment Services-Conseils
- Expertise en batiment Champagne
- Inspection Immotech
Home energy audit in Saguenay: common questions
How much does a home energy audit cost in Saguenay?
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 Saguenay?
NRCan's list of service organizations shows 3 licensed organizations with Saguenay 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 Saguenay?
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.