LogisVert or RénoClimat: which program should your clients choose?

When a client mentions wanting "a grant for their renovation," the first question to ask is simple: are they replacing a specific appliance, or doing work that touches the building envelope? The answer almost always determines which program fits.

LogisVert, Hydro-Québec's program, works on a reimbursement-after-purchase model: the client pays, submits their invoice and a photo, and receives a fixed amount based on the measure. It's fast, requires no professional evaluation, and covers specific equipment — heat pumps, induction cooktops, heat-pump dryers, solar panels, pool pumps, roof insulation and weatherstripping. If your client is replacing an appliance or doing a targeted project, LogisVert is almost always the simpler path.

RénoClimat, the Government of Québec's program, works differently: an accredited advisor evaluates the home before and after the work (using the EnerGuide method), and assistance is calculated based on the actual improvement observed. It takes longer to set up — you need to book an evaluation before starting any work — but the assistance ceiling is significantly higher (up to $20,000 for an owner-occupant, $40,000 for a duplex or triplex), making it the right choice for larger projects involving insulation, air tightness, doors and windows, or ventilation.

A question that comes up often: can you combine both? Nothing stops a client from having a RénoClimat file for their building envelope and a separate LogisVert file for a heat pump, for example — these are two separate applications, each with its own rules and deadlines. What matters is not mixing up the documents between the two files: each program has its own requirements, and DossierVert keeps document checklists separate by program precisely to avoid that kind of confusion.

In short: specific equipment and speed → LogisVert. Envelope work, larger budget, and willingness to have the home professionally evaluated → RénoClimat. When in doubt, ask your client at the very first meeting — it avoids having to start over once work has begun, especially since RénoClimat excludes work started before the first evaluation.