Home Retrofits

Funding and Financing

There are a number of attractive loan and grant options (as well as free install/rebate programs for those who qualify) available to homeowners doing green home upgrades. Many of them can be combined. Note that grant, loan, and free install programs change regularly. Your registered energy advisor will have the latest information, but we update this page regularly and here are the major programs we are aware of:

Loan Programs

The Canada Greener Homes Loan is available to all homeonwers, and offers an interest-free loan of up to $40,000 with a repayment term of 10 years. Interest free is akin to a rebate and offers amazing savings.

City of Toronto Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) - low interest (below market rate) fixed-rate loans up to $125,000 amortized over 20 years, repaid via your property tax bill and transferred to the new homeowner if you sell your home - which means that you only pay for part of the cost of your upgrades (the portion you benefit from while living in your home) and the next homeowner who might benefit pays for the rest. Eligible projects include:

  • Air source heat pumps
  • Window / door replacements
  • Basement/attic/exterior wall insulation
  • Air sealing (e.g. weather stripping or caulking)
  • Geothermal systems
  • High-efficiency water heaters
  • Tankless water heaters
  • Drain-water heat recovery systems
  • Toilet replacements
  • Solar hot water systems
  • Rooftop solar PV panels
  • Electric vehicle charging stations (Level 2)
  • Battery storage

Grant Programs

***NEW Home Renovation Savings Program - This newly expanded Ontario program provides rebates for comprehensive home energy upgrades, such as cold climate air source heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, energy storage solutions (batteries), insulation, air sealing, windows, and exterior doors. Some of these can be done as a "one and done" and others they are asking that you do two or more, with an energy audit (for which you can get a rebate). Different upgrades qualify for different amounts. More details to be released shortly.

Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program is for low-to-middle-income homeowners in Canada who use oil to heat their homes and want to save operational costs and energy by switching to an air source heat pump. Qualified homeowners can receive an up-front grant of $10,000 to replace your oil furnace with a heat pump.

City of Toronto Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy - up to $3,400 per property to install basement flood protection devices like sump pumps and backwater valves

Eco Roof Incentive Program - grants to support the installation of green roofs or cool roofs on Toronto homes and buildings, including residential.

Smart Thermostat Program - Enbridge customers who live in detatched, semi-detatched, or row townhouses can get an instant $75 rebate towards a qualifying smart thermostat at specific retailers. Smart thermostats make sense if you are still using natural gas, electric rads or oil for your home heating. Smart thermostats are not recommended for use with heat pumps, which are designed to be set at one temperature and left running that way all the time ("set it and forget it").

Free Installs (for income-qualified homeowners)

Save on Energy - an Energy Affordability Program - valuable program offering free energy-efficiency upgrades for income-eligible homeowners and tenants, as well as an in-home energy assessment. Qualified applicants may receive:

  • FREE cold climate air source heat pumps (if you currently have electric heating)
  • Attic or basement insulation
  • Weatherstripping around doors and windows
  • Energy-efficient refrigerator
  • Window air conditioner
  • ENERGY STAR®-certified LED light bulbs
  • High-efficiency showerheads (standard and handheld)
  • Faucet aerators (kitchen and bathroom)*
  • Drying line for clothes
  • Smart power strip

Home Winterproofing Program - available to income qualifying Enbridge Gas customers who live in homes built before 1980. Qualified applicants receive free home improvements, including:

  • insulation
  • draft proofing

Announced but not yet operational: Canada Greener Homes Grant, Home Efficiency Rebate Plus (HER+) - As mentioned above, the latest news from the federal government is that a revamped HER+ program focused on low- and moderate-income homeowners will launch sometime after April 1, 2025. We have no information about what household income level will qualify someone for this program, which will offer entirely free upgrades (and a free energy audit to determine what the home needs), with no upfront costs involved for the homeowner (the government will pay contractors' bills directly), but safe to say that some homeowners who live in the Pocket will not be eligible while others may.

 

Note: Many of the programs above require a pre and post EnerGuide home energy audit. Please check each program or ask your Retrofit Advisor/Energy Auditor for details.

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