Funding and Financing

There are a number of attractive loan and grant options (as well as free install programs for those who qualify) available to homeowners doing green home upgrades. Many of them can be combined. Note that grant, loan, and rebate programs for home retrofits are constantly changing. Your registered energy advisor will have the latest information, but 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.

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 Enbridge Gas Home Efficiency Rebate (HER) - This Ontario program provides rebates for comprehensive home energy upgrades. Eligible participants must have Enbridge-supplied natural gas heating at the time of their initial home energy audit and install at least two items on Enbridge's list of qualified upgrades (heat pump, attic insulation, basement insulation, exposed floor insulation, air sealing, exterior wall insulation, and windows/doors/skylights). You must also get a pre and post-work energy audit from one of the auditors on Enbridge's approved list ($600 is refunded once you complete the work to account for the cost of the audits). A total of $5000 in rebates is available, with different upgrades qualifying for different amounts. Some of the Retrofit Advisors on our vetted list can provide audits under this program. See this page for details.

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.

Currently Suspended, Awaiting a Revamp - Canada Greener Homes Grant, Home Efficiency Rebate Plus (HER+) - In Ontario, the Canada Greener Homes Grant was being co-delivered by Natural Resources Canada (for applicants who applied prior to January 4, 2023), and by Enbridge Gas (for later applicants). This program has now been suspended. The latest news from the federal government is that it will be replaced by a new program for low- and moderate-income homeowners, which 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, but safe to say that many homeowners will not be eligible. But for those who qualify, they are likely to receive the upfront costs paid on some really critical upgrades.

Note: Some of the above programs require a pre and post EnerGuide home energy audit. Please check the program pages for details. 

Canada Greener Homes Grant, Home Efficiency Rebate Plus (HER+) - In Ontario, the Canada Greener Homes Grant was being co-delivered by Natural Resources Canada (for applicants who applied prior to January 4, 2023), and by Enbridge Gas (for later applicants). This program has now been suspended. The latest news from the federal government is that a new program for low- and moderate-income homeowners will launch sometime after April 1, 2025. See the Free Installs section below for more info.

Free Installs

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 they currently have electric heating)
• ENERGY STAR®-certified LED light bulbs
• High-efficiency showerheads (standard and handheld)
• Faucet aerators (kitchen and bathroom)*
• Drying line for clothes
• Energy-efficient refrigerator
• Window air conditioner
• Smart power strip
• Additional attic or basement insulation
• Weatherstripping around doors and windows

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

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 purchase at specific retailers. Smart thermostats make sense if you are still using natural gas 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").

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, 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.

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