Navigating Deep Home Energy Retrofits: Programs Available in Ontario

As a homeowner, you may find that navigating a deep home energy retrofit can be a challenge. There’s swaths of information and opinions available that, unless you’re well-versed in energy efficiency, make it difficult to understand the right course of action for you.

This is only multiplied when you’re trying to access the rebate programs available. With so many federal, provincial, and municipal programs, you need to understand how the different loans and incentives work together and how to get the most benefit from them.

In Ontario, these challenges can be further exacerbated by the different organizations offering rebates, including Enbridge Gas and Save on Energy, and the numerous options varying by municipality. Luckily, we’ve simplified the options available to you as an Ontario homeowner.

Although the eligibility requirements vary by program, most will cover a standard list of upgrades. This is because most home energy retrofits need to follow similar processes to be effective: the building envelope needs to be addressed first to ensure that heating and cooling efforts are effective. 

Most programs will provide coverage for insulation, air sealing and draft proofing, upgraded windows and doors, and heat pumps to some degree. Other programs may include smart thermostats, energy efficient lighting and appliances, or incentive on energy bills. There is also a combination of loan and grant programs available, which largely depend on your household income. 

To understand what incentives you may qualify for, let’s take a closer look at the programs that are available.

The Greener Homes Loan is the most widely available program in Canada, run by the federal government. It addresses the major challenges of financing the cost of renovations by offering qualifying Canadians up to $40,000 as an interest-free loan for approved energy upgrades. This program can be paired with other incentives and programs that are available to you. 

Additionally, the Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program was announced as part of the prior budget and should be coming back to help low- to medium-income Canadians, including renters. Instead of loans, this program offers rebates for qualifying retrofits.

In Ontario, home energy retrofit programs are managed by two entities: Enbridge Gas and Save On Energy. Each program targets different types of homeowners in their journey to retrofitting their homes. 

Home Efficiency Rebate Plus

 

The most well known program through Enbridge Gas is the Home Efficiency Rebate Plus (HER+) program. It offers homes in Ontario up to $5,000 towards energy efficient upgrades and  energy assessments. Unfortunately, it can only be used on new projects; if you’ve started any renovation work, it won’t be covered under the program. 

Home Winterproofing Program and Energy Affordability Program

 

The other major program offered through Enbridge is the Home Winterproofing Program. This is available to low-income households and includes free energy efficient upgrades specifically tailored to keeping your home comfortable throughout the winter. This program partners with Save On Energy’s Energy Affordability Program, which expands the upgrade options available through one single application. The Energy Affordability Program offers two main types of support: comprehensive support from an energy-efficiency expert or energy saving kits.

Remote First Nations Energy-Efficiency Program

 

This program is specifically designed for remote First Nations communities to provide funding and support for implementing energy-efficient initiatives. It aims to help manage energy use effectively, reduce energy costs, and enhance the comfort of homes and businesses.

It provides access to energy efficient home upgrades, including water-saving measures and appliance replacements.

HomeEnergySaver Program

 

Designed to improve the affordability of heat pumps, this program offers rebates to Ontario homeowners with electrically heated homes in eligible areas, helping them purchase and install a heat pump.

Several regions and municipalities across Ontario have programs in place to support retrofits, including:

• Guelph: The Guelph Greener Homes Loan offers zero-interest loans and grants to help cover the costs of residential energy efficiency upgrades.
• Kingston: Better Homes Kingston offers up to $40,000 in zero-interest loans for energy-efficient upgrades, including 30% up front to pay contractors deposits.
• Belle River: Available through Save on Energy, Belle River residents can receive up to $1,360 in discounts to upgrade sealing, insulation and air conditioning systems. 
• Ottawa: Offering low-interest loans of up to $125,000, the Better Homes Ottawa Loan Program (BHOLP) covers the cost of home energy improvements, including heat pumps, through the Better Homes Ottawa Heat Pump Incentive.
• Toronto: Toronto homeowners can borrow up to $125,000 to cover the cost of home energy improvements through the Home Energy Loan Program (HELP).
• Burlington: Better Homes Burlington is a home upgrade program that supports homeowners looking to install a heat pump or improve air sealing. 
• Durham Region: Durham Greener Homes offers a comprehensive program to residents in Oshawa and surrounding areas, all the way to Beaverton on Lake Simcoe. It offers rebates and loans for deep home energy retrofits. 
• Whitby: The Deep Retrofit Rebate available to Whitby residents can be used in conjunction with the Durham Greener Homes program to reduce energy usage in the home.

Despite the numerous loan and rebate options available in Ontario, there is a standard approach to applying and receiving loans across all programs. By following the simple steps, homeowners can leverage the numerous incentives available to them.  

1. Schedule an initial home energy assessment: Most rebate programs require you to schedule a home energy assessment with an approved service organization. This assessment will give you accurate information about which upgrades are available to you and which ones will provide the most benefit for your home.
2. Get a list of upgrades: Once the inspection is complete, the service organization will provide you with a list of energy efficient upgrade options available for your specific dwelling. 
3. Complete energy upgrades: In most cases, there are a minimum number of upgrades needed to be completed in order to take advantage of the program. 
4. Complete follow up home energy assessment: The follow up assessment will ensure that the upgrades were completed accurately and can measure the improvements to your home's energy efficiency. 
5. Apply for the rebates: The final step will be submitting the paperwork to show that you followed the steps and implemented the upgrades. From there, you will receive your rebate. 

 

A similar system for most rebate programs provides consistency and simplicity to homeowners who need to navigate various programs. 

Navigating home retrofit programs in Ontario can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. With the right guidance from industry professionals, along with an understanding of the incentives available, homeowners can find and stack a variety of programs to make their journey to an efficient home more affordable. 

Since each program has its own requirements and eligibility criterias, consulting an expert can help you ensure you’re getting the best possible support for your project.

Ready to start your energy-efficiency journey? Leverage Properate for a home energy report to make better, more informed decisions.