Comparison Checklist
Program status
Eligible equipment
Current maximum
Assessment requirements
Application timing
Product eligibility
| Option | Best For | Watch For | Fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Renovation Savings — heat pump rebate | Ontario homeowners installing an eligible cold-climate air-source or ground-source heat pump. | The model must appear on the applicable qualified-products list. Amounts depend on system capacity and program terms. | The main current Ontario rebate path, advertising up to $7,500 for eligible cold-climate air-source heat pumps and up to $12,000 for ground-source systems. |
| Home Renovation Savings — bundled upgrades | Ontario homeowners completing a home energy assessment and combining two or more eligible efficiency upgrades. | Assessment, sequencing, documentation, and eligible-upgrade rules differ from the single-upgrade heat-pump path. | Can include $600 back for the assessment plus eligible insulation, air-sealing, windows, doors, or heat-pump water-heater incentives. |
| City of Toronto Home Energy Loan Program | Eligible Toronto property owners financing heat pumps, HVAC equipment, insulation, windows, solar, or related energy upgrades. | HELP is financing, not a rebate. Approval, property eligibility, lender consent, interest, administrative charges, and repayment terms apply. | Toronto currently offers loans up to $125,000, with heat-pump projects eligible for terms of up to 20 years. |
What changed in 2026
The Canada Greener Homes Grant is closed. December 31, 2025 was the final deadline for existing applicants to submit documents, so new 2026 quotes should not present that grant as available funding.
For Ontario homeowners, the current provincial path is the Home Renovation Savings program delivered by Save on Energy and Enbridge Gas with support from the Ontario government. Program availability, amounts, and eligible product lists can change, so verify the live terms before purchasing equipment.
Single heat-pump upgrades
Home Renovation Savings currently lists single-upgrade rebates of up to $7,500 for eligible cold-climate air-source heat pumps and up to $12,000 for eligible ground-source heat pumps. The final amount is based on capacity and program rules.
The heat pump must be on the required qualified-products list. Confirm the exact indoor and outdoor model combination, capacity, application steps, and contractor documentation before installation.
Bundled efficiency upgrades
The bundled path starts with a home energy assessment and requires at least two eligible upgrades. Current examples include assessment support, insulation, windows and doors, air sealing, and heat-pump water heaters.
A standard furnace or cooling-only air conditioner should not be described as rebate-eligible without checking the current program rules. Eligibility follows the program and product list, not a general contractor promise.
Toronto HELP financing
The City of Toronto says HELP applications are open. Eligible owners of qualifying Toronto properties can finance approved home-energy improvements through the property-tax bill, subject to the City’s application, lender-consent, interest, fee, and property requirements.
Heat-pump-only projects use a simplified HELP process without pre- and post-renovation EnerGuide assessments. This is a loan rather than free funding, so compare the total financed cost and repayment term with other options.
Avoid rebate problems before installation
Do not rely on an old web page, verbal estimate, or generic “up to” number. Open the official program page, confirm that applications are open, verify the exact equipment combination, and keep screenshots or PDFs of the terms that applied when you applied.
Ask the contractor to list model numbers, capacity, efficiency ratings, included documentation, and any assumptions about incentives in the written quote. A rebate is administered by the program, so it should not be represented as guaranteed by the contractor.