LED bulbs use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs — DOE
    Turning off lights when leaving saves $30-50/year per household — ENERGY STAR
    Standby power ('vampire load') can account for 5-10% of home energy use — DOE
    ENERGY STAR certified TVs use 25% less energy than standard models
    Programmable thermostats can save about 10% on heating/cooling — DOE
    Sealing air leaks can save 10-20% on heating and cooling costs — ENERGY STAR
    Heat pumps can reduce heating energy use by 50% vs. electric resistance — DOE
    Ceiling fans allow you to raise AC settings 4°F with no comfort loss — DOE
    Heating water accounts for about 18% of home energy use — DOE
    Low-flow showerheads save 2,700 gallons/year for a family of four — EPA
    Washing clothes in cold water can save $60+/year on water heating — ENERGY STAR
    Fixing a leaky faucet can save 3,000+ gallons/year — EPA
    ENERGY STAR refrigerators use 9% less energy than standard models
    Clean refrigerator coils annually for optimal efficiency — DOE
    Air-drying dishes instead of heat-dry saves 15-50% on dishwasher energy — DOE
    Proper attic insulation can cut heating/cooling costs by 15% — ENERGY STAR
    Windows can account for 25-30% of home heating/cooling energy use — DOE
    Window film can reduce solar heat gain by up to 70% — DOE
    Average US home solar system offsets 3-4 tons of CO₂ annually — EPA
    Solar panel costs have dropped 70%+ over the past decade — SEIA
    EVs cost about 60% less to fuel than gas vehicles — DOE
    Proper tire inflation improves gas mileage by 0.6% on average — DOE
    The average US household spends $2,000+/year on energy — EIA
    ENERGY STAR products have saved Americans $500 billion on energy bills
    LED bulbs use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs — DOE
    Turning off lights when leaving saves $30-50/year per household — ENERGY STAR
    Standby power ('vampire load') can account for 5-10% of home energy use — DOE
    ENERGY STAR certified TVs use 25% less energy than standard models
    Programmable thermostats can save about 10% on heating/cooling — DOE
    Sealing air leaks can save 10-20% on heating and cooling costs — ENERGY STAR
    Heat pumps can reduce heating energy use by 50% vs. electric resistance — DOE
    Ceiling fans allow you to raise AC settings 4°F with no comfort loss — DOE
    Heating water accounts for about 18% of home energy use — DOE
    Low-flow showerheads save 2,700 gallons/year for a family of four — EPA
    Washing clothes in cold water can save $60+/year on water heating — ENERGY STAR
    Fixing a leaky faucet can save 3,000+ gallons/year — EPA
    ENERGY STAR refrigerators use 9% less energy than standard models
    Clean refrigerator coils annually for optimal efficiency — DOE
    Air-drying dishes instead of heat-dry saves 15-50% on dishwasher energy — DOE
    Proper attic insulation can cut heating/cooling costs by 15% — ENERGY STAR
    Windows can account for 25-30% of home heating/cooling energy use — DOE
    Window film can reduce solar heat gain by up to 70% — DOE
    Average US home solar system offsets 3-4 tons of CO₂ annually — EPA
    Solar panel costs have dropped 70%+ over the past decade — SEIA
    EVs cost about 60% less to fuel than gas vehicles — DOE
    Proper tire inflation improves gas mileage by 0.6% on average — DOE
    The average US household spends $2,000+/year on energy — EIA
    ENERGY STAR products have saved Americans $500 billion on energy bills
    LED bulbs use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs — DOE
    Turning off lights when leaving saves $30-50/year per household — ENERGY STAR
    Standby power ('vampire load') can account for 5-10% of home energy use — DOE
    ENERGY STAR certified TVs use 25% less energy than standard models
    Programmable thermostats can save about 10% on heating/cooling — DOE
    Sealing air leaks can save 10-20% on heating and cooling costs — ENERGY STAR
    Heat pumps can reduce heating energy use by 50% vs. electric resistance — DOE
    Ceiling fans allow you to raise AC settings 4°F with no comfort loss — DOE
    Heating water accounts for about 18% of home energy use — DOE
    Low-flow showerheads save 2,700 gallons/year for a family of four — EPA
    Washing clothes in cold water can save $60+/year on water heating — ENERGY STAR
    Fixing a leaky faucet can save 3,000+ gallons/year — EPA
    ENERGY STAR refrigerators use 9% less energy than standard models
    Clean refrigerator coils annually for optimal efficiency — DOE
    Air-drying dishes instead of heat-dry saves 15-50% on dishwasher energy — DOE
    Proper attic insulation can cut heating/cooling costs by 15% — ENERGY STAR
    Windows can account for 25-30% of home heating/cooling energy use — DOE
    Window film can reduce solar heat gain by up to 70% — DOE
    Average US home solar system offsets 3-4 tons of CO₂ annually — EPA
    Solar panel costs have dropped 70%+ over the past decade — SEIA
    EVs cost about 60% less to fuel than gas vehicles — DOE
    Proper tire inflation improves gas mileage by 0.6% on average — DOE
    The average US household spends $2,000+/year on energy — EIA
    ENERGY STAR products have saved Americans $500 billion on energy bills
    policyIntermediate Level#Ontario#Rebates#Heat Pump#IESO#2026#Home Renovation Savings
    Ontario Energy Rebates 2026: Home Renovation Savings Guide (Verified)

    Ontario Energy Rebates 2026: Home Renovation Savings Guide (Verified)

    Ontario's 2026 rebate landscape is dominated by the IESO Home Renovation Savings program: up to $7,500 for coldclimate heat pumps, up to $12,000 for groundsource, up to $10,000 for solar plus battery, and a bundled path worth up to $7,700 for insulation. This guide lists the verified amounts, eligibility rules, and the federal programs that have closed.

    EnergyBS Editorial Team
    Updated: 2026-09-27
    10 min read

    Quick Checks

    • 1Pick your path first: single upgrades need no energy assessment; the bundled path requires one before any work starts.
    • 2Check that your heat pump model is on NRCan's qualified products list before your contractor orders it.
    • 3On the bundled path, complete the post-retrofit assessment within 180 days of the pre-assessment.
    • 4Gas-heated homes get $500/ton (up to $2,000) for air-source heat pumps; non-gas homes get $1,250/ton (up to $7,500).
    • 5The federal Greener Homes Grant and Loan are closed to new applicants — plan around the provincial program.

    Ontario Energy Rebates 2026: Home Renovation Savings Guide (Verified)

    Short Answer: In 2026, Ontario homeowners get most of their retrofit rebates from one program: the IESO Home Renovation Savings program, run under the Save on Energy brand. Cold-climate air-source heat pumps qualify for up to $7,500, ground-source heat pumps for up to $12,000, solar panels plus battery storage for up to $10,000, and attic insulation for up to $1,250 — all on a "single upgrade" path that needs no energy assessment. A second "bundle and save" path, which does require an energy assessment and at least two upgrades, pays up to $7,700 for combined insulation, $100 per window or door opening, and $250 for air sealing. The old federal Canada Greener Homes Grant and Loan are closed to new applicants, so the provincial program is the main game in town.

    This guide was rewritten on September 27, 2026 after a source audit found that its earlier version described rebate programs that could not be verified against any official source. Every amount below is traceable to a linked source. Program rules change; confirm current details on the official program site before you sign a contract.

    The Two Paths: Single Upgrades vs. Bundle and Save

    Home Renovation Savings splits into two tracks, and picking the wrong one is the most common reason homeowners leave money on the table.

    Path 1 — Single upgrades. No home energy assessment required. You pick one eligible upgrade, buy it, install it through the program's rules, and claim the rebate. This path covers heat pumps, solar plus battery, smart thermostats, appliances, and standalone attic insulation. It suits homeowners who know exactly what they want: a heat pump to replace a failing furnace, for example.

    Path 2 — Bundle and save. Requires a home energy assessment (the program pays $600 back toward the assessment cost) and a minimum of two upgrades. The payoff is access to deeper envelope measures: combined insulation up to $7,700, windows and doors at $100 per rough opening, air sealing up to $250, and heat pump water heaters at $500. The critical rule: on the bundled path, do not start any work before the pre-retrofit assessment is complete. Starting early is the number-one reason bundled claims get rejected.

    Every 2026 Rebate Amount, in One Table

    The table below summarizes the published Home Renovation Savings amounts for 2026. Treat these as the program's advertised maximums — your actual rebate depends on equipment size, your heating fuel, and meeting the fine print.

    Upgrade Rebate Path Key condition
    Cold-climate air-source heat pump Up to $7,500 Single Must be on NRCan's qualified products list
    Ground-source heat pump Up to $12,000 Single Amount set by installed capacity
    Solar panels + battery storage Up to $10,000 Single New for 2026
    Smart thermostat $100 Single —
    Attic insulation (standalone) Up to $1,250 Single Capped at 50% of product cost after tax
    Heat pump clothes dryer $200 Single ENERGY STAR Most Efficient
    Induction stove $150 Single ENERGY STAR
    Clothes washer $75 Single ENERGY STAR Most Efficient
    Fridge / freezer $50 each Single ENERGY STAR Most Efficient
    Dishwasher $25 Single ENERGY STAR Most Efficient
    Insulation (bundled) Up to $7,700 Bundle Attic, wall, basement, floor combined
    Windows & doors $100 per rough opening Bundle ENERGY STAR certified; minimum 3 window openings or 1 door/skylight
    Air sealing Up to $250 Bundle —
    Heat pump water heater $500 Bundle ENERGY STAR certified
    Home energy assessment $600 back Bundle Required before work starts

    Appliance rebates are limited to two per category, and you apply after purchase — the price is not discounted at the point of sale.

    Heat Pump Rebates: How the Per-Ton Math Works

    The heat pump rebate is the headline item, and its amount depends on what heats your home today:

    • Homes heated with electricity, oil, propane, or wood: $1,250 per ton of installed capacity, up to $7,500. A typical 3-ton cold-climate unit therefore qualifies for about $3,750; you reach the cap around 6 tons.
    • Homes heated with natural gas (Enbridge): $500 per ton, up to $2,000. The lower rate reflects that gas-to-heat-pump conversions are often hybrid setups that keep the furnace as backup.
    • Ground-source (geothermal): up to $12,000 for non-gas homes (about $2,000 per ton); gas-heated homes get a flat $3,000.
    • Rentals: you do not have to buy the equipment outright. Air-source heat pump rentals qualify for $500 per ton up to $2,000; ground-source rentals qualify for a flat $3,000.

    Whichever path you take, the heat pump must appear on Natural Resources Canada's qualified products list. Installing a unit that is not listed is one of the standard rejection reasons, so check the list before your contractor orders equipment.

    Worked example (hypothetical, for illustration only)

    Take a hypothetical electrically heated 2,000 sq. ft. detached home in Ottawa that installs a 3-ton cold-climate air-source heat pump for $18,000 before tax. At $1,250 per ton, the rebate would be $3,750, bringing the net equipment cost to about $14,250. If the same home were gas-heated, the same 3-ton unit would qualify for only $1,500 (3 × $500) — a $2,250 difference driven entirely by the existing heating fuel. This is a simplified illustration, not a quote: real installed costs, taxes, and program verification steps will move the numbers.

    Who Qualifies — and Who Does Not

    Eligibility rules for Home Renovation Savings in 2026:

    • You own a detached, semi-detached, townhouse, row house, or mobile home on a permanent foundation.
    • The home has been occupied for at least 6 months.
    • You heat with Enbridge Gas or are connected to Ontario's electricity grid (oil, propane, wood, and electric heating all count).
    • You have not already received Canada Greener Homes Grant or HER+ rebates for the same home.

    Not eligible: condos, apartments, stacked townhomes, and new builds. Cornwall Electric customers are excluded unless they heat with Enbridge Gas. If you received the old federal Greener Homes Grant for this property, you cannot double-dip.

    Mistakes That Get Claims Rejected

    Program walkthroughs and contractor advisories converge on the same short list of rejection reasons:

    1. Starting work before the pre-retrofit assessment on the bundled path. The assessment must come first, and the post-retrofit assessment must be completed within 180 days of the pre-assessment.
    2. Choosing only one upgrade on the bundled path. The minimum is two.
    3. Installing a heat pump not on NRCan's qualified products list.
    4. Installing windows or doors that are not ENERGY STAR certified.
    5. Missing paperwork — invoices or model numbers absent from the submission.
    6. Using a contractor not registered with the program. Confirm registration before work begins, not after.

    None of these is appealable in practice; the program's documentation requirements are mechanical. Keep every invoice, model number, and the contractor's registration confirmation in one folder from day one.

    What Happened to the Federal Programs

    Ontario homeowners who remember the federal programs should reset their expectations for 2026:

    • Canada Greener Homes Grant: closed to new applications. The grant (up to $5,000) stopped taking new applicants in early 2024, and the final document deadline for existing participants has passed.
    • Canada Greener Homes Loan: closed to new approvals. The interest-free loan ($5,000–$40,000 over 10 years) is fully committed; existing approved borrowers keep their funding path, but no new applications can be approved.
    • Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program (CGHAP): active in some provinces, but as of mid-2026 Natural Resources Canada does not list an Ontario household intake, and Ontario households cannot apply directly through the federal government.
    • Oil to Heat Pump Affordability (OHPA): the federal-linked route still open to qualifying Ontario homeowners is for income-qualified households heating with oil, delivered in Ontario through Save on Energy's Energy Affordability Program — effectively a free-installation path rather than a rebate you claim yourself.

    The practical takeaway: if you are starting a retrofit in Ontario in 2026, plan around the provincial Home Renovation Savings program, not the federal programs you may have read about in older guides.

    Related EnergyBS Guides

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Do I need a home energy audit to get the heat pump rebate? No. On the single-upgrade path, no pre-installation energy assessment is required — that is one reason the single path is faster. The assessment (with $600 back) is only required for the bundled path.

    Can I stack the heat pump rebate with the insulation rebate? Yes, through the bundled path: do the energy assessment first, then combine at least two upgrades — for example, a heat pump plus attic insulation — to access the bundled insulation amounts. Do not start work before the assessment.

    Does the rebate apply if I rent my heat pump? Yes. Rental plans are eligible: air-source rentals qualify for $500 per ton up to $2,000, and ground-source rentals for a flat $3,000. Your installer or rental provider typically handles the rebate paperwork.

    What if my home heats with natural gas? You still qualify, but the air-source heat pump rate is $500 per ton up to $2,000 rather than $1,250 per ton up to $7,500. Many gas-heated GTA homeowners install dual-fuel setups — heat pump for most heating and cooling, gas furnace kept for the coldest nights.

    Are the old federal Greener Homes programs really closed? For new applicants, yes. Both the grant and the loan are closed to new applications in 2026. Approved borrowers under the loan keep their original terms. Do not plan a 2026 project around receiving federal Greener Homes money.

    Where do I confirm the current rules? The official program site is the IESO's Save on Energy Home Renovation Savings page. Rebate amounts and eligibility can change mid-year, so re-check the official page before you sign a contract or schedule an assessment.

    Sources and Data Points

    1. IESO / Save on Energy — Home Renovation Savings program page (official): rebate amounts, two-path structure, NRCan qualified-products requirement. http://www.saveonenergy.ca/homerenovationsavings
    2. ClaimRebate.ca — Home Renovation Savings explained: full rebate table, eligibility rules, rejection reasons. https://claimrebate.ca/guides/home-renovation-savings-explained
    3. Constant Home Comfort — Ontario Home Renovation Savings Program: everything you can still claim in 2026: cold-climate heat pump per-ton rates, geothermal amounts, attic insulation increase, rental treatment. https://www.constanthomecomfort.com/news-detail?pid=1&slug=ontario-home-renovation-savings-program-everything-you-can-still-claim-in-2026
    4. Reliance Home Comfort — Ontario heat pump rebates offer: $500/ton (gas) vs $1,250/ton (electric) detail, no-assessment-required confirmation, rental eligibility. http://reliancehomecomfort.com/hamilton/offers/ON-Heat-Pump-Rebates-Offer/
    5. Get a Better Quote — Canada Greener Homes Ontario 2026 program status (last verified 2026-07-25): grant and loan closures, no Ontario CGHAP household intake, OHPA via Save on Energy. https://getabetterquote.com/guides/canada-greener-homes-ontario/
    6. RedFlagDeals — 2026 home energy efficiency rebates roadmap: program landscape after federal grant phase-out, heating share of household energy bills. https://www.redflagdeals.com/blog/navigating-fall-utilities-your-guide-to-2026-home-energy-efficiency-rebates

    EnergyBS reviews public program rules, product specifications, utility rates, and reader-facing cost assumptions. Treat savings figures as estimates until you verify local prices, permits, rebates, and contractor quotes. This guide is educational, not financial advice — confirm program rules on the official site before committing to work.

    Common Questions

    What should I check first before using this policy advice?

    Start with the numbers that apply to your home: climate, utility rate, equipment age, contractor quote, and local program rules. In 2026, Ontario homeowners get most of their retrofit rebates from one program: the IESO Home Renovation Savings program, run under the Save on Energy brand. Coldclimate airsource heat pumps qualify for up to $7,500, groundsource heat pumps for up to $12,000, solar panels plu...

    How should I verify rebates, tax credits, rates, or savings before spending money?

    Treat program amounts, utility rates, and tax rules as date-sensitive. Check the named government, utility, or manufacturer source before you sign a contract, and keep screenshots or PDFs of eligibility rules for your records.

    What is the next useful step after reading this?

    Compare this with Home Energy Audit and Rebate Documentation Checklist so you can check the cost, rebate, installation, or operating-risk angle before making a decision.

    What to Read Next

    Home Energy Audit and Rebate Documentation ChecklistUse this next to compare the cost, incentive, installation, or operating-risk angle before you make a home energy decision.

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    Editorial Review

    EnergyBS Editorial Team

    EnergyBS publishes practical homeowner guides. Important program, product, and cost claims should be checked against the linked source and local project documents before you commit to work.

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    Important: Educational Purposes OnlyThe guides, tools, cost estimates, and ROI calculators provided on EnergyBS.com are for informational and educational purposes only. They do not constitute certified financial, tax, or professional engineering advice. Energy costs, government rebates, and installation fees vary significantly by location and are subject to change. Always consult with certified local professionals before undertaking home energy projects or making financial commitments.