Home renovation rebates, explained without the jargon
A friendly guide to Canadian government and utility-backed energy savings programs — what they cover, how the process usually works, and which questions to ask before you start. Written with Ontario homeowners in mind.
11
Programs Covered
18
In-Depth Guides
Aug 2026
Last Updated
Where homeowners usually start
Most efficiency programs organise incentives around a handful of upgrade categories. Here is how we cover each one.
Insulation
Attic top-ups, wall and basement insulation, and the air sealing that makes them work.
Heat Pumps
Cold-climate and hybrid systems, sizing, backup heat, and what drives operating cost.
Solar & Battery
Roof suitability, how exported energy is credited, and where storage genuinely helps.
Windows & Doors
Certified performance ratings, install quality, and when replacement is worth it.
How we source our numbers: every rebate figure on this site is sourced directly from official program documentation and dated, so you can check it against the program before you apply.
Municipal retrofit loan programs
Several Ontario municipalities offer low-interest retrofit loans repaid through your property tax or utility bill — five programs near you, summarized independently.
BetterHomes Huntsville
Up to $40,000 at 2.0% (0% if income-qualified), repaid on the property tax bill.
Read the full summary Municipal ProgramsBetter Homes Peterborough
Up to $50,000 — 4.50% fixed over 15 years, or a 4.95% variable 5-year credit union loan.
Read the full summary Municipal ProgramsBetter Homes Lanark
$10,000 to $40,000 at 2.75% fixed, with a 30% energy reduction target.
Read the full summary Municipal ProgramsBetterHomes London
Up to $40,000 at 2.5% fixed, plus up to $10,000 incentive on verified savings.
Read the full summary Municipal ProgramsRetrofitWR (Waterloo Region)
Up to $40,000 at 2.5%, repaid on the electricity bill — does not transfer on sale.
Read the full summary Municipal ProgramsBetter Homes Ottawa
Up to $125,000 (or 10% of home value) at 4.33% over 20 years, repaid on the property tax bill.
Read the full summaryLatest from the blog
View all articlesThe EnerGuide Home Energy Assessment: What Actually Happens During Your Visit
Nearly every rebate and municipal loan on this site requires a 'pre-retrofit assessment' — but almost nobody explains what that actually involves. Here is the EnerGuide visit, step by step.
· 7 min read
Solar & BatteryNet Metering in Ontario Explained: How Your Solar Panels Actually Pay You Back
A plain-English breakdown of how Ontario's net metering program credits exported solar power, how the annual true-up math works for a typical home, and why system sizing — not panel count — determines your real payback.
· 9 min read
Solar & BatteryOne Year in a Net-Zero Ontario Home: A Month-by-Month Look at Life After the Retrofit
A representative first year after a solar-plus-heat-pump retrofit in Ontario — month by month through heating peaks, cold snaps, and peak solar production. Illustrative, not one customer's private bills.
· 9 min read