The Ontario government is launching a new residential energy efficiency program on Jan. 28 that will give rebates on a range of home energy efficiency renovations and improvements. The Home Renovation Savings Program is part of the provincial government’s12-year, $11-billion energy efficiency plan.
The program offers homeowners rebates of up to 30 per cent for new windows, doors, insulation, air sealing, smart thermostats and heat pumps as well as rooftop solar panels and battery storage systems.
Rebates for energy efficient appliances, including refrigerators and freezers, will be added to the program later this year.
The new residential energy efficiency program, which aims to cut greenhouse gases while saving homeowners money, is open to all households rather than being restricted to those heating with electricity as an earlier program was.
There will also be some rebates for small businesses upgrading their energy efficiency.
How much are the rebates?
Minister of Energy and Electrification Stephen Lecce said that homeowners could receive up to $8,900 for insulation and $100 for every door and window, according to a press report.
A homeowner Investing $15,000 in a heat pump could get “a $4,500 rebate up front, while benefiting from an ongoing savings of up to 50 per cent on their heating portion of the electricity bill,” he added.
Other rebates include $600 for an energy assessment and up to $250 for air sealing, $500 on heat pump water heaters and $10,000 for solar panels and battery storage, according to Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator. There are also rebates for a smart thermostat and other upgrades.
Other energy efficiency programs
The new Ontario program comes seven years after the Ford government cancelled the previous provincial energy efficiency rebate scheme created by Ford’s Liberal predecessors.
There are currently no federal grant programs for upgrading residential energy efficiency. Energy providers like Enbridge may offer rebates, either alone or in concert with the new Ontario program, and some municipalities have their own programs.
The City of Ottawa, for example, offers low-interest loans of up to $125,000 through its Better Homes Ottawa – Loan Program.
Homeowners can sign up to be notified when the Home Renovation Savings Program is live.
