Find the Right Incentive

I own my house

• Better Homes Ottawa Loan Program – a low-interest loan of up to 10% of your home value for renewable energy, efficiency, resilience, health and climate adaptation measures. If you are installing a heat pump, you can also access an incentive of up to $2,000.
• Canada Greener Homes Loan – an interest free loan of up to $40,000 for renewable energy and energy efficiency home improvements.
• CMHC Green Home Mortgage – up to 25% off your mortgage insurance premium for home energy improvements in your new home
• Enbridge Smart Thermostat Program – $75 off a qualifying smart thermostat for your home heating system
• The Save on Energy™ Energy Affordability Program Electricity Assistance Program – anywhere from a free heat pump, to energy saving kit for moderate income households and free upgrades to energy efficient appliances for qualifying low-income households. 
• Zero Emissions Vehicle Incentive – up to $5,000 off the purchase of a new zero emissions (electric) vehicle.

You could pay for your retrofit with a low-interest loan from the Better Homes Ottawa Loan Program, including your new solar panels, your electric water heater, EV charging station, solar blinds, a green roof, low-flow water devices or even to build an additional dwelling or granny-suite in your home.  Then, when your home is ready to go and powered on clean energy, you can get up to $5,000 off your zero-emissions vehicle purchase through the Government of Canada ZEV program.

Not ready to go electric?  You could still get more than halfway there by making sure your gas heated home uses as little energy as possible.  Look to the Better Homes Loan to add your solar panels and battery back-up, both dropping your electricity costs, and building your storm and disaster resilience.  Add in your drain water heat recovery system, solar hot-water heater and automatic lighting controls (all eligible measures in the Better Homes Loan Program), and when your furnace is end-of-life, you’re ready for net-zero.  (You will also be everybody’s favourite home during the next ice storm…)

I rent my house

As a renter, you’ll need to get your landlord on board for any major or structural changes to your house.  The good news is, lots of home improvement incentives are available to your landlord (see that section).  If you pay for your own home energy, and you want to reduce your costs, or improve your home comfort (or both), check out:

• The Save on Energy™ Energy Affordability Program Electricity Assistance Program – anywhere from a free heat pump, to energy saving kit for moderate income households and free upgrades to energy efficient appliances for qualifying low-income households. 
• Enbridge Gas Smart Thermostat program – $75 off a qualifying smart thermostat for your home heating system
• Enbridge Home Winterproofing Program – qualifying homeowners receive free home assessments, insulation and air-sealing upgrades, and smart thermostats.

If your landlord pays for your home energy (heating and/or electricity), talk to them about saving money and emissions through:

• Enbridge Smart Thermostat Program – $75 off a qualifying smart thermostat for your home heating system
• Enbridge Home Winterproofing Program – qualifying homeowners receive free home assessments, insulation and air-sealing upgrades, and smart thermostats.
• The Save on Energy™ Energy Affordability Program Electricity Assistance – anywhere from a free energy saving kit for moderate income households to free upgrades to energy efficient appliances for qualifying low-income households. 
• Better Homes Ottawa Loan Program – your landlord can access a 0% or low interest loan of up to 10% of the property’s value for renewable energy, efficiency, resilience, health and climate adaptation measures. There are tenant protections in place associated with accessing this program.

If you want to save on your energy bills and just have some positive impact on the planet, check out the ‘Save Energy Now’ page for some great tips.

I am low income

If you own your house and are low-income, or if you and your household spend more money on energy than you think you can afford, there are some incentives just for you.  You are potentially eligible for all the homeowner incentives listed in the ‘I own my house’ section, and also:

• Enbridge Home Winterproofing Program – qualifying homeowners receive free home assessments, insulation and air-sealing upgrades, and smart thermostats.
• The Save on Energy™ Energy Affordability Program Electricity Assistance Program – anywhere from a free heat pump, to energy saving kit for moderate income households and free upgrades to energy efficient appliances for qualifying low-income households. 
• Better Homes Ottawa Loan Program – qualifying homeowners can receive a 0% interest loan of up to 10% of your home’s value. You can access supports like a free Retrofit Project Manager service, which allows you to work with a qualified project manager, who will help you plan and execute your project.
• Ontario Renovates – forgivable loans and grants of up to $20,000 for home retrofits for low-income homeowners who are seniors, or have a disability.
• Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) – emergency financial assistance for residents behind on the electricity and/or gas payments

For example, you could start by applying for the IESO Save on Energy EAP program and find you are eligible for a range of free electricity-saving measures.  This could be anything from LED lightbulbs, a power bar with a timer and a drying rack, all the way up to a new, energy-efficient washer, dryer, air-conditioner or fridge.  If you have electric heat, you could receive free insulation upgrades and home draft-proofing.  If you have a gas-heated home, you could then turn to the Enbridge Home Winterproofing program and qualify for free insulation upgrades and home draft-proofing through that program.  Then, if you’re still spending too much on energy, you could go to the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program for some bill relief, or for help catching up on old energy bill arrears payments.  And when your monthly bills start to drop from all your energy savings, you can start to dig deeper and build up the value of your home with the zero-interest Better Homes Loan program.  You’ll pay back this loan monthly over up to 20 years, directly on your property tax account, and the free Better Home Project Planner service will help you figure out how to plan the best project for your home, and save the most in energy payments over the long term, ideally so that you save each month as much as you pay back in loan payments.  And if you move, the loan is attached to your house, not to you.  You will be saving money, improving your home, and reducing climate emissions, with a lot of support.

General

As a renter, you’ll need to get your landlord on board for any major or structural changes to your unit.  The good news is, lots of home improvement incentives are available to your landlord (see that section).  If you pay for your own home energy, and you want to reduce your costs, or improve your home comfort (or both), check out:

• The Save on Energy™ Energy Affordability Program Electricity Assistance Program – anywhere from a free energy saving kit for moderate income households to free upgrades to energy efficient appliances for qualifying low-income households. 
• Enbridge Gas Smart Thermostat program – $75 off a qualifying smart thermostat for your home heating system

If your landlord pays for your home energy (heating and/or electricity), talk to them about saving money and emissions through:

• Enbridge Smart Thermostat Program – $75 off a qualifying smart thermostat for your home heating system
• Enbridge Home Winterproofing Program – qualifying homeowners receive free home assessments, insulation and air-sealing upgrades, and smart thermostats.
• The Save on Energy™ Energy Affordability Program Electricity Assistance Program – anywhere from a free energy saving kit for moderate income households to free upgrades to energy efficient appliances for qualifying low-income households. 
• Better Homes Ottawa Loan Program – a low-interest loan of up to 10% of your home value for renewable energy, efficiency, resilience, health and climate adaptation measures.

If you want to save on your energy bills and just have some positive impact on the planet, check out the ‘Save Energy Now’ page for some great tips.

Low-Income

If you live in an apartment and are low-income, or if you and your household spend more money on energy than you think you can afford, there are some incentives just for you:

• The Save on Energy™ Energy Affordability Program Electricity Assistance Program – anywhere from a free energy saving kit for moderate income households to free upgrades to energy efficient appliances for qualifying low-income households. 
• Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)

You can also talk to your landlord about eligibility for:

• Enbridge Home Winterproofing Program – qualifying homeowners receive free home assessments, insulation and air-sealing upgrades, and smart thermostats.
• The Save on Energy™ Energy Affordability Program Electricity Assistance Program – qualifying homes receive free home assessments, insulation and home draft sealing, and more. 

Want some tips on saving energy and money through your own choices and behaviours, with or without incentive programs?  Check out the ‘Save Energy Now’ page for some great tips!

I own my condo

As a condo owner, your eligibility for incentives depends on your specific condo situation, the size of your condo building, and in some cases, the rules of your condo board.  You’ll need to check with your condo board or condo agreement for details.  As a rule of thumb, any structural changes or changes to shared systems will need to get collective approval from your condo residents.  Changes that affect your unit only (light bulbs, energy efficient appliances, unit-specific heating or cooling units) are up to you.  With that in mind, here are some of the incentives that you may be eligible for as a condo resident.

• CMHC Green Home Mortgage – up to 25% off your mortgage insurance premium for home energy improvements in your new home
• Enbridge Smart Thermostat Program – $75 off a qualifying smart thermostat for your home heating system
• The Save on Energy™ Energy Affordability Program Electricity Assistance Program – anywhere from a free energy saving kit for moderate income households to free upgrades to energy efficient appliances for qualifying low-income households. 
• Zero Emissions Vehicle Incentive – up to $5,000 off the purchase of a new zero emissions (electric) vehicle.

Your condo building or development may be eligible for:

• Better Homes Ottawa Loan Program – a low-interest loan of up to 10% of your home value for renewable energy, efficiency, resilience, health and climate adaptation measures.  Your building(s) would need to be part 9 (small residential or multi-unit under three storeys.)

I rent my condo

As a renter, you’ll need to get your landlord on board for any major or structural changes to your unit.  The good news is, lots of home improvement incentives are available to your landlord (see that section), and their condo board.  If you pay for your own home energy, and you want to reduce your costs, or improve your home comfort (or both), check out:

• The Save on Energy™ Energy Affordability Program Electricity Assistance Program – anywhere from a free energy saving kit for moderate income households to free upgrades to energy efficient appliances for qualifying low-income households. 
• Enbridge Gas Smart Thermostat program

If your landlord pays for your home energy (heating and/or electricity), talk to them about saving money and emissions through:

• Enbridge Smart Thermostat Program – $75 off a qualifying smart thermostat for your home heating system
• Enbridge Home Winterproofing Program – qualifying homeowners receive free home assessments, insulation and air-sealing upgrades, and smart thermostats.
• The Save on Energy™ Energy Affordability Program Electricity Assistance Program – anywhere from a free energy saving kit for moderate income households to free upgrades to energy efficient appliances for qualifying low-income households. 
• Better Homes Ottawa Loan Program – a low-interest loan of up to 10% of your home value for renewable energy, efficiency, resilience, health and climate adaptation measures.

If you want to save on your energy bills and just have some positive impact on the planet, check out the ‘Save Energy Now’ page for some great tips.

Low-Income

If you live in a rented condo and are low-income, or if you and your household spend more money on energy than you think you can afford, there are some incentives just for you:

• The Save on Energy™ Energy Affordability Program Electricity Assistance Program – anywhere from a free energy saving kit for moderate income households to free upgrades to energy efficient appliances for qualifying low-income households. 
• Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)

You can also talk to your landlord about eligibility for:

• Enbridge Home Winterproofing Program – qualifying homeowners receive free home assessments, insulation and air-sealing upgrades, and smart thermostats.
• The Save on Energy™ Energy Affordability Program Electricity Assistance Program – qualifying homes receive free home assessments, insulation and home draft sealing, and more. 

Want some tips on saving energy and money through your own choices and behaviours, with or without incentive programs?  Check out the ‘Save Energy Now’ page for some great tips!

I own small residential units

This means single family homes, townhouses, semi-detached and small multi-unit (part 9) buildings.

• Better Homes Ottawa Loan Program – a low-interest loan of up to 10% of your building value for renewable energy, efficiency, resilience, health and climate adaptation measures.
• CMHC Green Home Mortgage – up to 25% off your mortgage insurance premium for home energy improvements in your new building
• Enbridge Smart Thermostat Program – $75 off a qualifying smart thermostat for your unit heating systems
• The Save on Energy™ Energy Affordability Program Electricity Assistance Program – anywhere from a free energy saving kit for moderate income households to free upgrades to energy efficient appliances for qualifying low-income households. 
• Zero Emissions Vehicle Incentive – up to $5,000 off the purchase of a new zero emissions (electric) vehicle.

Your tenants could be eligible for:

• The Save on Energy™ Energy Affordability Program Electricity Assistance Program – anywhere from a free energy saving kit for moderate income households to free upgrades to energy efficient appliances for qualifying low-income households. 
• Enbridge Home Winterproofing Program – qualifying homeowners receive free home assessments, insulation and air-sealing upgrades, and smart thermostats.

I own a large multi-unit building

Coming Soon!