Canada Greener Homes Grant: What It Was, Why It Ended, and What to Do Now
Canada's most popular home energy grant — up to $5,000 for solar panels — was cancelled in April 2024 after exhausting its $2.6 billion budget. Here's the full picture: what the grant offered, why it closed early, and what incentives Canadian homeowners can use in its place.
Muhammad founded KilowattKit after spending hours trying to decode confusing electricity bills and realising there were no clear, jargon-free tools for ordinary homeowners. He researches energy rates, solar payback, EV charging, and heat pump economics across the US, UK, Canada, and Australia — sourcing every figure directly from official government and regulatory data.
Closed to new applications on April 15, 2024. All new applications are rejected. If you had an in-progress application before closure, contact NRCan to confirm your claim status.
What the Greener Homes Grant Offered
| Retrofit type | Maximum grant | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Solar photovoltaic panels | $5,000 | $1,000/kW installed, up to 5kW |
| Geothermal heat pump | $5,000 | Ground source, must meet efficiency standards |
| Air-source heat pump | $5,000 | AHRI-certified, cold-climate rated |
| Insulation | $5,000 | Attic, walls, basement, crawlspace |
| Windows & doors | $5,000 | Energy Star certified, combined with other retrofits |
| Thermostats (smart) | $50 | Energy Star certified smart thermostat |
| Maximum per household | $5,600 | Cap applied across all retrofit types combined |
Pre- and post-retrofit EnerGuide home energy assessments were required. Both assessments plus the retrofit work had to be completed within an 18-month window. Assessment fees (typically $400–$600) were partially reimbursable under the programme.
Programme Timeline
Canada Greener Homes Grant opens with $2.6B funding over 7 years. Initial grant caps: $5,000 solar, $5,600 total.
Applications vastly exceed projections. Wait times for EnerGuide assessments stretch to 6–12 months in some provinces. NRCan adds more service organisations.
Canada Greener Homes Loan (interest-free, up to $40,000) launches. By late 2023, the government signals funding pressure as the budget approaches exhaustion.
Both the Grant and the Loan are closed to new applications. 650,000+ applications processed. Homeowners with in-progress applications may still receive payment.
What to Use Instead in 2026
BC's CleanBC Energy Savings Program (up to $16,000 for income-qualified households), Ontario's Home Renovation Savings programme (up to $12,000 for a ground-source heat pump), Nova Scotia's Efficiency NS (up to $5,000), and Quebec's LogisVert are the main alternatives. Coverage varies significantly by province — check our provincial rebates guide for details.
This federal program gave income-qualified households heating with oil up to $10,000 to switch to a heat pump. Its funding has now been fully allocated and it closed to new applications on 2 July 2026 (applications submitted before then are still being processed). New applicants should instead look to provincial oil-to-heat-pump top-ups (several provinces co-delivered OHPA and run their own versions) — check with Natural Resources Canada and your provincial energy body.
Even without a grant, solar panels still pay back through electricity bill savings and net metering credits. In provinces with electricity rates above $0.12/kWh (Ontario, Nova Scotia), solar can have reasonable 10–14 year paybacks — still within the typical panel warranty period.
If you're buying or building a new energy-efficient home and require CMHC mortgage insurance, you can receive a 25% premium refund for homes meeting specific EnerGuide ratings. Less relevant for existing homeowners retrofitting solar, but valuable for new builds.