Ontario energy rebates for insulation, windows and air sealing
The Home Renovation Savings Program pays real money toward the unglamorous work that actually lowers a heating bill. Up to $7,700 for insulation, $100 a window, $250 for air sealing. It runs through November 2026.
The pre-approval rule is the whole game
Starting work before pre-approval is the number one reason claims get rejected, and it cannot be fixed afterwards. If the insulation is already in the attic when you apply, that job is ineligible. Approval first, then book the work. People lose thousands by taking a contractor's cancellation slot on a Tuesday.
Older houses usually get more back, not less
Post-war bungalows and older homes across York Region, Toronto and Peel often have very little attic insulation by modern standards, plus real air leakage around rim joists and window frames. That is exactly the work the program pays the most for, and it is what shows up on the January bill.
Energy rebates in detail
What the money actually goes toward
The work that earns the most is rarely the work people want to buy. Attic insulation, rim joist sealing and weatherstripping are invisible when finished, and they are what moves a heating bill. New windows matter too, but at roughly $100 each the rebate is a contribution toward a large cost, not something that covers it. If your budget only stretches to one thing this year, insulation and air sealing beat windows on return almost every time.
We will tell you that even though windows are the bigger job for us. A cold room usually has a sealing problem rather than a glass problem, and replacing serviceable windows to chase a rebate is a good way to spend eight thousand dollars saving two hundred.
What the process looks like from your side
You book an assessment, the work gets pre-approved, then it gets done, then you claim. That order is not flexible. Most people who lose the money lose it by starting early, usually because a contractor had a cancellation and the timing looked too good to turn down.
We handle our part of the paperwork and tell you honestly at the start whether your house is likely to qualify for the larger amounts or the smaller ones. A 1950s bungalow with four inches of settled attic insulation is a very different claim from a 2015 build that is already sealed well.
Questions we get asked
Do I have to get pre-approval before starting the work?
Yes, and it is the single most important rule. Work started before pre-approval is ineligible and it cannot be fixed retroactively. If the insulation is already installed when you apply, that job does not qualify. Get approval first, then book the work.
How long does the Home Renovation Savings Program run?
Through November 2026 as it currently stands. Programs like this do get extended, changed or closed early depending on budget, so treat the deadline as real rather than assuming another round is coming. Confirm current terms before committing to a large job.
Which upgrade gives the best return on an older Ontario house?
Usually attic insulation and air sealing. Post-war houses across York Region, Toronto and Peel often have very little attic insulation by modern standards, plus real leakage around rim joists and window frames. That combination is both cheapest to fix and most heavily rebated.
Can you handle the rebate paperwork for me?
We handle our side of it and walk you through yours. We will also tell you before starting whether we think your house qualifies for the larger amounts, so you are not deciding on a guess.
What if my house does not qualify for much?
Then we will say so. Some houses are already well sealed and the honest answer is that the rebate will not move much. We would rather tell you that on the phone than after you have paid for an assessment.
Get it approved first. Then we book it.
Tell us what the house is doing. Cold rooms, drafts, ice damming, a heating bill that keeps climbing. Free consultation.