What the program is
Home Renovation Savings is an Ontario program delivered by Save on Energy and Enbridge Gas, with support from the Ontario government. It offers rebates on home energy upgrades. Heat pumps are one of the eligible upgrades, alongside others such as insulation, smart thermostats and some appliances. The program describes its purpose as helping Ontarians improve home energy efficiency and comfort.
If you want a shorter primer first, read Ontario heat pump rebate basics.
Official program pages: Home Renovation Savings and Save on Energy. Program rules, amounts and deadlines change, so confirm the current details there before you buy.
Program names, amounts, equipment lists and rules change. Confirm current rules on the program site (Save on Energy and the Home Renovation Savings program site) before you decide. Kelvin Mechanical is not the program administrator and cannot approve or pay a rebate.
Why Ontario funds home energy upgrades
Beyond the program's stated purpose, energy-efficiency programs usually serve several public goals at once. These are the usual reasons for offering rebates on equipment like heat pumps.
Energy efficiency
Heating and cooling are among the largest energy uses in a home. Efficient equipment and better building performance reduce how much energy a home needs for the same comfort.
Lower peak demand
When many homes draw heavily at the same time, the energy system is under strain. Efficient equipment and better controls can ease that load, though the effect depends on the equipment and how it is used.
Heating cost pressure
Using less energy can help ease household heating costs. Actual bills still depend on energy rates, weather, how the home is used and the system being replaced.
Emissions reduction
Replacing fossil-fuel heating with a heat pump can lower emissions from home heating, depending on the electricity source and the equipment. A rebate reduces the upfront cost, which is a common hurdle to making that switch.
How a heat pump can lower heating emissions, and when it may not
A gas, oil or propane furnace or boiler burns fuel at your home, so the heating emissions are produced on site. A heat pump does not burn fuel to make heat. It uses electricity to move heat from one place to another, so any emissions come from generating that electricity.
Ontario's electricity comes from a mix of sources, and the mix changes with the time of day and the season. That is why the honest answer is qualified. Replacing fossil-fuel heating with a heat pump can reduce emissions from heating, and how much depends on the electricity source, the model, outdoor conditions, the home and how the system is run.
Heat pump performance also changes with outdoor temperature, and published efficiency figures vary by model and test conditions, so we do not quote a single efficiency number. Heat pumps also use refrigerants, which have their own environmental impact if released. Careful installation and service matter for that reason.
Short version: often lower heating emissions than burning fuel, not zero impact, and the size of the benefit depends on your home and equipment.
How the program works, step by step
This is our plain-language summary of how the program describes participation, based on the public pages of Save on Energy and the Home Renovation Savings program site. The program sets the rules, so confirm current rules on the program site before you act.
1. Pick the route
The program describes two routes. One starts with a home energy assessment and is used when you plan two or more upgrades. The other does not need an assessment and covers one or more upgrades. The program lists heat pumps under the route without an assessment, so check which one fits your home.
2. Check your home and heating source
Heat pump rebate amounts can depend on the size and type of the unit and on your home's current primary heating energy source. Other eligibility conditions are set out in the program's terms and conditions.
3. Choose qualifying equipment
The program says the heat pump must be on Natural Resources Canada's qualified products list. Not every model on the market qualifies, so equipment should be checked before you commit to a model, not after.
4. Use a participating contractor
For heat pumps, the program says to choose a contractor from its list of participating HVAC contractors. That contractor submits the pre-installation application, installs the system and submits the post-installation application. Ask any contractor how participation works on your project, and get the answer in writing.
5. Read the program terms
Program offers come with a participant agreement and terms and conditions that apply to specific rebates. Read them. They cover details this page cannot, including what counts as an eligible project.
6. Pre-approval, installation, paperwork and payment
The program says pre-approval is mandatory and that installations done before approval are not eligible. After the approved installation, the rebate is processed under the program's rules. Timelines and payment methods are set by the program, so ask for the current details and do not plan your budget around a payment date.
7. Watch for scams
The program warns about fake websites and people impersonating participating contractors. Do not share personal details with a contact you have not verified. Go to the program site yourself and check.
Heat pump installation with Kelvin Mechanical starts with a site review and a proper load calculation. See heat pump installation for how that works.
What the "up to" wording means
Eligible Ontario customers may qualify for up to $7,500 depending on the program rules, equipment, property and funding available at the time. "Up to" is a ceiling, not a typical amount.
These things can change what a project receives:
- The program rules in force when the project is submitted
- The type, size and model of the heat pump
- Your property and its current primary heating energy source
- Whether funding is available at the time
Kelvin Mechanical does not set, approve or pay rebates. The program administrator decides eligibility and amounts.
What Kelvin Mechanical collects in the eligibility check
To match your project to the program, the eligibility check asks for the details below. It is a set of questions, not a program application, and it does not reserve funding.
- City, to confirm the project is in our Ontario service area
- Program, whether you are asking about Home Renovation Savings or a heat pump rebate program
- Property type, for example house, townhouse, condo or rental property
- Current heating system, for example furnace, boiler or electric baseboard
- Fuel type, for example natural gas, electricity, oil, propane or wood
- Equipment interest, for example ducted heat pump, ductless heat pump or heat pump water heater
- Photos (optional), such as your existing equipment and its label
- Phone number and email, so we can reach you about your answers
You choose what to submit, and photos are optional. Our privacy policy explains how we handle the information, and you can add a quote request through Build My Quote.
Questions to settle before you sign
A rebate and a payment plan are separate things, and you can read about the second on our financing options page. For the rebate, put these questions to any contractor before you sign.
- Which exact model is being quoted, and is it on the current qualified products list?
- Which route and which rebate does the contractor expect to apply to this project?
- Who submits the program paperwork, and what do I need to provide?
- Does any step have to happen before installation begins?
- What happens to my quote if the program rules or funding change?
- Have I read the program's current terms and conditions myself?