Find the program that suits you
Overview
Income qualified Nova Scotians can receive no-charge Home Energy Assessments and free home upgrades, such as insulation and heat pumps, through the HomeWarming Program.
Eligibility
- You own a single-unit home located in Nova Scotia.
- You live in your home year-round, it is your current primary residence and you do not plan to sell it in the near future.
- Your total family net income is within the levels shown in the Income Qualification Chart.
| HomeWarming Income Qualification Chart | |||
| Number of people living in your home | Maximum annual household income. *Line 236 from your Notice of Assessment | ||
| 1 person | $28,900 | ||
| 2 to 4 people | $54,600 | ||
| 5 or more people | $75,750 | ||
- Please visit the HomeWarming website to learn more.
Overview
The Moderate Income Rebate provides income qualified households additional incentives towards energy efficient upgrades and the cost of your Home Energy Assessment may be covered.
The Moderate Income Rebate can also be combined with the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program (OHPA) and Home Energy Assessment (HEA) rebates.
Eligibility
- You own a home (i.e. detached, duplex/semi-detached, townhouse, or mobile home) located in Nova Scotia and can provide proof of ownership.
- You live in your home year-round, it is your current primary residence and you do not plan to sell it in the near future.
- The home is at least 6 months old, and no major renovations have been started.
- Your household net income is under the levels shown in the chart below.
| Moderate Income Qualification Chart | |||
| Number of people living in your home | Maximum annual household income. *Line 23600 minus line 43500 from your Tax Notice of Assessment | ||
| 1 person | $37,260 | ||
| 2 people | $77,050 | ||
| 3 people | $98,900 | ||
| 4 people | $120,750 | ||
| 5 or more people | $126,500 | ||
- For more information, please visit the Efficiency Nova Scotia’s website.
Overview
The OHPA program is a combined initiative from the Government of Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia to help low and median-income households make the transition off oil heating to electric cold-climate heat pumps. The OHPA program offers up to $15,000 to qualified applicants and can be combined with existing federal and provincial programs such as heat pump and insulation rebates.
Eligibility
- Your home is oil-heated as of January 2023 (this must be demonstrated with copies of your oil fuel bills from the 12 months preceding their application).
- You are the primary resident and owner of a single/ semi-detached home located in Nova Scotia and can provide proof of ownership.
- Your total household income is at or below the maximum annual household income after-tax. See chart below:
| Moderate Income Qualification Chart | |||
| Number of people living in your home | Maximum annual household income. *Line 23600 minus line 43500 from your Tax Notice of Assessment | ||
| 1 person | $37,260 | ||
| 2 people | $77,050 | ||
| 3 people | $98,900 | ||
| 4 people | $120,750 | ||
| 5 or more people | $126,500 | ||
- For more information, please visit the OHPA webpages found on Efficiency Nova Scotia’s website or on Natural Resources Canada’s website.
Overview
A short one-to-three-hour Home Energy Assessment with one of our Energy Advisors will determine the energy efficiency of your home and provide you with a modelled report of energy efficient upgrades to help plan your home renovation. Up to $5,000 in rebates available from Efficiency Nova Scotia for energy efficient home upgrades.
Click here to learn more about Home Energy Assessments.
Overview
CMHC and Natural Resources Canada have announced the Greener Homes Loan Program where Canadians can apply for an interest free loan of up to $40,000 to pay for energy efficient upgrades to their home.
The first step is to have an EnerGuide evaluation (Home Energy Assessment) of your home before starting any renovations. Contact Sustainable Housing at bookings@sustainablehousing.ca or fill out our contact form to get your appointment now!
Greener Homes Loan Program Details:
- Maximum loan: $40,000
- Minimum loan: $5,000
- Repayment term: 10 years, interest free.
- Loan type: Unsecured personal loan on approved credit.
- A maximum of one loan is available per eligible property and homeowner.
For more information on loans, province specifics, and application process, please click here.
Please Note: The rules and requirements of these programs are subject to change at anytime. Please refer to the Greener Homes program website to learn more.
You can find a detailed walkthrough of the Greener Homes Loan application process here.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Is the loan secured against my home?
A: No. The loan is an unsecured personal debt obligation, which means we don’t require any collateral. You can read more about the loan on the Greener Homes website, here.
Q: Why can’t I see the button to apply to the loan in the portal?
A: You’ll only see the button to apply to the loan once the reports from your pre-retrofit EnerGuide home evaluation have been uploaded to the portal. You can login to the portal to view the status of your application or retrieve documents at any time by clicking here.
Q: How much money can I get through a loan?
A: The minimum loan available is $5000, and up to a maximum of $40,000 interest-free. The actual amount will depend on the retrofits you plan to undertake on your home. You can read more about what’s covered on the Greener Homes website, here.
Q: What if the loan doesn’t cover all of my expenses?
A: Good question! There’s a chance that not all of your expenses will be covered by the loan, and you’ll be responsible for paying these costs yourself. Before you apply, we suggest you take a look at what’s eligible so you can plan accordingly.
Q: Who is eligible for the loan?
A: To apply for the loan, you’ll need to review the eligibility requirements found here.
NOTE: You may begin work on your retrofits before loan approval however, keep in mind that LOAN APPROVAL IS NOT GUARANTEED at this point. If the loan is not approved, any work already undertaken is the homeowner’s responsibility.
Q: Can I add new retrofits to my application if I’ve already signed a loan offer?
A: Once your loan agreement has been signed, the amount cannot be increased. That’s why we suggest you take your time to review the recommendations from your energy advisor and plan your retrofits carefully before submitting an application.
Q: Can I apply for the loan more than once?
A: Yes, If you sell your primary residence, you can apply for the loan one additional time on your new primary residence, so long as your previous loan has been paid in full and you have re-applied and been approved for the program.
Q: If part of my primary residence is used for business, can I still apply for the loan?
A: The answer is yes, so long as 50% of the space is deemed residential. However, the loan will only cover eligible costs for retrofits completed on the residential portion of your property. For more information, visit the Greener Homes website, here.
Q: If I own several properties, can I obtain a loan for each property?
A: The answer is, no. You can only receive a loan for your primary residence and you’ll need to show proof of ownership as part of your application.
Q: What costs are eligible for the loan?
A: You can only receive funding through the loan for costs directly associated with the retrofits recommended by your energy advisor. They must also be found on the Greener Homes website’s approved list of products and installations.
Q: How would I repay the loan?
A: You’ll need to start repaying the loan in equal monthly installments, starting on the 1st of the second month after you get the money. For example, if you get your loan on January 10th, your first payment is due on March 1st. For more information, visit the Greener Homes website, here.
Q: Can I repay my loan faster?
A: Absolutely! Once you start repaying your loan, you’ll have the ability to make full or partial payment at any time without penalty.
Q: When will I get my loan money?
A: You can only receive the funds from your loan after you’ve completed your retrofits, received a post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation, uploaded all your documentation, and requested your loan disbursement through the online portal. For more information, visit the Greener Homes website, here.
Q: Can I get an advance payment for my loan?
A: Absolutely! You can receive an initial loan advance up to a maximum of 15% of your eligible costs, so long as it’s used to cover upfront expenses, such as your contractors’ deposits. You’ll need to upload proof of these expenses in your request for an advance. For properties located in northern and off-grid communities and for Indigenous group applicants, this amount is increased to 25%. For more information, visit the Greener Homes website, here.
Q: If I do the work myself, is it still eligible for the loan?
A: Good question! In short, it depends. Specific retrofits, such as installing mechanical and electrical systems, need to be done by a licensed professional. However, there are other eligible retrofits, like a thermostat, that you can install yourself. For more information, visit the Greener Homes website, here.
Q: How much time do I have to complete the work once I have been approved for the loan?
A: You have 12 months, following the date of the loan agreement, to complete the retrofits, obtain the results of the post-retrofit evaluation and request your final loan advance. For homeowners in Northern or off-grid communities, the timeline to complete the work is extended to 24 months. For more information, visit the Greener Homes website, here.
Q: How long do I have to repay the loan?
A: You have 10 years to repay the loan once you’ve been approved and signed an agreement.
