Ontario Edition

Heat Pump or Solar First? The Real Answer for Ontario

By Sam Menard · Updated September 26, 2026

How to pick your first upgrade, using the rebates that are actually open in 2026.

On this page
  1. Quick quiz: Ontario rebates
  2. The short answer
  3. What each one gets back in 2026
  4. When a heat pump should come first
  5. When solar could come first
  6. How much will I save?
  7. Will a heat pump work in an Ontario winter?
  8. What about the federal loan?
  9. What to do next
Quick quiz

Quick quiz: Ontario rebates

A few questions from the programs we track. Tap an answer to see why.

1. The most this program can pay: Home Renovation Savings: ground-source heat pump (Enbridge gas home). How much?

Home Renovation Savings: ground-source heat pump (Enbridge gas home) pays up to $3,000. Official page, checked October 9, 2026.

2. The most this program can pay: Home Renovation Savings: heat pump water heater. How much?

Home Renovation Savings: heat pump water heater pays up to $500. Official page, checked October 3, 2026.

3. The most this program can pay: Home Renovation Savings: ground-source heat pump. How much?

Home Renovation Savings: ground-source heat pump pays up to $12,000. Official page, checked October 9, 2026.

4. The most this program can pay: Home Renovation Savings: whole-home insulation with assessment. How much?

Home Renovation Savings: whole-home insulation with assessment pays up to $7,700. Official page, checked October 3, 2026.

5. The most this program can pay: Home Renovation Savings: attic insulation, no assessment. How much?

Home Renovation Savings: attic insulation, no assessment pays up to $1,250. Official page, checked October 3, 2026.

Estimate my rebates
Solar panels on a tiled house roof

Canada’s new heat pump rebate is worth up to $10,000. Get an email the day it opens

Applications are not open yet. Ottawa says they open in early 2027, and that you can add this rebate on top of provincial ones.

Up to $10,000
if your household earns below the median income
$2,000
for other homeowners who qualify

Stack it with the Ontario rebate open today

Ottawa says you can combine them. Each program has its own rules. Amounts are the most you can get.

Applications open early 2027

Join the launch alert

  • Launch-day email, with what to do first
  • Who qualifies for the $10,000, once Ottawa says
  • A short hello now, so you know it worked

Only emails about this rebate. No spam, no sales calls. Unsubscribe anytime.

The short answer

For most Ontario homes, start with the heat pump if your furnace or AC is getting old, and get the attic and air sealing done first or at the same time. Heating is the biggest energy cost in an Ontario home, and a smaller, tighter house needs a smaller heat pump. Solar makes the most sense once your roof is in good shape and you know how much power the heat pump will use.

What each one gets back in 2026

UpgradeHome Renovation Savings rebate
Cold-climate air source heat pumpUp to $2,000 if you heat with Enbridge gas; up to $7,500 if you heat with electricity, oil, propane or wood
Ground source heat pump$3,000 (gas) or up to $12,000 (other fuels)
Solar panels$1,000 per kW, up to $5,000, max 50% of cost
Battery (with new solar)$300 per kWh, up to $5,000, max 50% of cost

If you take the solar rebate, you can't also sign a net-metering deal with your utility. Read solar rebate vs. net metering first.

When a heat pump should come first

  • You heat with electric baseboards, oil or propane. The rebate is up to $7,500 and your savings are usually biggest.
  • Your furnace or central AC is near the end of its life. A heat pump replaces the AC and does most of the heating.

When solar could come first

  • Your roof is new, faces south, and gets little shade.
  • You already heat with a heat pump, or you plan your solar size around one.

How much will I save?

It depends on your home, your current fuel, and your install price. We don't publish one "payback" number, because a made-up average would mislead you. Ask installers for a written estimate based on your own bills. Our free assessment uses your home's details.

Will a heat pump work in an Ontario winter?

Yes, if it's a cold-climate model, which the rebate requires. Many keep heating well below -20°C. Many Ontario homes keep the gas furnace as backup for the coldest nights. See heat pumps in Ontario winters.

What about the federal loan?

The Canada Greener Homes Loan closed to new applicants on October 1, 2025. Toronto and Ottawa still offer city loans. See what's open now.

What to do next

  1. Check your heat pump amount in the Home Renovation Savings guide.
  2. Get quotes for both, based on your real bills.
  3. See your city's rebates and compare top-rated local installers, ranked by Google reviews. Free for homeowners.

Sources, checked September 26, 2026: HRS heat pump rebates, HRS solar and battery, Canada Greener Homes Loan portal.

Keep learning

Short reads and quick quizzes on how rebate programs work.

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