The Real Choices, Straight Up
ecobee Smart Thermostat
Retail price: roughly $130-$280 depending on model (3 lite, Essential, Enhanced, Premium, or voice-enabled). Best for: homes with multiple rooms that run hot or cold unevenly.
ecobee's line includes optional room sensors that let the thermostat average temperature across rooms instead of just where the unit hangs on the wall — useful in older Ontario homes with uneven heating from radiators or forced-air runs that don't reach every room equally.
Google Nest (Learning Thermostat / Nest Thermostat / Thermostat E)
Retail price: roughly $130-$280 depending on model. Best for: homeowners who want the thermostat to build a schedule automatically rather than programming one by hand.
Nest's Learning Thermostat adjusts its own schedule based on your actual behavior over the first week or two, which suits people who won't sit down and program a weekly schedule manually. It integrates well if you're already in the Google ecosystem.
Sinopé and Mysa
Retail price: roughly $100-$200 depending on model (Sinopé Lite/Pro Lite/Pro, Mysa Smart Thermostat). Best for: homes with electric baseboard or in-floor heating, which most major-brand thermostats don't support well.
Both are Canadian-made and specifically built to handle line-voltage electric heating systems — common in Ontario condos, older electrically-heated homes, and additions with in-floor radiant heat. ecobee and Nest are designed primarily for central forced-air and heat pump systems, so if your home runs baseboard heaters, Sinopé or Mysa is usually the only real fit.
| Brand | Retail price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| ecobee | $130-$280 | Uneven room-to-room temperature, multi-zone homes |
| Google Nest | $130-$280 | Auto-scheduling, Google ecosystem homes |
| Sinopé / Mysa | $100-$200 | Electric baseboard or in-floor heating |
No official pricing is posted on the HRSP program site — confirm current retail pricing at the retailer before you buy.
How the Ontario Rebate Applies
HRSP pays a flat $100 for any eligible model, and you have two ways to claim it:
- Before buying: apply for the $100 instant rebate through the program portal, then purchase at a participating retailer — the discount applies at checkout.
- After buying: purchase any eligible model first, then submit your receipt for a $100 mail-in rebate.
Eligible brands include the ecobee Smart Thermostat line, Google Nest Learning Thermostat and Nest Thermostat/Thermostat E, Honeywell Home T9/T5 Gen2/X2S/X8S, Copeland Sensi Touch/Touch 2/Sensi/Sensi Lite, Mysa Smart Thermostat, and Sinopé Smart Thermostat Lite/Pro Lite/Pro.
The $100 rate is provincial, so it applies the same in Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, and every other Ontario city page.
What to Check Before You Buy
- Confirm your heating system type first: line-voltage electric baseboard needs a Sinopé or Mysa — ecobee and Nest won't wire in correctly.
- Check your C-wire situation: older furnaces without a common wire may need an adapter kit, which adds a small extra cost most quotes don't mention upfront.
- Apply for the instant rebate before checkout if you can: it saves the hassle of a mail-in claim and receipt submission.
- Self-install or hire an electrician: forced-air systems are usually a DIY-friendly swap; baseboard-heating installs sometimes call for an electrician depending on your panel setup.
What to Ask Before You Buy
- "Is this exact model on the current HRSP eligible list?"
- "Does my heating system need a C-wire adapter for this thermostat?"
- "Should I apply for the instant rebate before I buy, or is mail-in easier for my situation?"
- "If I have electric baseboard heat, will this thermostat actually control it?"
The One Number That Matters
A smart thermostat with proper scheduling typically cuts heating and cooling costs by 8-12% in a well-used Ontario home. On a $200 unit, the $100 rebate cuts your net cost in half, and most homeowners recover the remaining $100 in energy savings within the first year.