What heat pump rebates pay in Halifax
We re-read Efficiency Nova Scotia's program pages on October 3, 2026. Every amount below comes from those pages and links to its source at the bottom. These are provincial programs, so they are the same in Dartmouth, Bedford, Sackville and the rest of the municipality.
Ductless mini-split
Through the Home Energy Assessment. The model must be on Efficiency Nova Scotia's list and installed by a certified installer.
Centrally ducted heat pump
Paid on newly added capacity. Ducted and compact-ducted mini-splits are not eligible. Geothermal gets $600 per ton.
Moderate Income Rebate
For homes heated mainly by oil, propane or other non-electric fuel. Stacks with the assessment rebates for up to $10,000.
HomeWarming
Lower-income homeowners can get insulation, draft-proofing and sometimes a heat pump at no charge.
Oil to Heat Pump Affordability
Closed to new applicants on July 2, 2026 after its funding was used up.
Working it out
A Halifax bungalow adds a 2-ton ductless mini-split: 2 x $300 = $600. A larger house adds a 3-ton centrally ducted system: 3 x $500 = $1,500. If that larger house heats with oil and the household is under the moderate-income limit, the Moderate Income Rebate can add up to $5,000 more. Total assessment rebates are capped at $5,000, or $10,000 with the Moderate Income Rebate.
What Halifax homes look like
Halifax is a mix of old and new. Statistics Canada's 2021 Census counted 190,510 households in the Halifax Regional Municipality. About 45% live in homes built before 1981, and about 27% in homes built since 2001. Just under half (48%) are single-detached houses, and 42% of households rent.
That mix matters for heat pumps. Owners of older detached houses are the ones most likely to be heating with oil or electric baseboards, and they get the most from a rebate. Renters can't apply for these programs, because the homeowner must. If you rent, ask your landlord. About 28,280 Halifax households live in apartment buildings five storeys or taller, where a heat pump is a building decision, not a unit decision.
The rule that catches people: no replacement heat pumps
Efficiency Nova Scotia pays on new heating capacity. If you already have a heat pump and you are swapping it for a newer one, that replacement is not eligible. The rebate is for adding heat pump capacity to a home heated some other way, such as oil, baseboards or propane.
You also need the assessment first. Book the initial Home Energy Assessment ($199, waived for households under the moderate-income limit), do the upgrades, then book the final assessment. Upgrades must be finished between the two visits, within 12 months, and the home must be at least six months old.
Does a heat pump keep up in a Halifax winter?
Halifax's average January low is about -6°C, and the coldest reading in the last ten years was -26.4°C. A cold-climate heat pump keeps working well below -6°C, so it can carry most homes through most of the winter. On the few very cold nights, many Halifax homes keep their oil furnace or baseboards as backup. Ask your installer what temperature the unit is rated to, and whether your home needs backup heat.
Power costs matter here too. Nova Scotia Power charges 19.128 cents per kWh, plus a $20.08 monthly base charge. That is high for Canada. A heat pump gives you two to three units of heat for every unit of power in mild weather, which is why switching from baseboards pays off faster in Nova Scotia than in most provinces.
Which program should you start with?
Lower income: apply to HomeWarming first. Upgrades are free, though waits can be long. The limit is $30,187 after tax for one person, $57,075 for two to four people and $79,163 for five or more.
Moderate income and heating with oil or propane: apply for the Moderate Income Rebate before you book anything. It needs pre-approval, and it includes a free assessment. The limits run from $37,260 for one person to $126,500 for five or more. Homes heated mainly by electricity don't qualify.
Everyone else: book a Home Energy Assessment and use the per-ton rebates.
Top-rated installers in Halifax
Ranked by Google reviews (minimum five). We don't take referral fees or paid placements. Ask any installer whether they are certified for Efficiency Nova Scotia rebates before you sign.
How to get a heat pump rebate in Halifax
- Check income first. If you might qualify for HomeWarming or the Moderate Income Rebate, apply before you book anything else.
- Book a Home Energy Assessment with an Efficiency Nova Scotia delivery partner ($199, or free if your income qualifies).
- Get quotes from certified installers for a model on Efficiency Nova Scotia's list. Ask each one how many tons of new capacity they are adding.
- Have the heat pump installed within 12 months of your first assessment.
- Book the final assessment. Rebates are paid after it, capped at what you spent.
Common questions
How much is the heat pump rebate in Halifax?
$300 per ton for a ductless mini-split, $500 per ton for a centrally ducted system and $600 per ton for geothermal, through Efficiency Nova Scotia's Home Energy Assessment. Moderate-income homes heated with oil or propane can add up to $5,000.
Is the oil to heat pump program still open in Halifax?
No. The Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program closed to new applicants on July 2, 2026. Oil-heated homes can still use the per-ton rebates and, if income qualifies, the Moderate Income Rebate or HomeWarming.
Can I get a rebate to replace my old heat pump?
No. Efficiency Nova Scotia pays only for new heating capacity. A replacement heat pump is not eligible.
Do I need a home energy assessment for a heat pump rebate?
Yes. The rebates are paid through the Home Energy Assessment, with an initial visit before the work and a final visit after it. The fee is $199, waived for moderate-income households.
Can renters in Halifax get a heat pump rebate?
Not directly. The homeowner must apply. Renters who pay their own heat can apply for the provincial Heating Assistance Rebate, which is $400 for winter 2026-27.
What to do next
Start with your income: it decides which program pays most. Then see the full list of Efficiency Nova Scotia rebates, read our Halifax heat pump water heater page if you heat water with electricity, or check the $400 heating rebate (HARP) for help with this winter's bill.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 5, 2026: Efficiency Nova Scotia: Home Energy Assessments, Home Energy Assessment Rebate Guide (Aug 2026), Moderate Income Rebate, HomeWarming, Nova Scotia Power residential rate, Statistics Canada, 2021 Census table 98-10-0233-01. All Halifax rebates → Every Efficiency Nova Scotia rebate →