What insulation rebates pay in Halifax
Amounts from Efficiency Nova Scotia's Home Energy Assessment rebate guide (August 2026), which its program page still links as of October 3, 2026. All of these are maximums, paid on the share of the area you insulate.
Attic
For bringing the attic up to R-50.
Exterior walls
Pro-rated by the share of wall area insulated.
Basement walls
Crawlspaces get up to $960.
Air sealing
Based on the air leakage measured at your final assessment.
Moderate Income Rebate
For homes heated mainly by non-electric fuel, under the income limits. Pre-approval required.
HomeWarming
Lower-income homeowners can get insulation and draft-proofing at no charge.
Canada’s new heat pump rebate is worth up to $10,000. Get an email the day it opens
Planning a heat pump too? This one is on top of the rebates above, and we’ll email you the day it opens.
- Up to $10,000
- if your household earns below the median income
- $2,000
- for other homeowners who qualify
Stack it with the Nova Scotia 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
Know someone with old heating? Send them this.
Only emails about this rebate. No spam, no sales calls. Unsubscribe anytime.
Read everything we know so far Official page: canada.ca
Semis and townhouses get less for walls
For wall and foundation insulation, Efficiency Nova Scotia pays semi-detached and end units 75% of the detached amount, and middle units 50%. So a middle townhouse that fully insulates its exterior walls gets up to $750 instead of $1,500. Attic rebates are not reduced this way. Halifax has about 12,460 semi-detached households and 7,490 in row houses, per the 2021 Census.
Why insulation comes first in older Halifax homes
Statistics Canada's 2021 Census counted 85,640 Halifax households in homes built before 1981, about 45% of the total. Homes from that era were built before modern energy codes, and many still have thin attic insulation and uninsulated basement walls. Adding insulation lowers your heating bill whatever you heat with, and it lets a heat pump do its job with a smaller unit. That is why Efficiency Nova Scotia's assessment looks at the whole house, not just the furnace.
Newer Halifax homes are a different story. About 27% of households live in homes built since 2001. They usually start with decent insulation, so the payback on more is slower. The assessment will tell you whether it is worth doing.
How the assessment works
You book an initial Home Energy Assessment ($199, waived for moderate-income households). An energy advisor checks your insulation, air leakage and heating system and leaves a report with recommended upgrades. You hire a contractor, do the work within 12 months, then book the final assessment. Rebates are paid after the final visit, up to $5,000 in total and never more than the work cost. The home must be at least six months old and the work must not have started before the first visit.
Basements and radon
Insulating and sealing a home makes it tighter, which is the point. Efficiency Nova Scotia now reminds homeowners that tighter homes can change indoor air, including radon levels. Health Canada recommends every home be tested for radon. Some homes qualify for a free test kit through Lung NS-PEI. If you are finishing or insulating a basement, test first. A heat recovery ventilator (HRV) brings in fresh air without losing much heat, and Efficiency Nova Scotia pays $300 for one through the assessment.
How to get an insulation rebate in Halifax
- Check if your income qualifies for HomeWarming (free) or the Moderate Income Rebate (needs pre-approval).
- Book a Home Energy Assessment before any work starts.
- Get quotes for the upgrades in your report, and ask each contractor what R-value and area they are covering.
- Finish the work within 12 months.
- Book the final assessment. Your rebate is calculated from what was actually added.
Common questions
How much is the insulation rebate in Halifax?
Up to $750 for the attic (to R-50), up to $1,500 for exterior walls, up to $1,200 for basement walls and up to $960 for a crawlspace, plus $200 for air sealing, through Efficiency Nova Scotia's Home Energy Assessment.
Do townhouses get the full insulation rebate?
Not for walls and foundations. End units and semis get 75% of the amount and middle units 50%. Attic rebates are not reduced.
Can I insulate first and apply later?
No. You need the initial assessment before the work starts, then a final assessment after. Work done before the first visit is not eligible.
Is there a free insulation program in Halifax?
Yes, for lower-income homeowners. HomeWarming covers insulation and draft-proofing at no charge. The after-tax income limit is $30,187 for one person and $57,075 for two to four people.
What to do next
See window rebates in Halifax, heat pump rebates, or our insulation rebates by province and state.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 9, 2026: Efficiency Nova Scotia: Home Energy Assessments, Home Energy Assessment Rebate Guide (Aug 2026), HomeWarming, Health Canada: radon, Statistics Canada, 2021 Census table 98-10-0233-01. All Halifax rebates → Every Efficiency Nova Scotia rebate →
