Nova Scotia heat pump rebates, by who qualifies
Start with the card that fits your home and income. Each one names the official page we read.
Home Energy Assessment rebates
Ductless is $300 a ton, centrally ducted is $500 and geothermal is $600. The heat pump must add new heating capacity and be on the program's qualifying list. Overall rebates for the home reach up to $5,000.
Moderate Income Rebate
For homeowners with moderate income whose home is mainly heated by something other than electricity. It stacks with the assessment rebates. You need approval before upgrades.
HomeWarming
Free upgrades such as insulation, draft-proofing and heat pumps for lower-income homeowners. Expect about 4 to 6 weeks to hear back after you apply.
Oil to Heat Pump Affordability
This was the biggest offer for oil homes: up to $10,000 federal and $5,000 provincial. It closed to new applicants on July 2, 2026. A standby list is reviewed only if money frees up.
Greener Homes Affordability Program
A federal program for low-to-median income homeowners, delivered through provinces. Natural Resources Canada lists Nova Scotia among the places taking applications. We have not confirmed how to apply here, so ask Efficiency Nova Scotia.
National Heat Pump Rebate
Announced by the federal government on October 8, 2026. It is not open yet. Launch is expected in early 2027. Efficiency Nova Scotia says it has limited information and will share details.
Two things changed this year. The oil-to-heat-pump program closed, and the Moderate Income Rebate was cut from a maximum of $10,000 to $5,000. If you read an older guide that promises $15,000 for oil homes, it is out of date.
Do the assessment first
You cannot skip the Home Energy Assessment. The steps run in this order: book an assessment with an Efficiency Nova Scotia partner, finish the upgrades, then book a final assessment and claim the rebates. The assessment costs $199. The fee is waived for households under the moderate-income limit. Your home must be at least six months old, and you cannot have started the renovations yet.
That last part matters. If the heat pump goes in before the first assessment, you will probably lose the rebate. Book the visit before you sign anything.
No replacement heat pumps
The program pays for new heating capacity. If you already have a heat pump and you are swapping it for a newer one, the swap is not eligible. The rebate is for homes that heat with something else today, such as oil, propane or electric baseboards. A qualifying model and a certified installer are also required.
If you heat with oil or propane
This is where the Moderate Income Rebate helps. To qualify, you own the home, it is your main home, and it is mainly heated with non-electric fuel. A wood stove does not count as your main heat. Income is measured after tax, using your tax notice of assessment. The limits are $37,260 for one person, $77,050 for two, $98,900 for three, $120,750 for four, and $126,500 for five or more.
Apply and get approved before you book any upgrades. With the assessment rebates added, the most you can get is $10,000 in total. Homes heated mainly by electricity are not eligible for this one.
If your income is lower
HomeWarming is worth a look before you spend your own money. It pays for upgrades outright, and a heat pump can be one of them. The after-tax household limit is $30,187 for one person, $57,075 for two to four people, and $79,163 for five or more. The wait can be long, so apply early in the season.
What about the federal rebate?
On October 8, 2026, the federal government announced a National Heat Pump Rebate. It would pay up to $10,000 to households below the median income and $2,000 to other eligible homeowners. The launch is expected in early 2027. It has not published which homes or heating fuels will qualify. Efficiency Nova Scotia says it has limited information and will share more when it has it.
So we cannot say whether it stacks with the provincial rebates, or whether work done now will count. Do not delay a heat pump you need this winter. We will update this page when the rules are out.
How to claim a Nova Scotia heat pump rebate
- Check your income against the Moderate Income Rebate and HomeWarming limits first. Those programs pay the most.
- If you qualify, apply and wait for approval before booking work.
- Book a Home Energy Assessment with an Efficiency Nova Scotia partner. The fee is $199 unless it is waived.
- Get quotes from a certified installer. Ask them to confirm the model is on the program's qualifying list.
- Install the heat pump and any other upgrades from your report.
- Book the final assessment to claim your rebates.
More for Nova Scotia homes
- Nova Scotia home rebates: every program in one place
- National Heat Pump Rebate guide: what Ottawa has confirmed so far
- Should you wait for the federal rebate?: a simple rule for deciding
- Federal and provincial rebates: what stacks: BC, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Alberta side by side
- Nova Scotia rebate calculator: add up everything you qualify for
- Efficiency Nova Scotia, program guide: every Efficiency Nova Scotia offer
- Nova Scotia heating rebate (HARP): the $400 winter bill rebate
- What happened to the heat pump rebate: why the old amounts are gone
- Questions to ask at a home energy assessment: before you book
- Halifax heat pump rebates: city details and installers
- Cape Breton heat pump rebates: city details and installers
Common questions
How much is the Nova Scotia heat pump rebate in 2026?
Efficiency Nova Scotia pays $300 a ton for ductless, $500 for centrally ducted and $600 for geothermal, after a home energy assessment. Overall rebates reach up to $5,000. Moderate-income homes heated with non-electric fuel can add up to $5,000 more, for $10,000 in total.
Is the oil to heat pump rebate still open?
No. The Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program closed to new applicants on July 2, 2026, because its funding ran out. A standby list is reviewed only if money frees up.
Do I need an assessment before I install a heat pump?
Yes. You book a Home Energy Assessment first, then do the upgrades, then book a final assessment. The first one costs $199, and the fee is waived for moderate-income households.
Can I get a rebate to replace my old heat pump?
No. The program pays for new heating capacity, and replacing an existing heat pump is not eligible.
Is the heating rebate (HARP) the same thing?
No. HARP is a $400 rebate on your winter heating costs, not an upgrade rebate. You can claim it and an upgrade rebate separately.
Will the new federal heat pump rebate change this?
It might, but the rules are not out. It was announced on October 8, 2026, with up to $10,000 or $2,000, and launch expected in early 2027. Efficiency Nova Scotia says it will share details once it has them.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 9, 2026: Efficiency Nova Scotia: Home Energy Assessment, Efficiency Nova Scotia: Moderate Income Rebate, Efficiency Nova Scotia: HomeWarming, Efficiency Nova Scotia: Oil to Heat Pump Affordability, Government of Canada: one million home retrofits announcement.