How much you get
No assessment needed: attic & cathedral ceiling
Attic, from ≤R-12
Must reach R-50 minimum across 100% of the roof assembly.
Attic, from R-12–25
Attic, from R-25–35
Cathedral ceiling / flat roof
Assessment required: walls, foundation, crawlspace
Exterior wall
To at least R-20 across 100% of exterior wall area.
Foundation / basement wall
Basement slab
Insulate 50%+ with minimum R-3.5 addition.
Foundation header
Insulate 80%+ with minimum R-20 addition.
Crawlspace wall
Crawlspace ceiling
A separate measure from the crawlspace wall, both can be claimed.
Exposed floor
The attic pays more here than on the no-assessment path
If you're already booking an assessment for other upgrades, do your attic insulation through this tier instead of the no-assessment path above, it pays more for the identical work: up to $1,500 for attic (vs. $1,250 on the no-assessment path) and $780 for cathedral ceiling/flat roof (vs. $750/$650).
Both insulation and air sealing are also eligible measures under the Better Homes Ottawa loan, if you want to finance the remainder after rebates. See our full breakdown of the loan for rates and terms.
How to claim it
- For attic: confirm eligibility, pick a participating insulation contractor, get it installed, contractor submits the application
- For walls/foundation: book an energy assessment first, then follow the assessment-path steps
Browse HVAC, solar, and electrical installers near Ottawa →
Common questions
What insulation rebates are available in Ottawa?
Ontario's Home Renovation Savings Program covers attic, wall, and basement insulation, plus air sealing, usually as part of a broader retrofit. Amounts depend on the scope of work and typically run a few thousand dollars.
Do I need an energy audit first in Ottawa?
Yes. Ontario requires a pre-retrofit home energy assessment before insulation work qualifies, so the auditor can confirm the upgrade and measure the improvement afterward.
What Hydro Ottawa can and can't do for this rebate
Your insulation rebate comes entirely from the province, and Hydro Ottawa, the city-owned utility on most Ottawa bills, has no vote in the amount. Where the utility actually matters is downstream of the rebate: it's who bills the electricity your home uses to heat itself, so once your walls and attic stop leaking heat, the effect eventually shows up as a smaller Hydro Ottawa bill rather than a bigger rebate cheque. If a retrofit contractor's scope touches your electrical service, Hydro Ottawa is also the utility that has to sign off. No Hydro Ottawa top-up on the provincial program has surfaced in our research, treat any claim of one skeptically until it's in writing.
Ottawa's winters make this one of the faster paybacks in Ontario
The 10-year record (2015-2024) puts Ottawa's average January low at -13.2°C, with a coldest recorded reading of -32.2°C, among the harshest numbers of any Ontario capital-region city. That matters for insulation specifically because heat loss scales with the temperature difference between inside and outside: the colder it gets, the more an under-insulated attic or wall bleeds heat, and the faster the rebate-adjusted cost of fixing it pays for itself in avoided heating bills.
Next steps
View all Ottawa rebate programs → or check the official Home Renovation Savings Program site → for the current source of truth.