Reviewed September 4, 2026. These articles provide general planning information. The property, contract, product instructions, professional advice and current authority control each individual case.

An energy retrofit is rarely one isolated purchase. Air sealing can affect ventilation. Insulation can expose moisture questions. New equipment may depend on the home’s load, electrical service and existing distribution system.

Start with the house and the objective, then match the work to any available program—not the other way around.

Build the whole-home picture

Document the concern you are trying to solve: comfort, drafts, high consumption, equipment replacement, moisture or planned renovation. Review the building envelope, ventilation, combustion safety and the interaction between proposed measures.

An energy assessment may be appropriate, especially when a program requires one. A specific technology should not be selected until qualified professionals assess the home’s condition, load, electrical capacity, ventilation or combustion implications and installation requirements.

Check the current program before spending

Ontario’s Home Renovation Savings program currently has assessment-required bundled pathways and some non-assessment pathways. Eligible equipment, approved contractors or advisers, pre-approval, installation and documentation requirements differ by measure.

Confirm the program pathway and eligibility before signing a contract, purchasing equipment or beginning work; some pathways require an initial assessment or other pre-work step.

The Canada Greener Homes Grant is closed, including Ontario’s Home Efficiency Rebate Plus intake. The Canada Greener Homes Loan is also closed to new applications. Older articles or contractor pages that present those programs as open should not control a 2026 decision.

Keep incentives, permits and outcomes separate

A program’s acceptance does not establish that a project is technically appropriate, permitted, code-compliant, insured or covered by a warranty. City permits and inspections remain separate.

Rebates and savings are not guaranteed. Actual energy use, cost and comfort depend on the home, installation, operation, weather, rates and occupant behaviour. Program terms and funding can also change.

Before committing, confirm the scope with the appropriate assessment professional or contractor, the City where permits may apply, the insurer where the work affects coverage and the current incentive administrator.

If you are evaluating a property rather than renovating one you already own, start with the systems-first older-home review and the home-inspection guide.

Sources reviewed September 4, 2026: Ontario Home Renovation Savings program; Natural Resources Canada Canada Greener Homes Initiative and closed-program pages; City of Greater Sudbury permit guidance.

Before committing to a retrofit, write down the problem you want to solve and confirm the assessment, permit, contractor and program steps that must come first.

Expect Moore for Your Real Estate.
— Chad Moore, REALTOR®
— Lake City Realty Ltd., Brokerage