Ontario’s Home Renovation Savings program can cover half the cost of insulating your GTA home — up to $1,250 for an attic, or up to $7,700 across a larger project. It applies right across the Greater Toronto Area, with natural gas or without.
But the details trip people up: two different routes, an energy-assessment rule, a coverage rule, and a few ways to accidentally disqualify yourself. This is the complete, plain guide — everything a GTA homeowner needs to claim it correctly. Verified as of July 2026.
The two routes at a glance
Every rebate is 50% of what you spend on that measure, up to a cap — it’s a reimbursement of half your cost, not a flat cheque.
| Route 1: Attic only | Route 2: Bundled | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy assessment? | No | Yes — before + after |
| Upgrades needed | Attic only | Two or more |
| Attic maximum | $1,250 | $1,500 |
| Total insulation maximum | ~$1,250 | $7,700 |
| Contractor | Closed pre-approved list | Any qualified contractor |
| Best for | A simple attic top-up | Older homes / multiple upgrades |
Route 1 — attic only (no energy assessment)
The simplest route if the attic is all you’re doing. The amount depends on how much insulation you have now:
| What’s in your attic now | Most you get |
|---|---|
| R-12 or less | $1,250 |
| Over R-12 to R-25 | $1,000 |
| Over R-25 to R-35 | $800 |
| Over R-35 | Not eligible (already adequate) |
You must bring the attic up to R-50, and insulate the whole attic.
⚠️ Honesty note: this attic-only route is delivered through a closed, pre-approved contractor list, and enrolment has been closed. Confirm current contractor availability and program status directly at homerenovationsavings.ca before relying on this route — don’t take any contractor’s word for it, including ours; verify it yourself.
Route 2 — two or more upgrades (energy assessment required)
For anything beyond the attic, this route pays far more — up to $7,700 across all insulation:
| Improvement | Most you get |
|---|---|
| Attic | $1,500 |
| Exterior walls (drill & fill) | $3,600 |
| Basement walls | $1,500 |
| Crawlspace (walls or ceiling) | $1,200 each |
| Basement slab | $500 |
| Rim joist / foundation header | $300 |
| Air sealing | $250 |
| Windows & doors | $100 per opening |
| Heat pump water heater | $500 |
For older GTA homes with uninsulated walls, the exterior wall measure (via drill and fill) is often the single biggest amount available.
Who qualifies
- You own the home
- It’s a detached, semi-detached, row/townhouse, or mobile home on a permanent foundation
- Excluded: stacked townhouses; new builds occupied six months or less; homes that already claimed the attic rebate from Enbridge Gas, Save on Energy, the Ontario government, or this program
Heating — two ways to qualify:
- Natural gas (Enbridge Gas), or
- Electricity, oil, propane, or wood, as long as the home is connected to Ontario’s electricity grid
That second path matters for the GTA’s rural fringes (parts of Durham, York, and the outer townships) where homes run on propane or oil. No natural gas line is required — a point many homeowners get wrong and miss out on.
The rules that cause people to lose the rebate
Four traps, all avoidable:
1. Starting work before the assessment. On the bundled path, the pre-retrofit energy assessment must happen before any work begins. Start first and you disqualify those measures. This is the most common mistake.
2. Doing only one upgrade. The bundled path requires at least two. One upgrade returns nothing on that route.
3. Not covering 100%. Attic, exterior walls, and basement walls each require insulating the whole area. Do part and you can be disqualified for that entire measure.
4. Switching advisors. The same registered energy advisor must do both the before and after assessments.
How the bundled path works, step by step
- Book the pre-retrofit energy assessment with a registered energy advisor — before any work. There’s a fee; ask what it is when booking.
- Get your Renovation Upgrade Report — rebates come only from the measures it recommends.
- Complete at least two recommended upgrades (100% coverage where required).
- Book the follow-up assessment — same advisor, who confirms the work.
- Rebates are issued after submission — as an Enbridge bill credit, or a cheque for non-gas homes.
Is there free insulation? (Income-qualified households)
Separate from the rebate, Enbridge Gas runs an income-qualified program that provides free insulation and draft-proofing to households that qualify on income — and it can include rentals where the tenant qualifies and the owner participates. If your household income qualifies, this is usually a better route than the 50% rebate. Check directly with Enbridge Gas for current thresholds and how to apply.
⚠️ Program names and income thresholds change — confirm with Enbridge Gas.
Timing — book before the fall rush
Peak insulation demand runs October through February, when energy advisors and contractors both book out. Book your assessment in the warmer months so the whole sequence — assessment, work, follow-up — finishes before winter. And because the program can change or end at any time, a completed rebate always beats a planned one.
Federal programs — what’s still available
- Canada Greener Homes Grant — closed to new applicants
- Canada Greener Homes Loan — closed to new applications as of October 1, 2025, per NRCan; already-approved homeowners continue
Any ad still promising “$10,000 from the Canada Greener Homes Loan” is out of date. NRCan’s newer Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program is income-targeted and delivered through provincial partners — confirm Ontario availability at natural-resources.canada.ca.
Scam warning: the program has published a notice about fake websites and people impersonating approved contractors. Verify through official channels only, and never give account details to an unsolicited caller or door-knocker: homerenovationsavings.ca/scams
Frequently asked questions
How much is the insulation rebate in the GTA? 50% of your cost, up to the caps — up to $1,250 for an attic-only project, or up to $7,700 across a bundle of two or more upgrades.
Do I need natural gas to qualify? No — homes heated by electricity, oil, propane, or wood on Ontario’s electricity grid qualify, as do Enbridge gas customers.
Do I need an energy assessment? Only for the bundled (two-or-more-upgrades) route. The attic-only route skips it.
Can I start the work before the assessment? No — on the bundled path that disqualifies it. Book the assessment first.
Is there free insulation? For income-qualified households, yes — through Enbridge Gas’s income-qualified program.
Who receives the rebate? The homeowner — as an Enbridge bill credit, or a cheque for non-gas homes.
Which is better, attic-only or bundled? Attic-only is simpler if the attic is all you need. Bundled pays far more if your home needs several upgrades — which most older GTA homes do.
Find out what you qualify for — free assessment
The rebate is real money on work that pays you back anyway — but only if it’s scoped and sequenced correctly. We’ll assess your home, tell you honestly which route fits, and put the rebate position in writing before any work starts.
Pro Insulation Contracting has insulated Ontario homes for over 10 years and serves the entire GTA.
📞 (416) 315-0471 · Book a free assessment →
Attic insulation in the GTA → · Spray foam → · Rebate program page →
Rebate and program details verified against homerenovationsavings.ca, enbridgegas.com and natural-resources.canada.ca on July 27, 2026. Government and utility programs change frequently and can be modified or ended without notice. Confirm current terms through the official program before making a financial decision.
