CLOSED Energy Efficiency Incentives Program

How Cancelled Programs Are Hurting Families, Jobs, and Canada’s Clean Energy Future

Canada Greener Home Grant

The Canada Greener Homes Grant was a cornerstone federal program designed to help homeowners improve energy efficiency, lower bills, and contribute to Canada’s climate goals. When it launched, the government promised it would run until 2027, giving families, contractors, and the energy efficiency industry stability and confidence to plan long-term. However, its abrupt cancellation in February 2024 — years ahead of schedule — left thousands of homeowners stranded mid-upgrade, contractors without work, and energy advisors facing a wave of uncertainty. This broken promise not only damaged trust but also destabilized an industry employing tens of thousands across Canada, while putting Canada’s climate commitments further out of reach.

Home Efficiency Rebate Plus (HER+)

The Home Efficiency Rebate Plus was a collaborative program co-delivered with Enbridge alongside the Federal Greener Homes Grant, offering homeowners double the total rebate to encourage deeper energy efficiency upgrades. It was expected to remain active until the end of the Greener Homes program, giving contractors and energy service companies the confidence to invest in staff, equipment, and marketing. Instead, its unexpected early closure left many businesses with sunk costs, lost revenue, and broken plans, creating widespread financial strain. Families and homeowners who counted on these rebates were left without support, while the industry faced yet another sudden disruption, shaking trust and undermining long-term progress toward energy efficiency goals.

The Canada Greener Homes Loan Program, offered jointly by the federal government and CMHC, provided homeowners with up to $40,000 at 0% interest for 10 years to support energy efficiency upgrades. Designed to run alongside the Greener Homes Grant, it gave families the financial flexibility to make meaningful improvements while stimulating the energy efficiency industry. Its sudden closure on October 1, 2025, came as a shock to homeowners, contractors, and energy advisors who had planned projects around this support. The abrupt termination left thousands without access to vital funding, disrupted business investments, and sent waves of uncertainty throughout the industry, undermining trust and slowing Canada’s progress toward cleaner, more efficient homes.

Canada Greener Homes Loan

Additional Closed Programs Impacting Homeowners and the Industry

Beyond the Canada Greener Homes Grant, Home Efficiency Rebate Plus, and Canada Greener Homes Loan Program, several other energy efficiency initiatives have been abruptly discontinued, leaving homeowners and industry professionals facing significant setbacks. Programs such as the Home Efficiency Rebate in Ontario, which closed , and the Home Renovation Savings Program, launched in January 2025 with low limits, have also been affected. The CMHC Eco Plus program, which offered partial premium refunds for energy-efficient homes, ceased accepting applications . Similarly, Alberta's Energy Efficiency Rebate Program (EEA) was terminated, and CleanBC's heat pump rebates concluded in April 2025. These unexpected closures have disrupted planned upgrades, undermined trust in available support, and created financial uncertainty for both homeowners and the energy efficiency sector. The premature end of these programs has not only hindered individual projects but also delayed Canada's progress toward its climate goals, emphasizing the need for consistent and reliable support for energy efficiency initiatives.