Nova Scotia Heat Pump Rebate

The Home Energy Assessment program pays a Nova Scotia heat pump rebate of $300 to $600 per ton, with a limit of $5,000. Early 2027 is when a new federal grant opens, and up to $5,000 can be added by moderate-income households.

The Standard Rebate Cap
Up to $5,000 All homeowners can use the Home Energy Assessment program
The Moderate Income Top-Up
Up to $5,000 Combine it with standard rebates to reach up to $10,000 total.
The Oil to Heat Pump Program
Closed As of July 2, 2026, the program no longer accepts new applicants in Nova Scotia.
National Heat Pump Rebate
Early 2027 Up to $10,000 is available as a federal grant for installations that qualify.

Efficiency Nova Scotia Heat Pump Rebate Amounts

Through the Home Energy Assessment guide, any homeowner in the province can get up to $5,000 in upgrades. Your payout depends on the style of system and the tons of heating capacity installed. One ton measures how much heat the system can produce at 47°F, not how heavy the outdoor unit is.

  • You get $300 per ton for a ductless mini-split, a wall unit that heats rooms without any air ducts.
  • You get $500 per ton for a centrally ducted heat pump, one hooked up to ductwork serving the whole house.
  • Geothermal heat pump: $600 per ton when the system pulls heat from the ground or from water.
  • Heat pump water heater: if an ENERGY STAR model qualifies and the tank is under 56 gallons, you get $800.

The heat pump rules for the province exclude replacement units and ducted mini-splits, so only new heating capacity counts.

Moderate Income and Free Efficiency Nova Scotia Rebates

The Moderate Income Rebate stacks with standard offers if your primary heat is not electric. Together they can total up to $10,000. The provincial top-up now provides up to $5,000, since its maximum was lowered from $10,000. The after-tax income limit begins at $37,260 for one person and rises to $120,750 for a household of four.

Owners with lower incomes can apply to HomeWarming for insulation, a free assessment, and a single-zone heat pump where it applies. Free upgrades require an after-tax income at or below $30,187 for a single person. For two to four people, the limit is $57,075. A household of five or more qualifies if its after-tax income is $79,163 or less.

The Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program stopped accepting new applicants on July 2, 2026, once all available funds were allocated. The closed oil program's standby list does not guarantee you will get funding.

Booking Your Assessment With Efficiency Nova Scotia

To get your money back, you must follow these steps in order before your contractor begins work.

  1. If you qualify, apply online first for the Moderate Income Rebate with proof of income and home ownership.
  2. Schedule your first Home Energy Assessment. It costs $199, or it is free for income-qualified households.
  3. Pick a unit marked with a check on the official rebate guide list. That way your model qualifies.
  4. The equipment must be installed by a certified Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic, because program rules require it.
  5. Once installation is done, schedule your final assessment. The adviser then checks the work and processes your payment.

After you send your tax notice, the free HomeWarming stream takes four to six weeks to respond.

Timeline for the Federal National Heat Pump Rebate

The upcoming National Heat Pump Rebate will receive a $2 billion investment from the Government of Canada over eight years. Households with low to median incomes can get up to $10,000, and other eligible homeowners can receive $2,000. No energy audit is needed before or after installation. The online portal opens in early 2027.

On November 1, 2026, the full rules come out, along with a list of more than 100,000 cold climate air source models. If you install an eligible heat pump on or after November 1, 2026, you can apply retroactively once the portal opens. When the portal launches, it will confirm your pre-approval in 24 hours or less. Direct deposit payments will be approved within five days.

New applicants can no longer access the Canada Greener Homes Loan or the Canada Greener Homes Grant.

Heat Pump Rebates: Common Questions

Are Nova Scotia heat pump rebates going away?

Even after the oil switch program shut down in July 2026, the Moderate Income Rebate and provincial per-ton rebates remain open. If the federal government already pre-approved you under Oil to Heat Pump Affordability, your funding stays reserved. By January 31, 2027, approved federal applicants need to finish the work and upload final receipts plus a signed contractor attestation.

Which federal grants can you get for home energy retrofitting?

Launched in 2025, the Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program funds insulation and heat pumps at no cost for eligible tenants and owners. Applications are not taken directly by the federal government, so Nova Scotia residents go through HomeWarming instead. Through TakeCharge, the neighboring province of Newfoundland and Labrador provides similar no-cost units. Prince Edward Island has closed its free heat pump applications.

Are any federal loans or tax rebates still available for heat pumps?

Because its funding is fully committed, the interest-free Canada Greener Homes Loan has stopped taking new applications. But a homeowner with an existing approved loan from $5,000 to $40,000 keeps the interest-free financing for ten years. Borrowers who are approved must finish their upgrades and complete a post-retrofit evaluation. The final advance must be requested through the loan portal as well.

How much can you save on heating bills with a whole-house heat pump?

Data from Environment and Climate Change Canada shows that replacing oil, propane, or electric baseboards leads to average annual savings of more than $1,400. Grants toward cold climate systems will go to up to 820,000 homeowners under the upcoming National Heat Pump Rebate. Once the online application portal opens, each person can receive only one federal rebate.

Get installer quotes that include your rebates

Most rebates on this page are paid through the installer or need the installer's paperwork, so the quote is where the money is settled. Tell us the ZIP code and what you want installed, and installers who work with these programs send a written price with the rebates taken off.

You consent to up to three heat pump installers, or one firm that pairs homeowners with installers, in your ZIP code reaching you about this project by call, text or email at the number and address you entered when you send this request, and those calls and texts may be placed with automated dialing technology. Agreeing is not a condition of any purchase or rebate.