Ontario's Home Renovation Savings Program: Up to $19,000+ in Rebates for Barrie Homeowners (2026 Guide)

If you're a Barrie or Simcoe County homeowner planning energy-efficiency upgrades in 2026, here's what matters:

• •The Greener Homes Grant and HER+ are both closed. Ontario's replacement is the Home Renovation Savings (HRS) program, delivered by Save on Energy and Enbridge Gas.
• •HRS offers up to $19,000+ in combined rebates for insulation, heat pumps, windows, air sealing, solar, and more—significantly more than its predecessors.
• •There are two paths: bundled and single. Choosing the wrong one—or doing upgrades in the wrong order—is the most common reason rebates get rejected.
• •The program is confirmed only through November 2026 and can close suddenly, as both Greener Homes and HER+ did before it.
• •Barrie sits in Climate Zone 6A, meaning higher heating costs and faster payback on insulation and heat pump upgrades compared to Toronto or Hamilton.

This guide covers every rebate amount, the exact application steps, common rejection mistakes, and how to stack HRS with other programs to reduce your net renovation cost.

If you're searching for the Canada Greener Homes Grant or the Enbridge HER+ program in 2026, you'll find closure notices. Both programs are fully wound down:

• •Canada Greener Homes Grant: Applications were open from May 2021 to February 2024, and participants had until December 31, 2025 to submit their documentation [Natural Resources Canada].
• •Home Efficiency Rebate Plus (HER+): Closed to new applicants on February 5, 2024. The program co-delivered with Greener Homes and wound down on the same timeline [Enbridge Gas].

The replacement launched on January 28, 2025: the Home Renovation Savings Program (HRS), part of Ontario's $10.9 billion investment in energy efficiency. It's co-delivered by Save on Energy (IESO) and Enbridge Gas, with support from the Ontario government [Save on Energy].

The key differences from the old programs:

• •Wider eligibility: HRS covers homes heated by electricity, natural gas, oil, propane, or wood. HER+ was primarily for Enbridge Gas customers.
• •Two flexible paths: You can do single upgrades without an energy assessment, or bundle multiple upgrades for higher total rebates.
• •Higher rebate ceilings: Combined rebates can exceed $19,000 for comprehensive upgrades—well above what Greener Homes offered.
• •No income testing: Unlike Ontario Renovates, HRS has no income cap. Any Ontario homeowner in an eligible dwelling can apply.

The catch: the program's terms state it can end at any time. Both of its predecessors closed suddenly when funding ran out.

The HRS program offers two distinct paths. Which one you choose determines what upgrades qualify, whether you need an energy assessment, and how the rebate is processed.

Path 1: Single Upgrades (No Assessment Required)

Install one or more eligible upgrades independently. No home energy assessment needed. Best for targeted projects like replacing your furnace with a heat pump or adding attic insulation.

Eligible single upgrades:

• •Cold climate air-source heat pump (up to $7,500)
• •Ground-source heat pump (up to $12,000)
• •Attic insulation ($1,250)
• •Solar panels and battery storage (up to $10,000)
• •Smart thermostat ($100)
• •Eligible appliances (up to $200)

Path 2: Bundle & Save (Assessment Required)

Start with a pre-retrofit home energy assessment, then complete at least two eligible upgrades, then finish with a post-retrofit assessment. The assessment itself qualifies for a $600 rebate.

Eligible bundled upgrades:

• •Insulation—attic, wall, foundation, exposed floor (up to $7,700 combined)
• •Windows and doors ($100 per rough opening)
• •Air sealing (up to $250)
• •Heat pump water heater ($500)

The bundled path is designed for deeper renovations where you're addressing multiple aspects of your home's envelope. The energy assessment identifies where your home is losing the most energy and recommends the upgrades with the biggest impact [homerenovationsavings.ca].

Here's the complete rebate table as of May 2026. Amounts are per household and subject to change—always confirm on the official program portal before signing a contract.

Single Upgrade Path (no assessment required):

Bundled Path (assessment required, minimum 2 upgrades):

Federal Add-On (oil-heated homes only):

Most homeowners receive between $1,500 and $7,500 depending on heating source and chosen upgrades. Homeowners switching from oil heating can exceed $19,000 in combined provincial and federal rebates [ClaimRebate.ca].

Barrie and Simcoe County sit in Climate Zone 6A under the Ontario Building Code—one zone colder than Toronto (Zone 5A). That single zone difference has real financial consequences.

Higher heating costs mean faster payback.

A typical 2,000 sq ft Barrie home with average insulation pays approximately $550–$750 in heating costs for the December–February quarter alone on a high-efficiency gas furnace. That's roughly $1,000–$1,500 annually for heating [Get a Better Quote, 2026 Ontario Heating Data].

Homes with older insulation, single-pane windows, or aging furnaces pay significantly more. Electric baseboard heating in the same home runs $1,200–$1,700 for just the winter quarter—over $2,000–$3,500 annually [Get a Better Quote].

What the new OBC requires.

The 2024 Ontario Building Code (O. Reg. 163/24), now fully in effect, raised minimum insulation standards:

• •Attic insulation: R-60 minimum (up from R-50)
• •Exterior wall insulation: R-22 minimum (up from R-20)

If you're renovating anyway, your new insulation must meet these standards—which conveniently align with the rebate-eligible upgrades under HRS. You're not choosing between code compliance and rebate eligibility; you're doing both at once [Ontario Building Code 2026, Leedway Group].

Cold-climate heat pumps in Zone 6A.

Barrie's colder winters require cold-climate rated heat pumps (ccASHP) that maintain efficiency down to -25°C. The $7,500 rebate makes the economics significantly more attractive than in milder zones where the rebate covers a smaller percentage of a cheaper unit.

The right path depends on what you're renovating. Here's a decision framework:

Choose Single if:

• •You're doing one targeted upgrade (heat pump, solar, smart thermostat)
• •You want a faster, simpler process with less paperwork
• •You don't want to coordinate multiple trades or schedule energy assessments

Choose Bundled if:

• •You're already planning to replace windows AND add insulation (or any 2+ envelope upgrades)
• •You want to maximize total rebate dollars (bundled ceiling is higher)
• •You're comfortable with the assessment timeline (pre-assessment → upgrades → post-assessment within 180 days)

Choose Both if:

• •You're doing a comprehensive renovation—e.g., heat pump (single path) plus insulation + windows (bundled path)
• •This is how you reach the highest combined rebate totals

Example scenarios for a Barrie homeowner:

The bundled path's two-upgrade minimum trips up homeowners who only want one envelope upgrade. If you only need windows and nothing else, you cannot use the bundled path—you'd need to add a second qualifying upgrade (like air sealing) to unlock the rebates.

HRS is the largest single rebate source, but it's not the only one. Barrie and Simcoe County homeowners may be eligible to stack multiple programs on the same renovation project.

Programs that stack with HRS:

• •Home Accessibility Tax Credit (HATC): 15% of up to $20,000 in accessibility expenses for seniors 65+ or DTC-eligible individuals. Maximum $3,000 federal tax credit. If your insulation or window project also improves accessibility (e.g., accessible bathroom as part of a larger renovation), portions may qualify [CRA].
• •Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit (MHRTC): 15% of up to $50,000 for creating a self-contained secondary suite. Maximum $7,500 refundable credit. If you're building a legal suite and adding insulation or a heat pump, both HRS rebates and MHRTC can apply to different components of the same project [CRA].
• •Ontario Renovates (Simcoe County): Up to $15,000 in forgivable loans for essential repairs plus $5,000 in accessibility grants for income-qualifying homeowners. Income-tested (household income under $95,000). Can cover work that also triggers HRS rebates [County of Simcoe].
• •Oil to Heat Pump Affordability (OHPA): Up to $15,000 federal for oil-heated homes switching to heat pumps. Stacks directly with HRS heat pump rebates for combined rebates exceeding $19,000 [NRCan].

What does NOT stack:

• •You cannot receive HRS rebates if you already received Greener Homes Grant or HER+ rebates for the same property.
• •HRS rebates are per-household, not per-project. You get one shot at each upgrade category.

A realistic stacking example:

A Barrie homeowner with a 1990s detached home, gas heating, and single-pane windows does a full envelope renovation plus heat pump:

The program is generous, but the rules are strict. These are the most common reasons applications fail:

1. Starting work before the pre-retrofit assessment (bundled path)

This is the number one rejection reason. If you choose the bundled path, you must complete the pre-retrofit energy assessment before any work begins. Not before you apply for the rebate—before the contractor touches anything. Starting work first disqualifies the entire project [homerenovationsavings.ca].

2. Selecting only one upgrade on the bundled path

The bundled path requires a minimum of two eligible upgrades. Homeowners who do only insulation, or only windows, on the bundled path get rejected. If you only want one envelope upgrade, use the single path (available for attic insulation) or add a second qualifying upgrade like air sealing.

3. Using a non-enrolled contractor

HRS requires contractors enrolled in the program for certain upgrades. Using your regular contractor who isn't enrolled can mean your work doesn't qualify—even if the installation is technically correct.

4. Installing equipment not on the qualified products list

Heat pumps must appear on Natural Resources Canada's qualified products list. Windows and doors must be ENERGY STAR certified. Your contractor may stock perfectly good equipment that simply isn't on the list. Verify model numbers before purchase, not after installation.

5. Missing the 180-day window (bundled path)

The post-retrofit energy assessment must be completed within 180 days of the pre-retrofit assessment. Renovation delays, contractor scheduling issues, or supply chain problems can push you past this deadline. Build buffer into your timeline.

The program is live now. Here's the step-by-step process:

For single upgrades:

1. Verify your chosen equipment is on the NRCan qualified products list or is ENERGY STAR certified
2. Hire an HRS-enrolled contractor
3. Complete the installation
4. Submit your rebate application through saveonenergy.ca/homerenovationsavings
5. Receive your rebate

For bundled upgrades:

1. Book a pre-retrofit home energy assessment through the HRS portal
2. Receive your assessment report and recommended upgrades
3. Choose at least two eligible upgrades from the recommendations
4. Hire an HRS-enrolled contractor and complete the work
5. Book and complete the post-retrofit energy assessment (within 180 days of pre-assessment)
6. Submit your rebate application
7. Receive your rebates (including the $600 assessment rebate)

Timeline to keep in mind:

• •Energy assessments are booking 3–6 weeks out in the Barrie area as of spring 2026
• •The program is confirmed through November 2026
• •Previous programs (Greener Homes, GreenON, HER+) all closed before their stated end dates when funding ran out
• •If you're planning a fall renovation, book your pre-retrofit assessment now

Official resources:

• •Program portal: homerenovationsavings.ca
• •Save on Energy: saveonenergy.ca/homerenovationsavings
• •NRCan qualified products list: oee.nrcan.gc.ca
• •Enbridge Gas program info: enbridgegas.com

If you're planning a renovation in Barrie or Simcoe County and want help navigating which upgrades qualify—and in what order—get in touch. We handle the coordination between energy assessors, permits, and the rebate application so nothing falls through the cracks.