Nova Scotia heat pump rebates start with an assessment, not an install
What you can stack in Nova Scotia today
Efficiency Nova Scotia pays $300 per ton of net added heat pump capacity through its Home Energy Assessment rebates, listed at up to $5,000. The federal rebate is pending: a grant of either $2,000 or up to $10,000 (for low- to median-income households). Estimate, not guaranteed. Last checked October 22, 2026. Program page
We are a private heat pump installer, not the government and not Efficiency Nova Scotia.
Your rebate stack, program by program
| Program | Amount | Status | Who qualifies | Last checked | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Heat Pump Rebate (federal) | A grant of either $2,000 or up to $10,000 (for low- to median-income households). Estimate, not guaranteed. | Pending. Rules due November 1, 2026. Portal early 2027. | Criteria published as of November 1, 2026 | October 22, 2026 | canada.ca |
| Heat pump rebates (Efficiency Nova Scotia) | $300 per ton of net added capacity, paid through the Home Energy Assessment. Example: 18,000 BTU (1.5 tons) net is $450. Capped at the cost of the upgrade. Estimate, not guaranteed. | Open | Units on the qualifying list; replacement heat pumps are not eligible | October 22, 2026 | efficiencyns.ca |
| Home Energy Assessment rebates | Up to $5,000. With the Moderate Income Rebate, a total maximum of up to $10,000. Estimate, not guaranteed. | Open | Nova Scotia homes at least six months old that have not started renovations | October 22, 2026 | efficiencyns.ca |
| Moderate Income Rebate | Amount not confirmed yet | Open | Owners living in the home, heated mainly with non-electric sources, within income limits | October 22, 2026 | efficiencyns.ca |
| HomeWarming | Amount not confirmed yet | Open | Income-qualified homeowners | October 22, 2026 | efficiencyns.ca |
| Affordable Housing and Non-Profit energy programs | Amount not confirmed yet | Status not confirmed yet | Affordable housing and non-profit landlords | October 22, 2026 | efficiencyns.ca |
| Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program (federal) | Amount not confirmed yet | Open in partner provinces, Nova Scotia among them | Low- to median-income households | October 22, 2026 | natural-resources.canada.ca |
Before you install
In Nova Scotia the order matters more than the equipment. Get these right first. Checked October 22, 2026.
- Assessment first. Book an EnerGuide assessment with a Registered Energy Advisor before any work. The home must not have started renovations. The assessment fee is $199, waived for moderate-income households. Estimate, not guaranteed.
- Moderate Income Rebate. You apply to Efficiency Nova Scotia and need its answer before retrofits begin.
- Installer. A certified Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic (RACM) must do the installation.
- Equipment. The unit must be on the Efficiency Nova Scotia qualifying list. Compact ducted and mixed-ducted mini-splits are not eligible for the assessment or moderate income rebates.
- Leased equipment is excluded. If you lease the heat pump, it does not qualify.
- Federal: the retroactivity period for the National Heat Pump Rebate starts on November 1, 2026. Households that meet the program's eligibility criteria and install eligible heat pumps starting on November 1, 2026 will be able to apply once the program launches early in 2027. The criteria, the eligible list and the rebate amounts are published only as of November 1, 2026. Source: canada.ca, read October 22, 2026.
The Efficiency Nova Scotia page warns about contractors and sales companies falsely claiming to be associated with it. Check any quote against its heat pump page.
Landlords and investors
Landlord rules differ by program, and they are narrow.
- The Moderate Income Rebate is for owners who live in the home. Renters are not eligible.
- HomeWarming is for homeowners only.
- Affordable housing and non-profit landlords have their own Efficiency Nova Scotia program. The amount is not confirmed yet.
- The Home Energy Assessment page states no landlord rule. Ask Efficiency Nova Scotia before you book.
- The federal rebate has no landlord answer yet. We will add it after November 1.
Leasing the heat pump from a company is a separate matter. Leased equipment is excluded from the rebate.
What to do before 2027
Book the assessment, keep the report and get quotes for units on the qualifying list. Then read how to apply for the full order. Keep every invoice in case the federal rules fit your install, subject to the conditions above.
Nova Scotia heat pump rebate questions
Is there a Nova Scotia heat pump rebate for seniors?
We found no Nova Scotia heat pump program listed by age on the Efficiency Nova Scotia pages we read on October 22, 2026. The income-based options are the Moderate Income Rebate and HomeWarming. Check each program page for current limits.
Who is eligible for the Nova Scotia heat pump rebate?
The home must be in Nova Scotia, at least six months old, with no renovations started. The unit must be on the qualifying list, installed by a RACM, and not leased. Replacement heat pumps are not eligible.
How do I apply for the Nova Scotia heat pump rebate?
Book the Home Energy Assessment first, then install, then complete the final assessment after upgrades. The rebate is $300 per ton of net added capacity. Estimate, not guaranteed, checked October 22, 2026. See the program page.
What about the oil to heat pump rebate in Nova Scotia?
Efficiency Nova Scotia's Oil to Heat Pump Affordability delivery took no new applications from July 2, 2026. The pending National Heat Pump Rebate is a separate program.
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Also see all provincial rebates, how to apply, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador.
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