Canada Greener Homes Program 2026: What’s Gone, What’s New, and What It Means for Your Solar Decision

Half a million Canadians applied for the original $5,000 Greener Homes Grant. The money ran out. The program closed in February 2024. Two years later, homeowners are still asking the same question: is the grant coming back, and should I wait before putting solar on my roof?

Key Takeaways

• Original $5,000 Canada Greener Homes Grant closed February 12, 2024. Final reimbursements for existing participants end December 31, 2025.
• Replacement program, CGHAP, is $800 million over 5 years, low-to-median income only, with direct-install retrofits.
• Manitoba launched first in September 2025. More provinces are joining through 2026.
• PM Carney has promised a universal grant revival but set no date and no funding figure.
• For middle-income solar buyers, the math already works in 2026 without a federal grant. Provincial rebates and net metering still apply.

Short answer? Don’t wait. Here’s why.

The Original $5,000 Grant Is Closed. For Real.

Canada’s Greener Homes Grant launched in December 2020. It offered up to $5,000 back on home energy retrofits, plus $600 toward the required EnerGuide audit. Solar panels qualified. Heat pumps qualified. Insulation, windows, air sealing — all in.

Demand exploded. Over 500,000 applications came in before funding ran dry. On February 5, 2024, Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson announced the shutdown. New applications closed on February 12, 2024. Reimbursements for existing participants keep flowing through December 31, 2025 (Natural Resources Canada).

Roughly $700 million in grants went out before funding was exhausted. Industry groups like Efficiency Canada called the closure abrupt. They weren’t wrong.

Tip for anyone still chasing the old grant: if you already applied and completed your retrofit before the deadline, you have until end of 2025 to submit your final reimbursement paperwork. Miss that window, you lose the money.

What Replaced It: The Greener Homes Affordability Program

Budget 2024 carved out $800 million over five years for something called the Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program, or CGHAP (Government of Canada).

This isn’t the same thing. Not even close. Three big differences:

It’s Only for Low-to-Median Income Households

The old grant was open to any homeowner. CGHAP isn’t. This one targets families earning below the provincial median. If you make decent money, you don’t qualify.

Renters Are Included for the First Time

Tenants can now benefit — if their landlord or property manager signs up through the provincial delivery body. A first for federal retrofit support.

No Out-of-Pocket Cost for Participants

Instead of cash back after you pay, CGHAP covers the retrofit entirely. Your province installs it. You pay nothing. That’s a direct-install model, and it’s a pretty big shift from how the old grant worked.

Manitoba got the first CGHAP deal in September 2025 — $30 million flowing through Efficiency Manitoba. Other provinces are in talks. Natural Resources Canada says more deals are coming over the coming year.

Old Grant vs. New Program: The Side-by-Side

Here’s how the two stack up in plain numbers.

The numbers tell the story. New program does more per household but reaches far fewer of them.

What Prime Minister Carney Has Actually Promised

Mark Carney took office in early 2025. He campaigned on reviving the grant. On March 31, 2026, he told reporters he’s “still committed” to green incentives, including a Greener Homes revival (Winnipeg Free Press).

Narcity reported the same thing — Carney confirmed his pledge to bring back the $5,000 homeowner grant (Narcity).

Here’s what he hasn’t said: when. No launch date. No dollar figure. No program name. Work is underway to shift the file from Natural Resources Canada over to Environment Canada. That alone tells you a new program isn’t weeks away.

Budget 2026, expected spring 2026, might contain the details. Might. I wouldn’t bet your solar purchase on it.

What This Means for Solar Buyers Right Now

Let’s get practical. You’re thinking about solar in 2026. Here’s your situation.

If you’re low-to-median income: CGHAP in your province could cover the full cost of a solar install — once your province signs on. Check with your provincial efficiency body. Manitoba is live. Others are rolling out.

If you’re middle class or above: You don’t qualify for CGHAP. You’re waiting on a future universal program that may or may not show up in Budget 2026. You do still have plenty of tools:

• Canada Greener Homes Loan — zero interest, up to $40,000. Closed to new applications October 1, 2025, but existing loans continue servicing (Natural Resources Canada).
• Provincial rebates. BC Hydro, Efficiency Nova Scotia, Hydro-Québec all run their own solar and efficiency programs.
• Net metering. Every province runs some form of it. Sell excess generation back to the grid.

I had a reader in Calgary email me last month asking if he should keep waiting. He’s been waiting since the February 2024 shutdown. Two years. His power bill climbed 11% over that stretch, and panel prices dropped. The math on waiting stopped making sense a while back.

What Happened to the Retrofit Industry After the Shutdown

Contractors got hammered. Efficiency Canada reported up to 70% of newly trained energy advisors could drop out without guaranteed funding (Efficiency Canada). One advisor manager told Corporate Knights almost all pending retrofit projects were cancelled after the closure (Corporate Knights).

Ontario’s HER+ rebate — run through Enbridge Gas — closed the same day as the federal grant. Ontarians lost two programs in 24 hours.

The lesson is pretty clear. Federal solar incentives come and go. Planning a solar purchase around a grant that may or may not arrive? That’s risky.

Should You Wait or Move Now?

Wait if: You qualify for CGHAP, your province is active, and you can handle the application through your provincial delivery body (Efficiency Manitoba or equivalent).

Don’t wait if: You’re above the income threshold. Solar economics in 2026 hold up on their own. Panel prices are down roughly 40% over five years. Net metering works in most provinces. Electricity rates keep climbing. Waiting for a federal grant that might or might not arrive costs you real savings you’d bank in the meantime.

Tip for Canadian homeowners: run your payback number with zero federal grant. If it works, move. If it doesn’t work without the grant, solar probably wasn’t the right call for your situation anyway.

A customer of mine in Halifax skipped the wait. She installed an 8.2 kW system in late 2024, right after the federal grant closed. Zero rebate anxiety. She’s on track for a 9-year payback using Nova Scotia’s net metering. Her panels generate. Her bill drops. The grant would’ve been nice. It wasn’t required.

FAQ

Is the Canada Greener Homes Grant coming back in 2026?

Not as of April 2026. Prime Minister Carney has promised a revival but hasn’t set a date or confirmed funding. Budget 2026 may bring clarity.

Can I still claim the $5,000 grant?

Only if you applied and completed retrofits before the February 12, 2024 deadline. Final reimbursements close December 31, 2025.

Who qualifies for the new CGHAP?

Low-to-median income homeowners and tenants. Your province has to be signed on. Manitoba is live. Others are joining through 2026.

Does CGHAP cover solar panels?

Yes. Solar is on the eligible retrofit list, along with heat pumps, insulation, and air sealing. Covered at no out-of-pocket cost for qualifying households.

Are provincial solar rebates still active?

Yes. BC, Nova Scotia, Quebec, PEI, and others run their own rebate programs independent of the federal grant.

Is solar worth installing in Canada without the federal grant?

For most homeowners, yes. Panel prices have dropped roughly 40% in five years. Provincial net metering and rebates still apply. Payback works in most provinces at current electricity rates.

Will a new universal grant replace the $5,000 program?

Possibly. Don’t plan around it. Carney has committed verbally. No program exists yet. Design and funding are still being worked out.

Vitaliy Lano is the owner of SolarEnergies.ca with 12 years in home improvement and sustainability. He reviews solar installers, unpacks Canadian rebates, and helps homeowners make the switch with honest guidance. Canada Goes Solar.

Last Updated on April 24, 2026 by Vitaliy