Homeowner Rebates & Loans

Efficiency Nova Scotia will now handle all rebates for new solar installations. You are eligible for rebates of up to $3750 on a retrofit solar heating system & $3700 on a solar system for a new construction house. We are here to help you navigate these programs. This is part of our full service to you.

There are four primary sources of funding available to help homeowners purchase and install solar thermal systems. There is also a Scotian Windfields loan available to homeowners. Together these rebates and loans can add up to thousands of dollars of savings for you, and help make your solar solutions more affordable. Below is a brief outline of each of the rebates and loans. For more detailed information on each program you can follow the respective links to their main web pages.

 ***Please note that these rebates are administered by Efficiency Nova Scotia, not Scotian WindFields Inc.. Scotian WindFields makes no guarantee as to the availability of these grants. Programs and grants can be changed or cancelled at any time without notice. The sooner you apply, the more likely you are to receive them.
 

1. New Solar Heating System Rebate

Efficiency NS offers a $1250 rebate on the cost of an installed solar heating system. An Energy Audit is not required, but you must submit an application form in order to qualify. More detailed information on this can be found here.
 

2. Electric Water Heater Rebate

Efficiency NS offers a $1250 rebate towards the installation of a solar domestic water heating system on buildings with electric water heaters. This program is offered through the EnerGuide for Existing Houses Program. More detailed information on the available rebates can be found here. To qualify for this rebate, you must get an Energy Audit on your house. A complete list of Energy Auditors can be found here.
 

3. **JUST ANNOUNCED** The ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes

The Federal government offers a $1250 rebate towards the installation of a solar domestic water heating system as a retrofit to your home.  The system must provide a minimum energy contribution of 6 GJ/yr, and is CAN/CSA F379 Standard certified. More detailed information on the available rebates can be found here. To qualify for this rebate, you must get an Energy Audit on your house. A complete list of Energy Auditors can be found here.
 

4. PerformancePlus: New Home Energy Efficiency Rebate Program

If you are planning on building a new home Efficiency NS offers up to $3700 in rebates for you to include a solar heating system. This is offered through the Performance Plus Rebate Program. The rebates are as follows:
    •    $200 – Solar Ready Home**
    •    $1000 – Solar System Installed**
    •    $1250 – Solar Rebate
    •    $1250 – Electric Hot Water Heater Rebate
**Your home must receive a minimum EnerGuide rating of 83.
 

Scotian Windfields Financial Options

With the discontinuation of the zero-interest loan, Scotian Windfields is now offering a flexible payment plan  to help pay for a solar heating system. As a homeowner you can choose to make monthly payments for the system over 1 to 10 years. Here is an approximate payment break down for a typical 1-panel installation for a bungalow style roof in HRM valued at $6300.

Commercial or Institutional Incentives & Grants

Efficiency Nova Scotia offers funding to help commercial and institutional organizations purchase and install solar thermal systems. A business or organization can receive a 15% rebate on the installed cost of Solar Hot Water System up to $20,000 without pre-approval. For larger projects a business can receive greater than $20,000 but they will require pre-approval from Efficiency NS. An Energy Audit is not required, but you must submit an application form after your solar system is installed in order to qualify.

To learn more about the Commercial Rebate Program check here.
***Please note that these grants are administered by various government departments, not Scotian WindFields Inc.. Scotian WindFields makes no guarantee as to the availability of these grants. Programs and grants can be changed or cancelled at any time without notice. The sooner you apply, the more likely you are to receive them.