Window Rebates in Ontario (2026): What They Cover vs Glass Repair
As of September 2026, Ontario's main window rebate, the Home Renovation Savings Program, pays $100 per rough opening for complete ENERGY STAR certified windows and doors, after a home energy assessment and with at least two eligible upgrades. Replacing only the glass or sealed unit generally doesn't qualify, but when frames are sound it usually costs less than a new window even after the rebate: about $350 to $650 per opening against $1,000 to $1,800 for full-frame replacement. The Canada Greener Homes Grant is closed.
The Home Renovation Savings Program (HRSP) pays $100 per rough opening for complete ENERGY STAR certified windows and doors; it was open as of September 2026.
Replacing only the sealed glass unit generally doesn't qualify, because ENERGY STAR certifies the whole window, frame and glass together; confirm with the program.
The rebate rarely changes the maths for a sound frame: glass-only work runs about $350 to $650 per opening, while full-frame replacement at $1,000 to $1,800 still nets $900 to $1,700 after a $100 rebate.
For windows and doors, HRSP requires a home energy assessment before any work begins and at least two eligible upgrades; install first and you can lose the rebate.
Secondary sources say HRSP was extended 'through November 2026'; the official program pages we checked in September 2026 showed no end date, so confirm directly.
The Canada Greener Homes Grant and Greener Homes Loan are both closed; any site still offering them is out of date.
On this page
As of September 2026, Ontario's main window rebate is the Home Renovation Savings Program (HRSP). It pays $100 per rough opening for ENERGY STAR certified windows and doors, and for windows it requires a home energy assessment before any work starts and at least two eligible upgrades. The federal Canada Greener Homes Grant is closed, and in Toronto the City's HELP loan can finance window replacement.
One thing trips up many homeowners: these programs pay for complete new windows, not new glass. If your frames are sound and only the sealed units have failed, a glass-only repair generally won't earn a rebate, but it usually costs less than a new window even after the rebate is paid. This guide sets out what the programs cover, why glass-only work generally falls outside them, and how the numbers compare.
Status checked 23 September 2026. Programs change; confirm with each program before you sign a contract.
What's open and what's closed (September 2026)
| Program | What it offers for windows | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Home Renovation Savings Program (Enbridge Gas and Save on Energy) | $100 per rough opening, ENERGY STAR certified windows and doors; assessment and 2+ upgrades required | Open. End date not shown on official pages; secondary sources say through November 2026 |
| Toronto Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) | Low-interest loan up to $125,000 or 10% of the property's assessed value; windows and doors eligible | Open (Toronto "M" postal codes, eligible low-rise homes) |
| Toronto Heritage Grant Program | Grant toward repairing original windows and doors on designated heritage properties | Open; next deadline 7 November 2026 |
| Canada Greener Homes Grant | Formerly grants for retrofits, including windows | Closed |
| Canada Greener Homes Loan | Formerly an interest-free retrofit loan | Closed (applications ended 1 October 2025) |
| Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program | No-cost direct install for lower-income households | Not delivered in Ontario; windows not listed |
| Enbridge Home Winterproofing Program | Free insulation, draft-proofing and thermostats for income-qualified gas customers | Open, but windows and doors not included |
| Toronto Commercial Façade Improvement Grant | Up to $12,500 for storefronts, including new windows and doors | Closed to applications when we checked |
Each row is explained in the sections below.
The Home Renovation Savings Program in detail
What it pays
HRSP launched on 28 January 2025, with $100 per new window and door among the rebates and a $600 incentive toward a home energy assessment. The official program site lists windows and doors at $100 per rough opening, and Save on Energy states that windows and doors must be an ENERGY STAR certified model. It is run by Enbridge Gas and Save on Energy (IESO) with Ontario government support and is open to Ontario households regardless of how they heat.
The rebate is per rough opening, not per pane or per sash. So ten qualifying windows means up to $1,000.
How to qualify, in order
- Book a pre-renovation home energy assessment first. Windows and doors sit in the program's category of upgrades that require an assessment. A licensed service organization does the pre-assessment, and the same registered energy advisor does the post-assessment. The assessment must happen before any work begins. Install first, and the rebate is gone.
- Plan at least two eligible upgrades. On the assessment track, homeowners must complete at least two eligible projects to qualify for any rebates. Windows plus doors, or windows plus insulation, are typical pairings. Save on Energy also describes a track that skips the assessment for certain single upgrades, but the official program site lists windows and doors under the assessment track.
- Choose ENERGY STAR certified products. Standard certification qualifies; it doesn't have to be the higher "Most Efficient" tier. Check the model on Natural Resources Canada's searchable product list.
- Install, then complete the post-assessment. Keep invoices that show the model numbers and number of openings.
- Wait for payment. Payouts have been reported at 30–60 days after approval.
When does it end?
This is the part to confirm. HRSP was originally set to end on 30 November 2025 and was extended through November 2026. When we checked the official program pages on 23 September 2026, neither listed an end date.
In practice: if you're counting on the rebate, book the assessment now and ask the program directly what deadline applies to your installation and paperwork. Custom windows can take weeks to arrive, so leave a margin before any deadline.
Claims to be wary of
- "No audit needed." Some contractor pages say HRSP doesn't need a pre-retrofit assessment for windows. That contradicts the official program pages.
- "$125 per door." The official figure is $100 per rough opening for windows and doors.
- Minimum numbers of windows. You'll see claims that you need at least three window openings or one door; we couldn't confirm that on the official site. Ask the program.
- "Up to $5,000 from Greener Homes." That program is closed (below).
Why replacing only the glass generally doesn't qualify
ENERGY STAR Canada certifies an assembled unit consisting of a frame or sash component holding one or more pieces of glazing. The whole window is tested and labelled, not the glass on its own. A new sealed unit in an existing frame has its own seal warranty, but the whole-window ENERGY STAR label doesn't carry over. And HRSP pays per rough opening, which points to replacing the full unit.
Put plainly: a glass swap does not earn you a rebate. We haven't found official HRSP wording that addresses sealed-unit replacement specifically, so the fair summary is: glass-only replacement generally doesn't qualify; confirm with the program if it matters to your decision.
Does the rebate change the maths?
Usually not, if your frames are sound. GTA pricing puts glass-only sealed-unit replacement at about $350–$650 per opening, against $1,000–$1,800 for full-frame replacement. A $100 rebate narrows that gap only slightly, and you also need the assessment and a second upgrade.
| Per opening | Glass-only sealed unit (your frame stays) | Full-frame replacement, for comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Published GTA price | $350–$650 | $1,000–$1,800 |
| HRSP rebate | Generally none | $100 |
| Net after rebate | $350–$650 | $900–$1,700 |
| Paperwork | None | Pre- and post-renovation assessment, at least two eligible upgrades |
| Situation | Better value is usually |
|---|---|
| A few fogged or cracked units, frames straight and hardware working | Glass-only replacement, no rebate needed |
| Hardware worn (cranks, balances, rollers, weatherstripping) but glass and frames fine | Hardware repair, no new window needed |
| Designated heritage home with original windows | Repair, possibly with Toronto's Heritage Grant |
| Frames rotted, warped or cracked | Not a glass job: that's window replacement, which is where HRSP (and HELP in Toronto) apply. We'll tell you if that's where you are |
Our glass repair vs replacement guide goes deeper on that decision.
What counts as ENERGY STAR in 2026
The current criteria are Version 5.0, in effect since 1 January 2020: a U-factor of 1.22 W/m²·K or lower, or an Energy Rating of 34 or higher, with air leakage of 1.5 L/s/m² or less, and no regional climate zones.
Two 2026 developments are worth knowing. A Version 6 draft is complete but unpublished, with a public comment period to follow, and as of 31 July 2026 the federal Office of Energy Efficiency moved from Natural Resources Canada to Environment and Climate Change Canada. Version 5 remains the rule for now, but some federal web addresses may move. If you're choosing glass for a new sealed unit, our low-E, argon and triple-pane guide explains what those upgrades do.
Closed and non-window programs
Canada Greener Homes Grant: closed. In Ontario, Enbridge's HER+ program stopped accepting new applicants on 5 February 2024, and 1 December 2025 was the deadline to complete the post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation.
Canada Greener Homes Loan: closed. Applications closed on 1 October 2025.
Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program: not in Ontario. Delivery is listed in British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, PEI and Quebec, and its example retrofits are insulation and heat pumps. A relaunch announced in June 2026 named BC, Quebec, Nova Scotia and PEI, with heat pumps, insulation and air sealing as eligible measures.
Enbridge Home Winterproofing: no windows. It's free for income-qualified Enbridge customers who heat with gas, and covers insulation, draft-proofing and smart thermostats; windows and doors are not listed.
CMHC Eco Improvement offers a partial refund of mortgage loan insurance premiums (25%), not a cash rebate for windows.
Toronto Commercial Façade Improvement Grant (up to $12,500 at 50% of costs, including new windows and doors) was closed to applications when we checked.
Toronto only: HELP financing and the Heritage Grant
Home Energy Loan Program (HELP). The City lends up to $125,000 or 10% of your property's current value assessment, and window and door replacements are an eligible measure. Key details:
- Eligible homes: detached, semi, row, duplex, triplex or low-rise buildings up to three storeys and six units, in Toronto.
- Rates (as posted in September 2026): 5-year 3.34%, 10-year 4.01%, 15-year 4.46%, 20-year 4.75%, plus a 2% administrative charge. The 20-year term is only for solar, geothermal, windows or heat pumps. Rates are updated periodically, so check the current rate on the City's page before you apply.
- Assessment: a pre- and post-renovation EnerGuide assessment is required for most projects, including windows.
- Repayment: through your property tax bill.
HELP is financing, not a rebate, but it pairs naturally with HRSP because both use EnerGuide assessments.
Heritage Grant Program. For Part IV or Part V designated properties, the City's grant covers the repair of existing, original windows and doors, one grant per property every five years, with the next deadline on 7 November 2026. See our permits and heritage guide for the approvals side.
What we'd do
If your frames are in good shape and the problem is fogged or broken glass, we'd replace the sealed units and skip the rebate paperwork; it's usually the lower total cost, and your frames stay put. If your frames are failing, that's a window-replacement job rather than a glass repair, and that's where the rebate applies. We'll tell you plainly if that's where you are rather than sell you glass you don't need.
Next step
Before you chase a $100-per-opening rebate, find out whether you need new windows at all. See our sealed-unit replacement service, where we replace the sealed glass unit and keep your frame, or book a free quote and we'll confirm whether new glass will do the job.