A lot of what Google shows for “Ontario window rebate” is out of date. The federal Greener Homes Grant is closed, the Greener Homes Loan stopped taking applications in October 2025, and Enbridge’s old HER+ program shut its doors in February 2024. As of September 2026 there is one rebate that pays on replacement windows in Ontario, plus a City of Toronto loan program. This page covers exactly what each one does, checked against the program websites on the date above.
Reviewed by Steve McCue and Steve Mercer, owners, Fortress Windows & Doors Inc. Updated September 16, 2026.
The one that is open: Home Renovation Savings
Home Renovation Savings is run by Enbridge Gas and Save on Energy with support from the Ontario government. It pays $100 per rough opening for windows and doors, as long as the new units are ENERGY STAR certified and replace ones that were not.
The catch that most articles skip: windows and doors are only in the assessment pathway. You cannot just swap ten windows and send in the invoice. The program rules require:
- A home energy assessment by a registered energy advisor before the work, and a follow-up assessment after. The program rebates $600 toward the assessment once you finish.
- At least two different upgrade types. Windows and doors count as one. Attic insulation, air sealing, a heat pump or a smart thermostat could be the second.
- At least three window rough openings, or one door, or one skylight or sliding patio door opening. A rough opening is the structural hole in the outside wall, so a bay window with three units in one frame is likely one opening, not three. Confirm that with your energy advisor.
- Professional installation. Keep the ENERGY STAR labels on the glass until the post-assessment is done.
- The post-assessment completed within 180 days of the first one, or by December 31, 2026, whichever comes first.
The program caps total rebates per home at $5,000 for houses heated with natural gas and $10,000 for homes heated another way. The program’s own eligibility document (version dated November 2025) is at homerenovationsavings.ca.
What that works out to on a real job
Take a typical Scarborough two-storey with ten windows and a front door. Eleven openings at $100 is $1,100 back on the windows and door, plus the $600 assessment rebate if you add a second measure and finish the post-audit. Add attic insulation as the second measure and there is a further rebate on that. Skip the second measure, and the window rebate is zero. That is the rule people trip over most.
Timing matters with the December 31, 2026 cut-off. Book the pre-assessment first, then order windows. Windows are made to measure, which takes weeks rather than days, and the post-assessment needs the work finished. A job started in October fits. One started in mid-December will not.
Toronto only: the Home Energy Loan Program
If the house has an M postal code, the City of Toronto’s Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) is open and lists window and door replacement as an eligible upgrade. It is a loan, not a rebate: up to $125,000 repaid over 5 to 20 years through your property tax bill, at fixed rates of 3.34% (5-year) to 4.75% (20-year) plus a 2% administration charge, on rates posted through September 30, 2026. Windows qualify for the 20-year term. It needs a pre- and post-renovation EnerGuide assessment, which is the same kind of assessment Home Renovation Savings uses, so the two can be run together. Details are on toronto.ca.
What is closed
- Canada Greener Homes Grant. Closed to new applicants. Ontario applicants had until December 1, 2025 to finish their post-retrofit evaluation.
- Canada Greener Homes Loan. The portal closed to new applications on October 2, 2025.
- Enbridge Home Efficiency Rebate Plus (HER+). Closed intake on February 5, 2024. Home Renovation Savings replaced it.
- Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program. This is a no-cost retrofit program for low-to-median-income households, delivered through provinces. As of this update Natural Resources Canada does not list an Ontario delivery partner, and windows are not among the upgrades it describes.
If a contractor tells you the federal grant will cover part of your windows, ask them for the program page. It does not exist any more.
Which Fortress windows qualify
The Canadian-made vinyl windows we install use Low-E 272 glass with argon fill and carry ENERGY STAR certification for Canada. Ask about certified options for entry doors and sliding patio doors at the same time, since a door counts as an opening on its own. Ask for the model numbers on the quote; that is what the energy advisor needs at the post-audit. For a look at a whole-house replacement, see the job we did in Oro-Medonte.
How to run the process
- Register at homerenovationsavings.ca and book the pre-assessment with a registered energy advisor.
- Pick your second upgrade. Attic insulation is a common pairing.
- Get one written quote for the windows and doors, with the ENERGY STAR model numbers on it. Call (416) 291-5795 and Steve Mercer will measure.
- Have the work done. Keep labels on the glass and keep every invoice.
- Book the post-assessment inside 180 days and before December 31, 2026. Rebates are paid after that, by cheque within about 60 days or e-Transfer within about 30.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a window rebate in Ontario in 2026?
Yes, one. Home Renovation Savings pays $100 per rough opening for ENERGY STAR windows and doors, but only when you complete a home energy assessment and at least two different upgrade types. There is no standalone federal window grant any more.
Do I need an energy audit to get the window rebate?
Yes. Windows and doors are only in the assessment pathway of Home Renovation Savings. A registered energy advisor assesses the house before and after, and $600 of the assessment cost is rebated when you finish.
Is the Canada Greener Homes Grant still available for windows?
No. The grant is closed to new applicants, and Ontario’s deadline for existing applicants to complete their post-retrofit evaluation was December 1, 2025. The Greener Homes Loan closed to new applications on October 2, 2025.
How much can I get back on ten windows?
$1,000 for the windows themselves, plus the $600 assessment rebate and whatever the second measure pays. The per-home cap is $5,000 for gas-heated homes and $10,000 for homes heated by electricity, oil, propane or wood.
When does the Ontario window rebate end?
The current program rules require the post-assessment to be done by December 31, 2026, or within 180 days of the pre-assessment if that comes sooner. Check the program site before you start, because the rules have been revised more than once.
Get a quote that lines up with the rebate
Call (416) 291-5795 in Toronto and the GTA or (705) 294-2345 in the Barrie area. We will measure, put the ENERGY STAR model numbers on one written price, and work around your assessment dates.
