Nova Scotia heat pump rebates · Checked October 22, 2026
Heat pump rebates in Nova Scotia (2026): what each program pays and how to apply
As of October 22, 2026, Nova Scotia's open heat pump rebate is Efficiency NS Home Energy Assessment. It pays $500 per ton for a centrally ducted heat pump, $300 per ton for a ductless mini-split and $600 per ton for a ground-source heat pump, with a $5,000 cap shared across every upgrade claimed through the program. The federal National Heat Pump Rebate is announced, not open: it opens in early 2027 and covers eligible installs from November 1, 2026.
Which heat pump rebates are available in Nova Scotia?
Efficiency NS Home Energy Assessment is the main program, run by Efficiency Nova Scotia. It pays by the ton, so the amount depends on the size of the heat pump, not on how the home is heated. An energy assessment is required: you book an initial Home Energy Assessment with an Efficiency Nova Scotia partner before you buy or install anything, and a final one after the work. The program’s page lists the assessment fee, which is waived for households that qualify for the Moderate Income Rebate.
| Program and system | Home heated by | Rate | Maximum | At 3 tons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency NS Home Energy AssessmentCentrally ducted heat pump | any fuel | $500 per ton | $5,000 | $1,500 |
| Efficiency NS Home Energy AssessmentDuctless mini-split | any fuel | $300 per ton | $5,000 | $900 |
| Efficiency NS Home Energy AssessmentGround-source heat pump | any fuel | $600 per ton | $5,000 | $1,800 |
| HomeWarming programFree upgrades, income-qualified | not stated | No cost | Set by assessment | Set by assessment |
| National Heat Pump RebateFederal, opens early 2027 | Any fuel, as reported | By household income | $10,000 | $2,000 or up to $10,000 |
The federal rebate is not open yet, so no provincial figure on this page includes it. Its full rules are due on November 1, 2026, the first day an install counts toward it.
How much is the Nova Scotia heat pump rebate?
The most Efficiency NS Home Energy Assessment pays is $5,000 in total, across every upgrade claimed through the program. A per-ton rebate pays the rate times the size of the system, up to the cap. Reaching the $5,000 cap at $500 a ton takes a 10-ton system, and a typical 2,000–2,500 sq ft home needs about 3 tons.
| Size | Centrally ducted heat pump | Ductless mini-split | Ground-source heat pump |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 tons | $750 | $450 | $900 |
| 2 tons | $1,000 | $600 | $1,200 |
| 2.5 tons | $1,250 | $750 | $1,500 |
| 3 tons | $1,500 | $900 | $1,800 |
| 3.5 tons | $1,750 | $1,050 | $2,100 |
| 4 tons | $2,000 | $1,200 | $2,400 |
Amounts are worked out on the heat pump’s rated capacity at 47°F, counted in tons of 12,000 BTU/h and pro-rated, so a 2.5-ton unit earns 2.5 times the per-ton rate. If a heat pump is already installed, only the added capacity counts.
Moderate-income households heated mainly by non-electric sources can apply to Efficiency Nova Scotia for an extra provincial top-up. It stacks with this rebate and needs approval before any upgrade, so apply for it first.
If a quote for a 3-ton system subtracts the full $5,000, it overstates the rebate by $3,500. The rebate stacking guide works through examples, and the Nova Scotia cost section shows installed prices before and after rebates.
Who is eligible for the Nova Scotia heat pump rebate?
For Efficiency NS Home Energy Assessment, all of these must be true:
- The home is in Nova Scotia, at least six months old, connected to the electricity grid, livable, and has not started renovations. You own it and can show proof of ownership, such as a property tax bill number.
- It is a single or semi-detached home, a townhome, a mobile home on a permanent foundation, a permanently moored floating home, or a low-rise multi-unit building. Some buildings of up to six units qualify; call Efficiency Nova Scotia to check.
- The rebate does not depend on income or on how the home is heated.
- The heat pump is a centrally ducted heat pump, a ductless mini-split, or a closed- or open-loop ground-source heat pump. Ducted, compact ducted and mixed-ducted mini-splits do not qualify.
- The model has a check mark in the right category on Efficiency Nova Scotia’s heat pump list, and it is new and bought in Canada. Online purchases count only from a Canadian distributor.
- A certified Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic installs it, and none of the equipment sits in unconditioned space, such as ductwork through an unheated attic.
- It is not a replacement for an existing heat pump, working or not. If the home already has a heat pump, only the added capacity earns a rebate.
- You buy and install it between the initial and final assessments, and finish within 12 months of the initial assessment.
- No other Efficiency Nova Scotia program, such as HomeWarming, pays for the same upgrade, and the total rebate cannot be more than the cost you paid.
- You keep your receipts and invoices for five years.
Source: Efficiency Nova Scotia: Home Energy Assessment Rebate Guide (August 2026), checked October 22, 2026.
How do you apply for the Nova Scotia heat pump rebate, step by step?
Before you sign: Do not buy or install anything until your initial Home Energy Assessment is done. The purchase and the installation must both fall between the initial and final assessments, and a home that has already started renovations does not qualify. Finish every upgrade before you book the final assessment, because only one is done.
- Check the Moderate Income Rebate first. If your household has a moderate income and heats mainly with non-electric sources, apply for the Moderate Income Rebate first and wait for approval before starting any upgrade.
- Book the initial Home Energy Assessment. Book with an Efficiency Nova Scotia partner. A registered Energy Advisor visits for two to three hours, then gives you an EnerGuide rating and a Renovation Upgrade Report. You sign a radon attestation before the assessment.
- Plan the heat pump. Choose a model with a check mark in the right category on Efficiency Nova Scotia’s heat pump list. The program suggests at least three quotes, and checking permits and your home insurance before you start.
- Install it within 12 months. Hire a contractor, with a certified Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic doing the heat pump. Buying and installing both happen after the initial assessment and before the final one. Keep paid invoices that match the program’s invoice example, and take photos of the work.
- Finish everything, then book the final assessment. Book it with the same partner, within 12 months of the first assessment. Only one final assessment is done, so finish every upgrade you want counted first.
- Give the advisor your paid invoices. The advisor verifies the work at the final assessment and takes your paid invoices.
- Receive the cheque. The rebate cheque should arrive by mail within 90 days of the final assessment. Newly announced programs or changes to a program can cause delays.
Source: Efficiency Nova Scotia: Home Energy Assessment Rebate Guide (August 2026), checked October 22, 2026.
Does the Nova Scotia rebate stack with the federal heat pump rebate?
Yes, with limits. The Efficiency Nova Scotia guide caps total rebates at the cost you paid and does not let a second Efficiency Nova Scotia program pay for the same upgrade. The Moderate Income Rebate is the exception: it stacks with this rebate. The guide does not mention the new federal rebate. The federal government says its National Heat Pump Rebate "can be combined with existing provincial programs." The federal rebate opens in early 2027 and covers eligible installs from November 1, 2026.
| System | Nova Scotia rebate | + federal, above median income | + federal, below median income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centrally ducted heat pump | $1,500 | $3,500 | up to $11,500 |
| Ductless mini-split | $900 | $2,900 | up to $10,900 |
The federal amounts are the government's announced figures. The rules that set who gets which amount, and which heat pumps qualify, are due on November 1, 2026. The federal government describes eligible equipment as air-source, so ground-source systems are left out of this table. The National Heat Pump Rebate guide tracks what is confirmed and what is only reported.
Should you install now or wait for the federal rebate?
The federal rebate covers eligible installs from November 1, 2026, and nothing published covers an earlier one. Efficiency NS Home Energy Assessment needs an initial home energy assessment before you buy or install anything, so the order matters.
- Your heating has failed before November 1, 2026. Don’t go without heat. Equipment bought or installed before the initial assessment does not qualify, so ask Efficiency Nova Scotia how soon it can book one. If you cannot wait, budget without the provincial rebate and without the federal money.
- You can book the install for November 1, 2026 or later. Start the Efficiency NS Home Energy Assessment steps now and book the install for that date or after. Check the model against the federal list of eligible heat pumps once it is published that day, and keep the invoice, the model and serial numbers and the install date.
- Your system works and there is no rush. Once the federal rules are out, you will know which models qualify for both programs before you choose one.
Is there a free heat pump program in Nova Scotia?
Possibly. Efficiency Nova Scotia's HomeWarming program can give lower-income homeowners a free home energy assessment and no-cost upgrades. The program’s page description mentions heat pumps, but its text does not list which upgrades are offered: the assessment’s recommendations and Efficiency Nova Scotia’s approval decide what a home gets. You must own the home and live in it year-round, not plan to sell it for 12 months, and be under an after-tax household income limit that depends on household size. Renters cannot apply. The limits are on the program page.
You apply to Efficiency Nova Scotia, online or on a PDF form, with a recent Notice of Assessment for everyone in the household aged 18 or older and proof of ownership. If you are approved, an advisor does the free assessment, and Efficiency Nova Scotia schedules and pays for the work. Most applicants hear back in four to six weeks. It cannot be combined with the Home Energy Assessment rebate for the same upgrade.
Official program pages
Program rules and amounts can change, so check the program's own page before you sign anything.
Provincial amounts last checked against the program pages on October 22, 2026. Prices for the whole job are on the heat pump cost guide, and the rebates page covers every province.