Better Homes Kingston
Run by City of Kingston · Also called BHK
Better Homes Kingston offered homeowners and landlords low-interest loans of up to $50,000 for insulation, air sealing, heat pumps and more in Kingston, Ontario. It closed to new applications; see what replaced it below.
Better Homes Kingston is closed to new applications
If you already applied, follow up with City of Kingston directly. If you’re planning work now, these programs are open and cover the same upgrades.
- Last verified October 12, 2026OpenProvincialOntario
Home Renovation Savings Program
Ontario's main home-retrofit rebate program. You can claim single upgrades such as a heat pump, attic insulation, solar with a battery, a smart thermostat or ENERGY STAR appliances without an energy assessment, or do an assessment and two or more upgrades for envelope rebates.
$12,000
max rebate
Rebate - Last verified October 12, 2026OpenProvincialOntario
Energy Affordability Program
Income-qualified Ontario electricity customers can get free energy upgrades. These range from free saving kits to a full home visit that can include new appliances, insulation, draft-proofing and, for electric or oil-heated homes, a cold-climate heat pump.
Free
Free upgrade - Last verified October 12, 2026OpenUtilityOntario
Home Winterproofing Program
Income-qualified households heated by Enbridge natural gas can get a free home energy assessment, plus free insulation, draft-proofing and a smart thermostat where needed.
Free
Free upgrade - Last verified October 12, 2026OpenProvincialOntario
Peak Perks
Get $75 for enrolling an eligible smart thermostat that controls central air or a heat pump, then $20 for each year you stay enrolled. On a few hot weekday afternoons, your cooling is adjusted slightly.
$75
max rebate
Rebate
At a glance
| Maximum amount | $50,000 CAD (2026)Up to $50,000 loan plus gas-customer rebates (closed) |
|---|---|
| Funding type | Loan |
| Status | Closed |
| Who can apply | Homeowners, Landlords |
| Energy assessment required | Not stated by the program |
| Income-tested | No |
| Closed | Date not published |
| Where | Kingston, Ontario |
| Level | Municipal |
| Run by | City of Kingston |
| Official page | cityofkingston.ca/building-and-renovating/better-homes-kingston |
| Last verified | |
| Verified by | Rebate Researcher, RebateHub |
| Confidence | HighEvery figure matches the official program pages. |
Better Homes Kingston. RebateHub.ca, https://rebatehub.ca/rebates/on-kingston-better-homes#key-facts. Last verified October 12, 2026. Official source: https://www.cityofkingston.ca/building-and-renovating/better-homes-kingston/
What you can get
| Upgrade | What you get | Up to |
|---|---|---|
| Home energy retrofit loan (local improvement charge)Up to $50,000 or 20% of home value, whichever is less; 3.25% (5 yr) to 4.75% (20 yr)A $450 admin fee applies, waived for Municipal Fee Assistance Program members. | Up to $50,000 or 20% of home value, whichever is less; 3.25% (5 yr) to 4.75% (20 yr) | $50,000 |
| Home energy assessment (Utilities Kingston gas customers)$600Needed for projects with two or more upgrades. | $600 | $600 |
| Exterior wall insulation (Utilities Kingston gas customers)$1,200 to $3,600 depending on R-value added | $1,200 to $3,600 depending on R-value added | $3,600 |
| Basement wall insulation (Utilities Kingston gas customers)$900 (R-10 to R-22) or $1,500 (above R-22) | $900 (R-10 to R-22) or $1,500 (above R-22) | $1,500 |
| Attic insulation to R-50 (Utilities Kingston gas customers)$900 to $1,500 depending on starting levelSingle upgrade, no assessment needed. | $900 to $1,500 depending on starting level | $1,500 |
| Cold-climate air-source heat pump in a gas-heated home (Utilities Kingston gas customers)$500 per ton, up to $2,000Must be on NRCan's eligible list. | $500 per ton, up to $2,000 | $2,000 |
| Ground-source heat pump in a gas-heated home (Utilities Kingston gas customers)$3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Heat pump water heater replacing a gas water heater (Utilities Kingston gas customers)$500 | $500 | $500 |
| ENERGY STAR windows or doors (Utilities Kingston gas customers)$100 each | $100 each | Varies |
What a typical home gets
| Heat pump | 2 tons | 3 tons | 4 tons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold-climate air-source heat pump in a gas-heated homeUtilities Kingston gas customers | $1,000 | $1,500 | $2,000 |
How it works
Better Homes Kingston is the City of Kingston's home energy retrofit financing program, supported by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' Green Municipal Fund. The 2026 relaunch offered fixed-rate loans of up to $50,000 or 20% of the home's value, whichever is less. Rates were 3.25% for 5 years, 4.00% for 10, 4.50% for 15 and 4.75% for 20, repaid as a local improvement charge on the property tax bill. Up to half of the funding could be paid out up front to cover contractors, and the loan could be repaid early with no penalty.
The relaunch also added rebates for Utilities Kingston natural gas customers, available on their own or with a loan. These included up to $3,600 for exterior wall insulation, up to $1,500 for attic insulation, $500 per ton (up to $2,000) for a cold-climate air-source heat pump, $3,000 for a ground-source heat pump and $600 toward a home energy assessment.
Eligible work covered insulation, air sealing, windows and doors, heat pumps, water heaters, solar, batteries, EV chargers, electrical upgrades needed for the energy work, and flood-resilience measures such as backwater valves and sump pumps. The City now says the program is no longer accepting applications.
Who qualifies
- Detached, semi-detached or row house, or a small apartment building up to three storeys, in Kingston. Primary residences and rentals both qualified.
- All owners had to agree, and property taxes and utility bills had to be up to date.
- Projects needed at least a 20% cut in energy use or greenhouse gas emissions, shown by an assessment or a listed upgrade.
- Rebates were for Utilities Kingston natural gas customers.
- Work started or paid for before City approval did not qualify.
How applications worked
Step 1: The program is not accepting applications. Join the City's Better Homes waitlist to be told about future rounds.
Step 2: In the last round, applicants met with the program's energy coach, sent in a funding request and waited for City approval before starting work.
Still planning the upgrade? Get up to 3 quotes
Free, no obligation. We pass your request to up to 3 independent installers who serve your area and, where a program requires it, are registered with it.
- 1. Your project
- 2. Your contact details
- Installers checked against your program’s contractor list, where it has one
- Installers pay us, never you
- Sent to up to 3 installers who serve your area. We don't sell or rent lists.
Sources
Other sources we checked