RetrofitWR
Run by Region of Waterloo (with GrandBridge Energy and Reep Green Solutions) · Also called RetrofitWR
RetrofitWR offers homeowners and landlords low-interest loans of up to $40,000 for heat pumps, insulation, air sealing and more in Waterloo Region, Cambridge and other areas, Ontario. You need an energy assessment before any work starts.
Loans up to
$40,000
Verified
At a glance
| Maximum amount | $40,000 CAD (2026)Loans up to $40,000 at 2.5%; up to $5,500 in incentives |
|---|---|
| Funding type | Loan |
| Status | Open |
| Who can apply | Homeowners, Landlords, Income-qualified |
| Energy assessment required | Yes, before you start |
| Income-tested | Partly: the $3,000 tier is for income-qualified households |
| Deadline | No end date published |
| Where | Waterloo Region, Cambridge and other areas, Ontario |
| Level | Municipal |
| Run by | Region of Waterloo (with GrandBridge Energy and Reep Green Solutions) |
| Official page | retrofitwr.ca |
| Last verified | |
| Verified by | Rebate Researcher, RebateHub |
| Confidence | HighEvery figure matches the official program pages. |
RetrofitWR. RebateHub.ca, https://rebatehub.ca/rebates/on-waterloo-region-retrofitwr#key-facts. Last verified October 12, 2026. Official source: https://retrofitwr.ca/
What you can get
| Upgrade | What you get | Up to |
|---|---|---|
| Home energy retrofit loan (repaid on GrandBridge Energy bill)Up to $40,000 at 2.5% fixed, 10- or 15-year termsMinimum total project value is $10,000. A $450 admin fee is added after completion. It is waived for early participants for a limited time and permanently for income-qualified households. | Up to $40,000 at 2.5% fixed, 10- or 15-year terms | $40,000 |
| Ducted air-source heat pump$2,500Deducted from the loan balance after installation. | $2,500 | $2,500 |
| Ductless mini-split heat pump$1,000 per unit, up to $2,500 | $1,000 per unit, up to $2,500 | $2,500 |
| Income-qualified energy savings incentive$1,000 (25–30% savings) to $3,000 (50%+ savings)For households under the income limits (for example $48,220 for one person, $96,439 for four). Combined incentives can reach $5,500. | $1,000 (25–30% savings) to $3,000 (50%+ savings) | $3,000 |
How it works
RetrofitWR is the Region of Waterloo's home energy retrofit program, running from 2026 to 2030 with funding from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' Green Municipal Fund. It started on May 27, 2026. Loans of up to $40,000 carry a 2.5% fixed rate over 10 or 15 years, and repayments are added to your monthly GrandBridge Energy electricity bill. The project must be worth at least $10,000 and cut energy use by at least 25%. Up to 40% of approved costs can be paid out before the work starts.
Eligible work includes insulation, air sealing, windows, doors and skylights, air-source and ground-source heat pumps, electric and heat pump water heaters, connected thermostats, ventilation, rooftop solar and batteries, and ENERGY STAR appliances. Up to 30% of costs can go to related work such as electrical panel upgrades, mould or asbestos removal, EnerGuide assessments and permits.
Incentives come off your loan balance when the work is done. A ducted heat pump earns $2,500, and ductless mini-splits earn $1,000 per unit up to $2,500. Income-qualified households can get another $1,000 to $3,000 based on energy savings, up to $5,500 in total. For now, loans are limited to GrandBridge Energy customers, but free energy coaching is open to homeowners anywhere in Waterloo Region.
Who qualifies
- Loans: you must be a GrandBridge Energy customer in Waterloo Region (Cambridge and North Dumfries), be up to date on your energy bills and have a good credit score.
- You own a single-detached home, townhome, duplex or row house up to three storeys that is someone's full-time primary residence. Some landlords may qualify.
- The retrofit must cut energy use by at least 25%, with at least 70% of costs going to energy efficiency work.
- Free energy coaching is open to eligible homeowners anywhere in Waterloo Region, including those not served by GrandBridge Energy.
- Work started before approval and signing the agreement doesn't qualify.
How to apply
Step 1: Fill in the Get started form at retrofitwr.ca. Eligibility decisions usually take up to 10 business days.
Step 2: Work with your energy coach and book a pre-retrofit home energy assessment (you pay about $500 to $700 up front).
Step 3: Sign the loan agreement with the Region of Waterloo, then complete the upgrades with qualified contractors within 12 months.
Step 4: Finish a post-retrofit assessment and submit receipts. Repayments start on your GrandBridge Energy bill.
Get quotes from Ontario installers
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.
Book an energy assessment
Many rebates need an EnerGuide assessment before any work starts. We'll pass your request to up to 2 energy advisors who serve your area. Free to ask, no obligation; the advisor quotes their fee, and some programs rebate part of it.
- 1. Your project
- 2. Your contact details
- Book it before you sign any contract. Work done before the assessment can disqualify you.
- Energy advisors pay us, never you
- Sent to up to 2 installers who serve your area. We don't sell or rent lists.
Related programs
- Last verified October 12, 2026OpenFederalCanada-wide
Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program
Federally funded, no-cost home energy upgrades for low- and median-income homeowners and tenants. You apply through your province's or utility's partner program, not through Ottawa.
Free
Free upgrade - Last verified October 12, 2026OpenFederalCanada-wide
CMHC Eco Plus
A 25% refund of your CMHC mortgage insurance premium when you buy a newly built, energy-efficient home with a CMHC-insured mortgage.
Varies
Rebate - 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
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
Sources
Other sources we checked