This one's personal for me. A few years back, my household went through the original version of this program and had a heat pump installed. It's made a noticeable difference — our heating and cooling costs have dropped every month since. Between the home energy assessments and the heat pump installation, we ended up receiving a cheque for $6,000 back, which covered a big chunk of the cost. The program also flagged a couple of other upgrades we could have made — a new hot water tank and solar panels — but after weighing it out, those just weren't the right fit for our home at the time. That's the nice part about how these programs work: the suggestions are there, but the choice is still yours.
Now that Manitoba has one of the first versions of the newer, no-cost program in the country, I wanted to break down what's changed, who qualifies, and how to apply.
What is the Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program?
The Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program (CGHAP) is Ottawa's successor to the old Canada Greener Homes Grant, which offered homeowners rebates of up to $5,000 for retrofits before running out of funding and closing in early 2024. That program required homeowners to pay for upgrades upfront and wait to be reimbursed — a barrier that shut out a lot of lower-income households.
CGHAP works differently. It's a direct-install, no-cost program: instead of a rebate cheque, participating organizations handle the entire retrofit for you, from planning to installation, at no charge. The federal government funds it, but delivery is handled locally — in Manitoba's case, through Efficiency Manitoba, the province's Crown corporation responsible for energy efficiency programming.
Federal Energy Minister Tim Hodgson and Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin actually launched the program right here in Winnipeg's Chalmers neighbourhood, with $29 million in new federal funding flowing to Efficiency Manitoba. Manitoba was the first province in the country to sign on, meaning Winnipeg households already have access while residents in most other provinces are still waiting for their programs to roll out. British Columbia, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island are the next four provinces set to join, backed by more than $500 million in combined federal and provincial funding to help over 35,000 households nationwide.
What upgrades are covered?
Through Efficiency Manitoba's Energy Efficiency Assistance Program — the local delivery arm of CGHAP — eligible households can receive:
A free home energy assessment to identify where your home is losing energy
Free insulation for attics, walls, and basements
A free air-source or ground-source heat pump, if you're currently heating with an electric furnace, baseboard heaters, or an electric boiler
High-efficiency natural gas furnace upgrades for a low monthly fee ($9.50–$25/month for five years, well below market cost)
A $5,000 rebate on natural gas boiler upgrades
$300 rebates per ENERGY STAR triple-pane window or door installed
Free smart thermostats, LED bulbs, low-flow showerheads, aerators, and other energy-saving devices
Registered contractors handle installation and invoice Efficiency Manitoba directly, so there's no upfront cost to you.
Who qualifies?
This program is aimed at low- and median-income households, and it's open to both homeowners and renters — a first for a federally backed home energy program. To qualify, you generally need to:
Live in a single-detached or semi-detached home in Manitoba
Live in the home year-round
Meet the household income thresholds (based on total household income before deductions)
First Nation band members with status qualify regardless of income, and separate offers exist for Red River Métis citizens and for tenants in apartment buildings. Landlords can also apply on behalf of a rental property, though tenants will need to sign a consent form. Roughly 40% of Manitoba households fall within these income limits, so it's worth checking even if you're not sure you'll qualify.
How to apply
Submit an eligibility application online or by mail through Efficiency Manitoba, along with income verification documents for every household member 18 or older.
Get your free home energy assessment, where an energy advisor reviews your heating system and insulation and installs simple energy-saving devices on the spot.
Choose a registered contractor from Efficiency Manitoba's list if your home qualifies for a heating or insulation upgrade.
Get the upgrade installed — the contractor coordinates everything and lets you know once the work is approved and scheduled.
Enjoy lower bills. Contractors invoice Efficiency Manitoba directly, so there's nothing for you to pay out of pocket.
You can start the application through Efficiency Manitoba's website.
A word of caution
Because this program involves in-home visits and contractor referrals, it's unfortunately a target for scammers. Natural Resources Canada has been explicit that neither the federal government nor Efficiency Manitoba will ever cold-call, email, or show up door-to-door asking to inspect or sell you heating and cooling equipment. Home energy evaluations only happen after you apply and request one. If someone contacts you out of the blue claiming to represent this program, treat it as a red flag.
Why it matters for Winnipeg
Winnipeg's climate is hard on housing — long, cold winters mean heating costs make up a big chunk of household energy bills, especially in older homes with poor insulation. A well-targeted retrofit (better insulation, an efficient heat pump, air sealing) can meaningfully cut those costs while also reducing household greenhouse gas emissions. With Manitoba first in line nationally for this program, Winnipeggers have a real head start on accessing support that residents in most of the country won't see for months.
Looking back at our own experience, the heat pump alone has been worth it every month since — lower bills and a more comfortable home year-round. If you think your household might qualify, the application costs nothing to submit — and could mean a warmer, cheaper-to-heat home before next winter hits.
Want to learn more?
