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Canada Greener Homes — Status Update 2026

Both Greener Homes programs have ended. The Grant closed February 5, 2024; the interest-free Loan closed October 1, 2025. Here’s what federal solar money is actually available in 2026 — and why the news is genuinely good if you run an incorporated business or farm.

Program Status (2026)

If you’re here looking for the Greener Homes Grant or Loan — read this first

Both programs have officially ended. The good news: if you already applied and received approval before either deadline, your funding is yours and you don’t need to do anything. The closures only affect new applications going forward.

The Greener Homes Grant — Closed February 5, 2024

The Canada Greener Homes Grant, which offered up to $5,000 toward residential solar installations, closed to new applications on February 5, 2024. NRCan announced the closure after the program ran through its allocated funding faster than projected. There has been no announcement of reopening, and Natural Resources Canada has indicated the program will not be revived in its original form.

The Greener Homes Loan — Closed October 1, 2025

The interest-free Greener Homes Loan, which offered up to $40,000 at 0% interest over 10 years, stopped accepting new applications on October 1, 2025. The loan program lasted longer than the grant because it was administered separately by CMHC and didn’t share the same funding pool — but it eventually wound down as well.

Existing borrowers under either program are not affected. Loan payments continue on the original terms. Grant payments that were already approved have been or will be issued.

What’s Available in 2026

With both Greener Homes programs ended, the federal solar money in 2026 is now concentrated on the business side. The headline program for incorporated entities is dramatically better than the old residential grant.

Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit (CT ITC) — The Big One

30% Cash Back from CRA

The CT ITC is a 30% refundable tax credit on the capital cost of solar equipment. The word refundable is doing a lot of work here — it means if your credit exceeds your tax bill, CRA sends you the difference as cash. It is not just a deduction. It is actual money back from the federal government.

Example: Buy a $50,000 commercial solar system. Get $15,000 back from CRA. Buy a $200,000 system. Get $60,000 back. The 30% rate is locked in 2026–2029, then phases down.

Available to: incorporated businesses, incorporated farms, partnerships with corporate partners. Filed on Schedule 75 (T2SCH75) with your corporate tax return.

100% Capital Cost Allowance — Year One

Stacked on top of the CT ITC, incorporated businesses can also write off 100% of the net system cost (after the ITC reduces the capital cost base) in the first year under CCA Class 43.1/43.2. This dramatically reduces taxable income in the year of install — often pushing the effective combined subsidy north of 40–45% of the gross system cost depending on the corporate tax rate.

Full GST Recovery

GST/HST paid on the solar system is recoverable as an input tax credit on the GST return, the same as any other capital expense. For a $50,000 system that’s another $2,500 back.

SaskPower Net Metering

Not financing or a grant — but it’s the most valuable ongoing incentive for any Saskatchewan solar owner, residential or commercial. SaskPower credits excess generation at the full retail rate (currently ~$0.18/kWh), with credits carrying forward for 12 months. The program is available for systems up to 100 kW and applies regardless of incorporation status.

Saskatchewan Residential Path — No Federal Grant, But the Math Still Works

Honest answer first: if you’re a residential homeowner reading this hoping the Greener Homes Grant is coming back, it isn’t. There is currently no direct federal grant or interest-free loan for residential solar in Canada. We’d rather tell you that up front than waste your time.

That said — the residential math in Saskatchewan still pencils out, just differently than it did under Greener Homes. Here’s what makes residential solar work in 2026:

  • SaskPower Net Metering at retail rate. Effectively saves you ~$2,000–$2,500/yr on a typical 10 kW system. Over 25 years, that’s $50,000–$60,000 in saved electricity costs.
  • Solar financing through Financeit, bank solar loans, or HELOC. Monthly payment is typically less than the electricity bill you’re replacing, so cash flow is effectively neutral or positive from day one.
  • Rising SaskPower rates. Provincial electricity prices have risen ~5.5% annually. Every rate increase improves your solar ROI — you’re locking in 25+ years of generation at today’s install cost.

Typical payback for a residential Saskatchewan system in 2026 is 9–12 years, depending on system size and electricity usage — longer than it would have been under Greener Homes, but still well inside the 25–30 year productive life of the system.

Historical Reference — What Greener Homes Offered (2021–2025)

Kept here for context, since a lot of Canadians still encounter references to these programs and want to understand what they did. Both have ended; neither is currently accepting new applications.

The Greener Homes Grant (2021–2024)

Administered by Natural Resources Canada. Offered up to $5,000 in direct rebates for residential energy retrofits, including solar.

Eligible UpgradeGrant Amount
Solar photovoltaic system$1,000 per kW, max $5,000
Insulation (attic, walls, basement)Up to $5,000
Heat pump (air source or ground source)Up to $5,000
Windows and doorsUp to $5,000
Air sealingUp to $1,000
Smart thermostat$50

Maximum combined grant was $5,600 (including up to $600 for required pre- and post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluations). Closed to new applications February 5, 2024.

The Greener Homes Loan (2022–2025)

Administered by CMHC. Offered up to $40,000 in interest-free financing over 10 years for eligible energy retrofits.

  • Amount: Up to $40,000
  • Interest rate: 0%
  • Repayment term: Up to 10 years
  • Eligibility: Required pre-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation + registered contractor

Stopped accepting new applications October 1, 2025.

Was it worth it while it lasted?

Yes. For Canadian homeowners who applied during the window, the Greener Homes combo (grant + 0% loan) was the strongest residential solar incentive in Canadian history. Most residential customers who acted between 2021 and early 2024 came out significantly ahead. The closure isn’t a comment on the program’s value — just on its funding model.

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Not sure which 2026 programs apply to you?

Federal incentive programs change year over year. We track every active one and can tell you within a 10-minute call exactly which apply to your situation — residential, farm, or incorporated business.

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