If your Winnipeg home is draughty in January or your furnace is on its last legs, you don't have to cover the whole upgrade yourself. Between Efficiency Manitoba and Manitoba Hydro, there's real money on the table in 2026 — rebates that pay you back, and an on-bill loan that spreads the cost across your energy bill.
After more than a decade in construction and renovations, I've seen which upgrades actually move the needle on a Winnipeg house — and which just look good in a brochure. Here's a straight-talking map of what's available, what it's worth, and how to claim it. I'm a real estate agent, not the program administrator, so always confirm the current details on the official program pages before you spend — the Resources section of this site links every one.
The two players: rebates vs. the loan
Almost everything here comes from one of two places, and it helps to keep them straight:
- Efficiency Manitoba runs the rebates — money back for specific upgrades.
- Manitoba Hydro runs the Home Energy Efficiency Loan (HEEL) — financing you repay on your monthly bill.
They're separate, and they're meant to be used together: finance the project with the loan, then collect the rebate to lower the real cost.
Efficiency Manitoba rebates
Insulation
Insulation is the least glamorous upgrade and often the best value — in our climate, it pays back every winter. Efficiency Manitoba's Home Insulation Rebate pays you per area, based on the R-value you add and the square footage:
- Attic / cathedral / sloped roof: about $0.03 × R-value added × sq ft
- Wall cavities & foundation walls: about $0.06 × R-value added × sq ft
- Exterior walls (when re-siding): about $0.15 × R-value added × sq ft
A few rules that trip people up: eligibility is driven by how little insulation you currently have — generally R-34 or less in the attic and R-12 or less in wall cavities — so older homes (often those built before 1999) tend to qualify. You also need an active Manitoba Hydro account, a minimum of 100 sq ft per area, and — importantly — pre-approval before you buy materials or open up walls. Apply first.
Windows & doors
Replacing old units with ENERGY STAR certified triple-pane windows and doors earns $100 per unit. Income-qualified households and Indigenous offers can raise that to $300 per unit. You must replace existing units between heated and unheated space, and apply within 90 days of installation and final payment.
Air-source heat pumps
A cold-climate air-source heat pump (ccASHP) is one of the bigger opportunities right now:
- $2,000 for a centrally ducted cold-climate heat pump
- $1,500 for a ductless cold-climate heat pump
It must supplement an existing electric or gas system, be installed by a registered contractor, and be claimed within 90 days. You can finance it through the Manitoba Hydro loan and still take the rebate.
Geothermal (ground-source heat pumps)
For the right home, a ground-source heat pump through the Affordable Home Energy Program can mean no upfront cost for qualifying homeowners — a sizeable incentive plus interest-free on-bill financing repaid over 15 years. Larger retrofit or replacement projects may require an upfront contribution. Geothermal can also qualify for Manitoba's Green Energy Equipment Tax Credit — 7.5% on a Manitoba-made geothermal heat pump plus 15% on the rest of the system (installed by an MGEA-certified installer), and 10% on solar thermal.
Furnaces & boilers
If you're replacing heating equipment, there are no-upfront-cost paths on natural gas: roughly $9.50/month for 5 years when upgrading from a standard-efficiency furnace, or $25/month for 5 years from a mid-efficiency one, plus up to a $5,000 rebate on a high-efficiency boiler. These figures move, so confirm the current offer with Efficiency Manitoba.
The Manitoba Hydro Home Energy Efficiency Loan (HEEL)
No cash on hand for a project? The HEEL is on-bill financing with no down payment:
- Covers insulation, windows/doors, heat pumps, furnaces, solar, water heaters, EV chargers, and more
- 6.20% fixed for the first 5 years (then market rate)
- Up to $12,500 per home (some technologies like geothermal carry higher caps)
- Repaid right on your Manitoba Hydro bill, with no prepayment penalty after the first six months (a $20 admin fee applies only if you pay it off in full within the first six months)
One thing to plan for when selling: the loan becomes due on the sale or transfer of the home and isn't transferable — worth knowing if a project and a move might overlap.
At-a-glance
| Upgrade | What you can get | Who runs it |
|---|---|---|
| Insulation | Per-area rebate (R-value × area) | Efficiency Manitoba |
| Windows & doors | $100–$300 per ENERGY STAR unit | Efficiency Manitoba |
| Air-source heat pump | $1,500–$2,000 | Efficiency Manitoba |
| Geothermal | Large incentive + interest-free financing | Efficiency Manitoba |
| Furnace / boiler | On-bill, or up to $5,000 (boiler) | Efficiency Manitoba |
| Financing any of the above | Up to $12,500 at 6.20% on your bill | Manitoba Hydro |
Free upgrades for income-qualified households
If money is tight, start with the Energy Efficiency Assistance Program (EEAP). For income-qualified households it covers a free home energy assessment, free insulation, a free smart thermostat, LEDs, air-sealing, enhanced heating offers, and the higher $300/unit window rebate — installed at no upfront cost by registered contractors who invoice Efficiency Manitoba directly.
The 2026 income limits (before deductions) run from about $46,264 for one person to $122,432 for households of seven or more. There's also the federally funded Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program, delivered in Manitoba by Efficiency Manitoba, offering free direct-install retrofits for low- and median-income households — confirm intake status before counting on it.
A couple of things that have changed
- The Canada Greener Homes Loan (the federal interest-free retrofit loan) stopped taking applications in October 2025. For financing now, the Manitoba Hydro on-bill loan is the practical local option.
- Manitoba has no PACE program (property-tax-based financing some other provinces offer).
- The Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program is niche here — most Winnipeg homes aren't on oil — but if yours is, note the Manitoba application deadline of July 31, 2026.
How to actually claim a rebate
- Pick the upgrade and read its page — each has its own rules. (The Resources section links every official program.)
- Apply or get pre-approval first — especially for insulation and the Hydro loan.
- Use a registered contractor where required (heat pumps, furnaces, the income-qualified offers).
- Keep your invoices and apply within the deadline (often 90 days of completion).
- Stack smart — finance with the loan, collect the rebate, and check whether you qualify for the income-based or tax-credit top-ups.
This is general information, not financial or tax advice. Rebate amounts, eligibility, and deadlines change often — always confirm current details with Efficiency Manitoba, Manitoba Hydro, or the program provider before you spend.
Thinking about upgrades before you buy or sell?
The right energy upgrades don't just lower your bills — they can make a home easier to sell and more comfortable to live in. With a contractor's eye, I can help you tell the upgrades that pay off from the ones that don't, whether you're improving the home you have or sizing up one you're about to buy.
Reach out for a free, no-obligation chat or home evaluation — honest answers from a local agent who knows Winnipeg homes inside and out. — Pavel Streltsov, Real Broker Manitoba Ltd.