Eligible heat pumps for financial assistance

Since March 1, 2024, the Novoclimat program no longer offers financial assistance for the installation of air-source heat pumps to new applicants.

Starting May 1, 2024, the Rénoclimat program will no longer offer financial assistance to new applicants for air-source heat pumps or geothermal heating systems. However, a transition phase will be implemented for applicants who joined the program before May 1, 2024; they will have until September 30, 2024 to complete both the installation of their heating system and the post-retrofit energy evaluation in order to get a grant for their air-source heat pump or geothermal heating system. The installation of a heat pump is eligible for financial assistance from the Chauffez vert program.

Hydro-Québec aalso offers a financial assistance program for the installation of a heat pump (certain conditions apply).

In the Rénoclimat and Novoclimat programs, the heat pump selected must appear on the list of eligible models at the time of installation and all eligibility criteria must be met.

Eligible heat pumps for financial assistance in the Rénoclimat and Novoclimat programs

Grant amounts

The grant amounts depends on the installed system’s heating output in winter conditions. The more powerful the heat pump is, the higher the amount of financial assistance is.

The specific grant amount available for each model is listed in the list of eligible heat pumps.

Calculation rule

  • Grant of $50 of financial assistance is granted for every thousand BTUs of heating output at -8°C.

For example:

  • An eligible heat pump with a heating output of 10,000 BTUs/h at -8°C qualify for a $500 of financial assistance grant.
  • An eligible heat pump with a heating output of 20,000 BTUs/h at -8°C qualify for a $1,000 of financial assistance grnat.

Additional information on installation and performance requirements

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about the installation conditions and system performance criteria that must be met:

  • Single package air-air heat pumps are no longer eligible.
  • Air-air heat pumps must not be installed outside of the plane of insulation (e.g. in the attic space).
  • Mini-split air-air heat pumps “with ducts” are now eligible.
  • The installation of at least one indoor unit per floor is no longer required.
  • The minimum output of 12,000 BTUs/h at +8°C is no longer required.
  • ENERGY STAR® certification is not required for the system; however, the system must be NEEP certified.

The benefits of a heat pump

Heat pumps can be used as a heating system and as an air conditioner. In the winter, a heat pump uses less energy than other heating devices to produce heat. In addition, there are low temperature heat pump models that can heat a home practically year round, even in very low temperatures. However, below a certain temperature or if the system is undersized, another heating system has to take over because the heat pump alone will not be enough.

Merchants often tend to suggest minimum sizing, which is suitable for air conditioning, but not for heating. To obtain the best possible performance from your new heat pump, make sure that it is properly sized, i.e. powerful enough to meet your heating needs.

How to choose the program that best suits your needs

The installation of a heat pump is eligible for financial assistance from various programs. Be sure to choose the program that best suits your needs.

Attention! For the same heat pump installation, you cannot get financial assistance from both Hydro-Québec’s Efficient Heat Pump program and another governmental program, such as Rénoclimat or Novoclimat.

Rénoclimat

The Rénoclimat program starts with a visit from an energy advisor who performs the pre-retrofit energy evaluation of your home. The advisor’s evaluation report will guide you through the retrofit options to improve your home’s energy performance. You must wait for the pre-retrofit energy evaluation before starting to renovate your home.

Starting May 1, 2024, the Rénoclimat program will no longer offer financial assistance to new applicants for air-source heat pumps. However, a transition phase will be implemented for applicants who joined the program before May 1, 2024; they will have until September 30, 2024 to complete both the installation of their heating system and the post-retrofit energy evaluation in order to get a grant for their air-source heat pump.

The Gouvernement du Québec will keep supporting homeowners who wish to install a heat-pump through Hydro-Québec’s LogisVert Efficient Homes program.

The Canada Greener Homes Grant also provides financial assistance for the installation or replacement of a heat pump: List of eligible heat pumps in Québec under the Canada Greener Homes Grant.

In Québec, Rénoclimat registration was the gateway to the Canada Greener Homes Grant. Applicants had until February 19, 2024 to complete their pre-retrofit energy evaluation in order to access the federal grant. Since then, the Canada Greener Homes Grant is closed to new applicants.

Natural Resources Canada has not yet announced a deadline to complete the retrofits, nor the post-retrofit energy evaluation that allow you to access the federal grant.

  • Consult the Rénoclimat program section for all the details.

Novoclimat

The Novoclimat program offers financial assistance to buyers, contractors or developers, depending on the program component, who build a new highly energy-efficient Novoclimat-certified home.

Projects registered on or after March 1, 2024 can no longer receive financial assistance for heat pumps.

  • Consult the Novoclimat program section for all the details.

LogisVert Efficient Homes Program
(Hydro-Québec)

The LogisVert Efficient Homes Program allows you to have easy access to financial assistance for installing a heat pump. It is important to select a model from the list of eligible heat pumps tto do the work. The application for financial assistance must be submitted no later than nine months after the date of installation of the heat pump.

Conversion of a natural gas heating system to a dual-energy system

If you use natural gas to heat your home, you could benefit from financial assistance to convert your natural gas system to a dual-energy system that uses electricity as a primary energy source and natural gas as a backup source.

The procedure varies depending on your current natural gas distributor:

  • If you are an Énergir client, go to www.energir.com.
  • If you are a client of Gazifère, please note that the deployment of an offer for the installation of a bienergy system is currently being analyzed and could be deployed in the territory of Gazifère in a next phase. You can inform the distributor of your interest in a dual energy system by emailing info@gazifere.com.

Choosing a contractor

To be eligible, the installation of the heat pump must be done by a qualified contractor who has a licence from the Régie du bâtiment du Québec, in accordance with current renovation regulations.

Here are some useful links.

Are you a contractor, distributor or manufacturer of heat pumps?

Consult the above list of eligible heat pumps to recommend eligible models to your clients.

  • The list of eligible heat pumps is based on criteria pertaining to their installation and performance, including the following:
    • Mini-split, air-air heat pumps are not eligible.
    • Mini-split, air-air heat pumps “with ducts” are now eligible.
    • The installation of at least one indoor unit per floor is no longer required.
    • The minimum output of 12,000 BTU/h at +8 °C is no longer required.
    • ENERGY STAR® certification is no longer required. However, the system must be NEEP certified.

Questions?

Consult the frequently asked questions on our site to find quick answers to the most common questions, including questions about the temporary measures.

Can’t find the answer to your specific question? Please contact our customer service by calling 1 866 266-0008 or sending an e-mail to renseignements.te@mern.gouv.qc.ca.

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