Toronto·Ontario Votes 2022

Ontario NDP promises grants, loans for energy efficient upgrades in homes

Ontario New Democrats are promising grants and interest-free loans for people to make energy efficient upgrades in their homes that can help lower their utility bills.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says it's a way to fight the climate crisis and help families

Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath waves to the media in Toronto before visiting communities across the GTA as part of the 2022 Ontario election campaign trail on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. (Tijana Martin/The Canadian Press)

Ontario New Democrats are promising grants and interest-free loans for people to make energy efficient upgrades in their homes that can help lower their utility bills.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says it's a way to both fight the climate crisis and help families afford everyday life.

An NDP government would offer people grants of $7,000 to $11,000 for the household upgrades such as heat pumps, high-efficiency electric water heaters, efficient windows, insulation, deep energy retrofits and energy efficiency assessments.

For any costs over the amount of that grant, the NDP say they would offer zero-interest financing that people would pay off over time through their hydro bill.

The NDP says that for heating alone, a new heat pump system can reduce home energy consumption by an average of 61 per cent.

The party's climate plan commits $40 billion over four years for measures such as a retrofit program for public, residential and commercial buildings, electrifying transit, and an electric vehicle strategy.