Glossary · Programs & credentials
Assessment path and no-assessment path (Home Renovation Savings)
Also called: assessment path · no-assessment path · assessment stream · no-assessment stream · Home Energy Assessment path · direct rebates
Ontario's Home Renovation Savings program has two routes: one needs home energy assessments before and after the work; the other pays set rebates without one.
What it means
On the assessment path you book an initial EnerGuide assessment with an approved service organization, complete at least two recommended upgrades, then have a final assessment with the same energy advisor. It pays for insulation, windows and doors, air sealing and heat pump water heaters, plus $600 toward the two assessments and a $500 bonus for three upgrades. The no-assessment path pays fixed rebates for heat pumps, attic insulation, smart thermostats, appliances and solar with batteries, usually through participating contractors and with pre-approval for heat pumps and solar.
Why it matters in an audit
Choosing a path decides whether you need an EnerGuide assessment first, and the assessment path's follow-up must be scheduled by November 30, 2026 and completed by December 31, 2026.
Typical numbers
Reference values with their sources. Your energy advisor’s report gives the figure for your own house.
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment path deadlines | Follow-up assessment scheduled by Nov 30, 2026 and completed within 180 days of the first one or by Dec 31, 2026, whichever comes first | homerenovationsavings.ca ↗ |
| Assessment path maximum | $5,000 per home heated with Enbridge gas; $10,000 if heated with oil, propane, wood or electricity on the Ontario grid (both include the $600 assessment rebate) | homerenovationsavings.ca ↗ |
| Assessment path minimum | At least two qualifying upgrades; three earn an extra $500 | homerenovationsavings.ca ↗ |
| No-assessment path examples | Cold-climate air-source heat pump up to $7,500; ground-source up to $12,000; attic insulation up to $1,250; smart thermostat $125 | saveonenergy.ca ↗ |