Heat pumps by province · checked October 19, 2026

Heat pumps in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia homes need heat down to −15.9°C on a design day. At today's prices a cold-climate heat pump in Halifax delivers heat for about $25.38 a GJ, against $29.95 for a high-efficiency gas furnace.

Colourful wooden row houses on a steep street above a foggy Atlantic harbour
Design temperature −15.9°C Halifax
Cold-climate heat pump $25.38 per GJ Halifax, seasonal COP 2.2
Gas furnace (95%) $29.95 per GJ a heat pump beats gas here above a seasonal COP of 1.9
Heat pump programs 3 of 3 open Amounts and equipment rules

Climate and sizing

A heat pump is sized to the design temperature: the cold that a home must handle on all but the coldest 1% of winter hours. Below that, most systems keep heating at reduced output, and a backup (electric strips or the old furnace) covers the gap. The seasonal COP is a planning value for the whole winter, backup and defrost included.

Heating climate by city in Nova Scotia
City Design temperature Heating degree days Nights below −20°C Seasonal COP, cold-climate Heat pump cost per GJ
Halifax −15.9°C 4,116 1.4 2.2 standard 1.9 $25.38

Design temperatures: HOT2000 weather files (NRCan). Degree days and cold nights: Environment and Climate Change Canada 1991–2020 normals. Seasonal COP: Seasonal COP for a whole heating season, including electric backup heat and defrost, for a heat pump sized for mild to cold weather. Planning values set slightly below modelled results (Dunsky/CCI 2024) because field studies (RDH for FortisBC; Yukon pilot) came in lower. Above 6,000 degree-days the values rest on one partial-season pilot in Whitehorse, so we use the low end of the band from 7,000 degree-days (Yellowknife).

What heat costs to run in Halifax

Cost per gigajoule of heat delivered into the house, at prices current on October 8, 2026, using the marginal price of electricity an electrically heated home pays in winter. A typical older house in a cold province uses 60 to 120 GJ of heat a year. Here a heat pump costs less to run than a 95% gas furnace whenever its seasonal COP is above 1.9, which a cold-climate system reaches in this climate.

Delivered heat cost by fuel in Halifax
Heating system Cost per GJ of heat vs cheapest Based on
Cold-climate heat pump $25.38 cheapest seasonal COP 2.2 for this climate
Standard heat pump $29.39 +16% seasonal COP 1.9
Natural gas furnace (95%) $29.95 +18% 106.7¢ per m³
Oil furnace (85%) $54.82 +116% $1.78 per litre, 12-month average
Electric baseboards or furnace $55.83 +120% 20.1¢ per kWh

Prices and their sources are on our energy cost calculator, which works the numbers for your own home.

Heat pump rebates in Nova Scotia

Every heat pump program we found, with the equipment rule that decides which models qualify. Checked against each program's own page on October 19, 2026.

Home Energy Assessment rebates

Open

Efficiency Nova Scotia (EfficiencyOne)

Heat pump amountsDuctless mini-split $300 per ton; centrally ducted $500 per ton; closed-loop geothermal $600 per ton; within the $5,000 assessment-path maximum. Tons = rated capacity at 47°F (12,000 BTU/h per ton, pro-rated), counting only newly added capacity minus any heat pump capacity removed.

Equipment ruleAir-source: the model must have a check mark under the right program category on Efficiency Nova Scotia's own heat pump list (the rebate guide doesn't publish the list's criteria). Not eligible: replacement heat pumps; ducted, compact-ducted or mixed-ducted mini-splits; units in unconditioned space. Geothermal: maximum 40 kW (135,000 Btu/h); closed loop heating COP ≥ 3.1 at 0°C entering water and cooling COP ≥ 3.93 at 25°C; open-loop thresholds (heating COP ≥ 3.6 at 10°C, cooling ≥ 4.75 at 15°C) are listed but…

Other conditions$199 Home Energy Assessment (waived under the income threshold); equipment new, bought in Canada, purchased and installed between the initial and final assessments; 12 months to finish; rebates can't exceed 100% of cost. OHPA through Efficiency Nova Scotia closed to new applicants (July 2, 2026 per our earlier check).

assets.ctfassets.net ↗ · checked October 19, 2026

Moderate Income Rebate (top-up)

Open

Efficiency Nova Scotia (EfficiencyOne)

Heat pump amountsDuctless mini-split $500 per ton; centrally ducted $1,500 per ton; combinable with the assessment-path heat pump rebate; up to $5,000 more (up to $10,000 in all). No geothermal top-up listed.

Equipment ruleSame heat pump list rule and exclusions as the assessment path (replacement heat pumps, ducted mini-splits, units in unconditioned space).

Other conditionsOwner-occupied primary residence heated mainly by non-electric sources (electrically heated homes not eligible); household income under the program limits; pre-approval as of our October 8 check (efficiencyns.ca pages didn't load).

efficiencyns.ca ↗ · checked October 19, 2026

HomeWarming (free upgrades; Greener Homes Affordability partner)

Open

Efficiency Nova Scotia, with federal Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program funding

Heat pump amountsEfficiency Nova Scotia's page description: 'free energy-efficient upgrades like heat pumps and insulation' for income-qualified homeowners. NRCan also lists the African Nova Scotian Communities Retrofit program as a Nova Scotia partner.

Equipment ruleInstalled by the program; no criteria published that we could read.

Other conditionsIncome-qualified homeowners (renters not eligible as of our October 8 check). We couldn't verify any separate provincial free heat pump program: efficiencyns.ca pages didn't load for us.

efficiencyns.ca ↗ · checked October 19, 2026

Federal programs

National Heat Pump Rebate

Announced October 8, 2026 and opening early 2027: up to $10,000 below the median income, $2,000 for other eligible homeowners

Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program

Free retrofits for low-to-median-income households through provincial partners in BC, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, PEI and Quebec (Quebec's 2026–27 intake has closed) — not available in Ontario

Our full program guides

Efficiency Nova Scotia home programs

NRCan's Eligible Products List ↗

Systems that suit Nova Scotia winters

The certified systems that heat most efficiently at −15°C (5°F) on current refrigerants, from ENERGY STAR's Canadian listings. Rows marked "Meets NRCan's −15°C thresholds" are the ones to check on NRCan's list for federal and most provincial rebates.

Mini-splits and multi-splits

Cold-climate mini-splits for Nova Scotia
Brand Outdoor / indoor model Size Heat at −15°C (5°F) COP at −15°C (5°F) HSPF2 SEER2 Refrigerant AHRI #
Midea M3O Series M3OX430-27HFN8-M1 Same ratings also listed as Innovair, Stelpro, Dettson and Ouellet 27,000 BTU/h 2.5-ton 21,400 BTU/h 79% of rated 2.80 10.0 22.5 R-32 ENERGY STAR Cold Climate Meets NRCan's −15°C thresholds 218461516
Fujitsu AIRSTAGE H-Series AOUH12KTAP1 ASUH12KTAS 15,300 BTU/h 1-ton 16,200 BTU/h 106% of rated 2.62 13.7 31.5 R-32 ENERGY STAR Cold Climate Meets NRCan's −15°C thresholds 216018256
Hitachi airCore700 PAS-18BUFASDQ1-LAC PCI-B18UFA1DQ 18,000 BTU/h 1.5-ton 15,000 BTU/h 83% of rated 2.60 11.0 27.0 R-32 ENERGY STAR Cold Climate Meets NRCan's −15°C thresholds 217450776
Hitachi airCore700 PAS-18BUFASDQ1 PCI-B18UFA1DQ 20,000 BTU/h 1.5-ton 16,200 BTU/h 81% of rated 2.60 11.0 25.0 R-32 ENERGY STAR Cold Climate Meets NRCan's −15°C thresholds 214723258
Carrier 45M Series 37MARAQ24AA3 45MAHAQ24XA3 Same ratings also listed as Bryant, Midea, Heil, Tempstar, Comfortmaker, KeepRite and other ICP brands, Payne and WeatherMaker, Kenmore, LPS Legacy, Smart Comfort 25,000 BTU/h 2-ton 19,600 BTU/h 78% of rated 2.54 11.7 23.1 R-454B ENERGY STAR Cold Climate Meets NRCan's −15°C thresholds 215323752
Bosch BMS Series BMS500-AAS024-1CSXRD BMS500-AAU024-1AHWXD Same ratings also listed as Midea, Moovair, Innovair, Stelpro, Dettson and Ouellet, Cooper & Hunter, ACiQ, Blueridge, AC PRO, CanAir 25,000 BTU/h 2-ton 19,600 BTU/h 78% of rated 2.54 11.7 23.0 R-454B ENERGY STAR Cold Climate Meets NRCan's −15°C thresholds 215223306
Fujitsu AIRSTAGE H-Series AOUH15KTAP1 ASUH15KTAS 17,400 BTU/h 1-ton 18,400 BTU/h 106% of rated 2.52 13.0 28.7 R-32 ENERGY STAR Cold Climate Meets NRCan's −15°C thresholds 216018257
AUX C-Series AFEB09HP115V1CO AFEB09HP115V1CH 9,700 BTU/h 1-ton 9,200 BTU/h 95% of rated 2.52 9.5 22.0 R-32 ENERGY STAR Cold Climate Meets NRCan's −15°C thresholds 214290017

Central systems, 2 tons and up

Cold-climate central heat pumps for Nova Scotia
Brand Outdoor / indoor model Size Heat at −15°C (5°F) COP at −15°C (5°F) HSPF2 SEER2 Refrigerant AHRI #
Samsung Hylex AC060FCUPCG FEMUU1A60S001R 56,000 BTU/h 4.5-ton 43,000 BTU/h 77% of rated 2.58 9.0 17.0 R-454B ENERGY STAR Cold Climate 217734250
Samsung Hylex AC048FCUPCG FEMTT7A60S001R 48,000 BTU/h 4-ton 40,500 BTU/h 84% of rated 2.52 8.5 16.5 R-454B ENERGY STAR Cold Climate 217734248
Hisense Hi-PRO HD AUWR-60U3TH5 AUH-48UX3TEH3 Same ratings also listed as Endura, Gridless, HAXXAIR, Multi MFG, SUM X, Voltas, Zephyr 48,000 BTU/h 4-ton 37,000 BTU/h 77% of rated 2.52 9.0 19.0 R-454B ENERGY STAR Cold Climate Meets NRCan's −15°C thresholds 215270433
Midea MVB Series MOE30-36HFN10-M3X MVBDM-36HWFN10-WC3 36,000 BTU/h 3-ton 36,000 BTU/h 100% of rated 2.46 10.0 18.0 R-454B ENERGY STAR Cold Climate Meets NRCan's −15°C thresholds 216967947
Hisense Hi-PRO HD AUWR-6024P AUH-6024 Same ratings also listed as Endura, Gridless, HAXXAIR, Multi MFG, SUM X, Voltas, Zephyr 57,000 BTU/h 5-ton 42,000 BTU/h 74% of rated 2.46 9.0 19.0 R-454B ENERGY STAR Cold Climate Meets NRCan's −15°C thresholds 214855379
Armstrong Air, AirEase, Ducane and Concord A7CP21V SERIES A7CP21V36P-**A 7EH30BX-**+TDR Same ratings also listed as AC PRO 30,800 BTU/h 3-ton 22,600 BTU/h 73% of rated 2.44 8.5 17.5 R-454B ENERGY STAR Cold Climate Meets NRCan's −15°C thresholds 217493329
Lennox Elite EL21KLV SERIES EL21KLV-036-230A** CK40HT-30B-**+TDR Same ratings also listed as GE Appliances and Haier 31,200 BTU/h 3-ton 22,800 BTU/h 73% of rated 2.44 9.4 19.0 R-454B ENERGY STAR Cold Climate Meets NRCan's −15°C thresholds 217443321
Lennox DAVE LENNOX SIGNATURE SL22KLV SERIES SL22KLV-036-230A** CBK48MVT-060-230-** 32,600 BTU/h 3-ton 33,200 BTU/h 102% of rated 2.42 10.5 20.0 R-454B ENERGY STAR Cold Climate Meets NRCan's −15°C thresholds 216776011

Brands with the most cold-climate models

Outdoor models that meet ENERGY STAR Cold Climate, by brand. Each brand page has the warranty, lines and best models.

Brands by cold-climate model count
BrandENERGY STAR Cold ClimateAll certified modelsPrice tier
Midea 518 624 Mid-range
Gree 479 527 Mid-range
Innovair, Stelpro, Dettson and Ouellet 207 218 Mid-range
Innova (formerly Ephoca) 193 193 Premium
TCL 166 176 Not rated
Hisense 161 198 Mid-range
Mitsubishi Electric 152 231 Premium
Heil, Tempstar, Comfortmaker, KeepRite and other ICP brands 146 275 Budget to premium
Moovair 136 151 Mid-range
Bryant 123 219 Budget to premium
Carrier 123 201 Budget to premium
Comfort-Aire and Century 121 148 Mid-range

Compare every brand · All 42 brand pages and every certified name

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