Do not share your personal information with third parties saying they represent Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) or the Canada Greener Homes Loan. We never ask for a deposit from applicants. Do not have anyone submit documentation on your behalf. Make sure you only share your information using the Canada Greener Homes Loan portal.
Access to the Canada Greener Homes Loan portal by a person who is not the loan applicant is not permitted.
The Canada Greener Homes Loan offers interest-free financing to help Canadians make their homes more energy efficient and comfortable.
The loan can help you finance eligible retrofits that are recommended by an energy advisor and that have not yet been started.
IMPORTANT: You should not start any retrofit work before your loan application has been submitted. Any retrofits started before submitting your loan application are ineligible.
Maximum: $40,000 Minimum: $5,000 Repayment term: 10 years, interest-free Loan type: Unsecured personal loan on approved credit
A maximum of one loan is available per eligible property and homeowner.
The maximum eligible loan amount is calculated based on the retrofits selected in the application and the quotes for this work. The eligible amount is capped based on industry standards and market norms. The maximum eligible loan amount may be less than your quoted cost, in which case you will be responsible for funding any difference.
Once approved, a portion of the loan can be delivered up front to assist in paying any deposits required by your contractor. The balance of the loan will be delivered after the retrofits have been completed and verified through a post-retrofit evaluation.
You cannot apply for a loan for the following:
work that has already been started or completed
retrofits that were not recommended in your pre-retrofit evaluation
retrofits that are not included in your application (that is, you must not add additional retrofits to your loan application after it has been approved)
You must own the home(s) or have a formal partnership to represent the owners, but the homes do not need to be the owner’s primary residence
Your home must be occupied by an Indigenous household
You must select at least one eligible retrofit for each property subject to the loan
Applying as an Indigenous government or organization?
Find dedicated support for your application by calling: 1-866-292-9517
Northern and off-grid communities
Canadians living in northern and off-grid communities face specific challenges when it comes to completing home retrofits, including higher equipment and labour costs. To help with this, all retrofit amounts have been adjusted to provide an additional 30% for northern and off-grid communities.
Additionally, homeowners living in northern and off-grid communities are eligible for replacements of existing fossil-fuel burning equipment. Further, homeowners living in a northern community are eligible for additional insulation measures (attic, ceiling, and exposed floor insulation).
Ensuring your application is complete and accurate will improve processing time and allow you to start your retrofits sooner.
You cannot start any work until your loan application has been submitted. Any retrofits started before submitting your application are ineligible.
We recommend that you do not start any work before your loan application has been approved. If you choose to begin your retrofits before your loan application is approved, you are responsible for all costs if your application is declined.
Submitting an application with incomplete and/or inaccurate information will cause delays. Do not submit your loan application with missing documents or incomplete information.
Your loan application must include all retrofits that you plan to complete. Retrofits that are not included in your loan application cannot be added later.
If you include retrofits in your application that you later decide not to complete, these will be subtracted from your loan before final funding. The adjusted loan amount must be at least $5,000 to remain eligible.
Make sure that the quotes from contractors are clear and show the cost of the eligible energy efficient retrofits.
The maximum eligible loan amount is calculated based on the retrofits selected in the application and the quotes for this work. The eligible amount is capped based on industry standards and market norms. The maximum eligible loan amount may be less than your quoted cost, in which case, you will be responsible for funding the difference.
Upfront costs
Once approved, up to 15%* of the loan can be delivered up front if a deposit is required by your contractor. The initial advance is only available for retrofits that require a deposit. The balance of the loan will be delivered once the retrofits have been completed and verified through a post-retrofit evaluation.
You can request the initial advance during your application by uploading the quotes from contractors and entering the deposit amounts required to do the retrofit.
*The initial advance is increased to 25% if your property is located in the North or off-grid.
How to apply
Proceed to step 3 to access and continue your loan application.
The steps and information below will help you complete your loan application. Continue to access your application here.
Follow the steps below to create your loan application. If you already completed your pre-retrofit evaluation, go to step 3.
1. Find a service organization and schedule a pre-retrofit evaluation of your home
Please begin by visiting the directory of service organizations to find one in your area:
An energy advisor will evaluate your home and make recommendations on how to make it more energy-efficient and resistant to climate change. Only eligible retrofits that have been recommended by an energy advisor are eligible for the loan.
2. Plan your retrofits and obtain quotes from contractors
Review your pre-retrofit evaluation and decide which retrofits work best for you. Make sure to plan all your work in advance before applying for the loan.
Do not start any work until your loan application has been submitted. Retrofits started before submitting your loan application are not eligible.
Begin by speaking with contractors and obtain at least 1-3 quotes for each of the retrofits in your plan. Make sure that the quotes clearly show the itemized cost of eligible retrofits. All quotes must be clear and legible and must:
provide a detailed summary of the costs of the work to be completed
identify any deposits required by the contractor
include the name and contact details for the contractors completing the work
Only costs directly related to retrofits recommended in your pre-retrofit evaluation are eligible for the loan. The maximum eligible loan amount may be less than your quoted costs in which case you will be responsible for paying any difference.
Important: Be aware of high-pressure sales tactics. Take your time to plan your retrofits, gather quotes and interview contractors.
Do-it-yourself (DIY) retrofits
Before you begin, know which retrofits require a licensed and trained professional. You are responsible for ensuring that retrofits completed are eligible for the program. Whenever possible, we recommend that you have a licensed and trained professional working on your home.
If you are completing any retrofits yourself, you must provide a detailed summary of all materials excluding labor. Personal labour costs are not eligible. All products must be purchased in Canada and online purchases are eligible only if they are ordered from an online distributor located in Canada. You will be required to provide all receipts later.
3. Submit your loan application before starting any work
To submit your loan application, you will require:
Pre-retrofit evaluation file number
Government issued photo identification (ID) with your address (for example, a driver’s license). If the photo ID does not show your address, you must also provide a utility bill that shows your current address
Property tax bill or assessment
Detailed quotes from contractors or a complete material and rental estimate from suppliers
Proof of income and employment. Two of the following documents are required:
Most recent pay stub(s) dated within 60 days
Letter of employment dated within 60 days
Bank statement(s) showing direct deposit for the most recent two-month period
CMHC has contracted Intellifi to deliver Canada Greener Homes Loans. If you are a loan applicant and require assistance, Intellifi is available to assist you once you begin your application.
4. Complete your retrofits
Make sure to keep copies of all your receipts and invoices along the way.
5. Get a post-retrofit evaluation
Once all planned retrofits are complete, contact your service organization to request a post-retrofit evaluation. An energy advisor will visit your home and provide you with a new report showing the impact of your retrofits.
After your service organization submits the results of the post-retrofit evaluation, you must sign back into the loan application portal and choose “Request Funding”. You will be asked to upload all final invoices for the completed work.
The loan will be reviewed again based on the actual completed retrofits. If the final costs are higher than the initial estimate, the loan amount will not increase.
7. Receive your loan amount
You will receive an email confirming the final loan amount after your funding request has been approved.
The final approved loan amount (less the initial advance if you received one) will be deposited into your bank account within approximately 10 days of funding request approval.
8. Repay your loan over time
Shortly after your loan is funded, you will receive detailed information on the repayment of your loan over the 10-year period.
What you need to know
Will this loan appear on my credit bureau?
Yes, the loan and its performance will be reported to the credit bureau.
What other resources are available for sustainable and affordable housing?
The Government of Canada has other resources to support more sustainable and affordable housing:
Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program: grants up-to-$10,000 (regardless of province), or up-to-$15,000 in participating provinces, plus a $250 bonus (in participating provinces only), to switch from oil heating to an eligible heat pump.
Canada Greener Homes Grant (for existing applicants): grants-up- to-$5,000 to get part of your costs back for eligible home retrofits, plus up to $600 additional grant toward the total costs of your pre and post retrofit EnerGuide home evaluations.
Canada Greener Homes Loan: up to $40,000, interest-free with a repayment term of 10 years.
We strive to create and maintain a service experience where everyone is treated with dignity, decency and respect. If there is an opportunity for us to improve in any of these areas, please let us know.
Contact Us
Business hours
Monday to Friday: 8:00 am to 8:00 pm (Eastern time)
Accessibility The Canada Greener Homes Initiative is committed to providing a barrier-free application process. We encourage you to advise us of any accommodations you may need. Please contact us either by email, toll-free number or TTY and we will happily assist you.
