Nova Scotia home energy rebates & savings guide

Nova Scotia has fairly high electricity prices and many homes still heat with oil. That makes heat pumps one of the strongest upgrades in Canada here, and solar is a reasonable investment too. This guide explains how Nova Scotia homeowners can save on energy and which home energy rebates and upgrades make sense.

Use the heat pump calculator or the solar calculator with your own bills, then check current programs on the Nova Scotia rebates page.

Electricity in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia Power supplies electricity to almost the whole province, with a few small municipal utilities, and natural gas is available only in limited areas. The grid still relies heavily on coal and other fossil fuels, with growing wind and imported hydro. An all-in rate of roughly $0.195 per kWh puts Nova Scotia above the Canadian average.

Heating: what pays off

Heating oil remains common in Nova Scotia, along with electric baseboards, wood and a fast-growing number of heat pumps. Oil at about $1.65 per litre is one of the most expensive ways to heat, and a cold-climate heat pump at a typical seasonal COP of 2.2 to 3.0 usually cuts heating costs substantially. Natural gas at roughly $1.25 per m³ is also expensive, so heat pumps usually win there too.

Nova Scotia's mild coastal winters suit air-source heat pumps well. Federal Oil to Heat Pump Affordability funding is fully committed in Nova Scotia, with a standby list. See switching from oil heat and heat pumps in a Canadian winter.

Solar outlook

Solar is a reasonable investment in Nova Scotia thanks to above-average electricity prices. Yields are roughly average for Canada, and at typical installed costs of $2.40 to $3.30 per watt, payback often lands in the low teens of years for a good roof.

Nova Scotia Power offers net metering for small home systems, and the rules have been debated in recent years. Confirm the current terms before you sign, and read the net metering guide and how to compare solar quotes.

Tips for Nova Scotia homes

• If you heat with oil, get quotes for a cold-climate heat pump, which typically cuts heating costs substantially.
• Check Efficiency Nova Scotia for current heat pump, insulation and solar programs, and confirm amounts before you buy.
• Ask about the standby list for the federal oil-to-heat-pump program, since Nova Scotia's funding is fully committed.
• Keep your oil system serviced as backup if you add a heat pump, so it is ready for the coldest days.
• Air seal and insulate before sizing a heat pump, so you can buy a smaller and cheaper system.