Home Energy Renovation Resources
Improving the energy efficiency of your home can help save money, improve comfort and make homes healthier and more resilient to climate change. Check out these resources to help keep your energy bills manageable.
Financing, Rebates & Incentives
City of Saskatoon HELP Program Get financial help through Saskatoon’s HELP Program. Qualified applicants can repay low-interest loans via property taxes to cover energy and water efficiency retrofits, including heat pumps, high-efficiency furnaces, low-flow toilets, and renewable energy installations. Apply today!
Home Renovation Tax Credit The Saskatchewan Home Renovation Tax Credit has been re-introduced for the 2025 and subsequent taxation years. This tax credit is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) as part of the Saskatchewan personal income tax system beginning with the 2025 taxation year. The tax credit can be claimed through your annual tax return.
Metis Nation-Saskatchewan Home Efficiency Initiative Metis Nation-Saskatchewan, in partnership with Natural Resources Canada and Environment Climate Change Canada, offers a one-time indirect grant for energy efficiency retrofits to primary residences through the Home Efficiency Initiative Program.
SaskEnergy Rebate and Programs SaskEnergy offers a variety of programs and rebates supporting home energy efficiency.
SaskPower Energy Assistance Program The SaskPower Energy Assistance Program supports income-qualified Saskatchewan residents. High utility bills and energy-efficient upgrades can be stressful for lower-income households. The City of Saskatoon’s partnership with SaskPower ensures access to this program for customers in both SaskPower’s and Saskatoon Light & Power’s service areas.
SaskPower Savings and Programs SaskPower offers a range of initiatives to help customers improve energy efficiency and reduce utility costs. These programs include financial assistance, rebates, and energy assessments to make homes more energy-efficient and comfortable.
CMHC Eco Programs CMHC offers two programs, one for homeowners who recently purchased a home and would like to complete energy efficient renovations, and the second for homeowners who are looking to build an energy efficient home. These programs include refunds on your premium when insured with CHMC.
Energy Efficiency Discounts Program offered by SaskPower in collaboration with SaskEnergy, helps residential customers improve their home’s energy efficiency and save on energy bills. Customers can receive instant, in‑store discounts on eligible energy‑saving products at participating retailers across Saskatchewan. This program will run from May 4 to July 27, 2026.
Contractor Resources
These resources are for contractors looking to learn more about the Home Energy Loan Program (HELP), register for the pre-vetted contractor list, learn about required permits for retrofit projects, and view optional training videos.
Pre-vetted Contractor List eligibility and information
The pre-vetted contractor list is an optional list for homeowners to choose a contractor from when they are participating in the HELP program. This list is advertised to residents on the program webpage and on our Solar Map.
If you would like to register for our pre-vetted contractor list you will need to gather your digital documentation. These are the requirements to be on the list:
- Proof of registered corporation in Saskatchewan
- Proof of Saskatchewan Workers' Compensation Board Compliance
- Proof of general liability insurance of at least $2M
- Proof of safety training
- Warranty information
- GST registration number
Email your digital documentation to the program coach at betterbuildings@saskatoon.ca and they will be in touch with the next steps!
Payment Info For Contractors
The City can make payments direct to the contractors on behalf of the homeowners. These payments are sent by cheque unless the contractor is on the prevetted contractor list then they are eligible for EFT payments. There are 3 types of payments offered for Contractors.
Deposit payments - These payments can be paid before the work begins, up to 50% of the retrofit cost. If the retrofit requires a permit, the permit must be applied for prior to the deposit payment being approved. Deposit payments must be requested by the homeowner to be issued.
Installment payments - These payments can be issued once the retrofit is complete. If the project has more than one retrofit, the first retrofits that are complete can be paid in full. The final retrofits will only be eligible to be paid up to 90% of the total project value until the homeowner receives their Final Project Details form, signed and initialed by their Energy Advisor at their post audit visit. Upon receipt of this form, any remaining payments can be issued. Installment payments must be requested by the homeowner to be issued.
- Final payments - These payments can be issued once the Final Project Details form is signed and initialed by the post EnerGuide audit advisor. Once this form is received the City can issue any outstanding payments to the contractors on behalf of the homeowner. The homeowner must submit final invoices and request payment by the City.
If you have any questions about payments, please reach out to the program coach at betterbuildings@saskatoon.ca
Permit info for Contractors
There are a few eligible projects within the Home Energy Loan Program that require permits to be pulled and issued prior to payments being made. Any time a permit is required, deposit payments cannot be made until the permit is applied for. Eligible retrofits that require a permit include:
- Exterior insulation
- Basement insulation
- Solar Installation
- Spray foam insulation
- Windows and Doors - Only need a permit if the size of the opening is changing!
For exterior, basement, or spray foam insulation please have the homeowner apply for a Home Addition, Renovation & Basement Development permit from the epermitting website.
For solar installation please have the homeowner apply for a Solar Panel permit from the epermitting website.
Permits are required whenever the envelope, structure, or roof load of the home is being altered!
Optional Training Videos for Contractors
Airtight Engineering recorded a number of training videos for realtors. Although these videos are tailored for Realtors, there is some great info on building science for professionals. Please see link to building science 101: house as a system. This video goes over concepts such as the house envelope, airtightness, ventilation, water, and energy balance.
Heat Pumps
An electric heat pump is a heating and cooling system. It is fully reversible, meaning that it can both heat and cool your home.
An electric heat pump uses less energy to heat and cool the space in your home than traditional equipment does and is an excellent choice for both new homes and retrofits of existing heating and cooling systems.
Energy Education Videos
The videos below come from a realtor training series called “Getting Real About Home Energy.” This recorded course and its resources offer a practical introduction to home energy efficiency. Although originally designed for real estate agents, it’s a useful overview for anyone interested in energy‑efficient homes, especially in Saskatchewan. The series covers best practices, current energy codes, and tools to support buying and selling efficient homes.
The course was developed by Airtight Engineering in partnership with the City of Saskatoon and the Saskatchewan REALTORS® Association, and ran from November 2023 to March 2025. Please note that some details—such as grants and building codes—may now be out of date.
The "Tiny Explanation" video series appears here courtesy of the City of Edmonton. Note that any incentives or programs featured in these videos are only applicable to residents of Edmonton. (Shared with permission from the City of Edmonton.)
Success Story: How one Saskatoon family transformed their home with energy upgrades
A south-facing garage roof made one Saskatoon home perfect for solar. Through the city’s Home Energy Loan Program, the homeowners added solar panels, a heat pump, and insulation—boosting comfort and savings. Read more.
The Green Municipal Fund’s Community Efficiency Financing (CEF) initiative is helping municipalities make home energy upgrades accessible and affordable. By reducing emissions, improving energy efficiency, and lowering monthly bills, CEF is bringing environmental sustainability and household affordability together in impactful ways.
Launched in 2020 as a six-year, $300-million initiative, CEF has already supported more than 40 municipal programs across eight provinces—resulting in over 4,400 home retrofits.
This article series highlights innovative local approaches that are empowering homeowners to cut energy costs, boost comfort and invest in a cleaner, more sustainable future.