Helping 200 Toronto families heat and cool their homes at no upfront cost
Published: July 23, 2026
Summary
- We've undertaken a project that provides up to 200 income-eligible Toronto households with access to reliable heating and cooling at zero upfront cost
- By covering installation costs and providing customer support, the project is improving access to energy-efficient heating and cooling solutions for eligible households
- Once all 200 installations are complete, the project is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 490 tonnes annually
Comfortable homes, more accessible solutions
For many Toronto families, staying comfortable through extreme weather can be a challenge. During a winter cold snap or summer heat wave, aging heating and cooling systems can struggle to keep up, while the cost of upgrading to newer technology can put solutions out of reach.
That's why we launched the Heat Pump Assistance Program, a limited-time project, in April 2025. Designed for income-eligible homeowners living in low-rise homes, the project helps remove financial barriers by providing heat pumps at zero upfront cost, making clean, reliable heating and cooling more accessible.
We recently reached an important milestone: 100 heat pumps have already been installed in homes across Toronto through the project, with another 100 installations underway.
As part of the project, approximately half of participating households are receiving cold-climate air-source heat pumps, while the other half are receiving hybrid heating systems, which pair a cold-climate air-source heat pump with a natural gas backup. By studying both technologies in real Toronto homes, the project is helping us better understand the impact on home comfort, energy use, emissions reductions and customer experience.
Meeting a growing need
Demand for the project was immediate. We reached capacity within just one month of launching, highlighting strong interest from residents looking for practical ways to improve comfort and reduce household energy costs.
“We designed and launched this project to help income-qualified customers access affordable heating and cooling solutions that can improve home comfort, lower emissions and reduce equipment costs,” said Anne Gleeson, Manager, Climate Action Partnership and Funding Initiatives, Toronto Hydro. “By helping address the upfront costs of energy-efficient technologies, projects like this make sustainable energy solutions more accessible while providing valuable insights into the opportunities and challenges of affordable energy management.”
Heat pumps are becoming an increasingly popular home heating and cooling solution because they can provide year-round comfort from a single system. Modern cold-climate air source heat pumps are designed to perform even during harsh Toronto winters while also delivering efficient cooling during sweltering summer months.
By eliminating upfront installation costs, we're helping households adopt modern heating and cooling systems without the financial burden of a major home upgrade.
Real benefits for real families
Heat pumps provide more consistent temperatures throughout the home and eliminate the need for separate heating and cooling systems. Participants report greater comfort during both winter and summer, along with the peace of mind that comes from having a modern, reliable system in place.
Customers are already noticing the difference.
“Before the heat pump was installed at my house, we didn't get enough heat and I was paying more for gas and hydro,” said Gaurd Munaf, project participant. “After the installation, our combined bills for gas and hydro are cheaper and we're getting proper heating inside the house.”
The project also includes an educational component that helps participants understand how to operate their new systems efficiently and maximize comfort and energy savings at home.
Through education, indoor air quality monitoring and community partnerships, we're helping participants build confidence in heat pump technology and make informed energy decisions.
Supporting families through extreme weather
For families without air conditioning, access to reliable cooling can significantly improve comfort during periods of extreme heat.
Community organizations working directly with residents have seen those benefits firsthand. Circle Community LandTrust says the program has helped provide residents with much-needed cooling during extreme heat events while supporting broader efforts to transition homes to energy-efficient solutions.
“While the transition to electrification hasn't been an easy one, especially this winter, we have found that Toronto Hydro's Equal Payment Plan and available subsidies have, in many cases, been able to reduce the cost burden associated with electrification for many,” said Janice Miyagi, Manager, Asset Health and Portfolio Performance, Circle Community LandTrust. “[Toronto Hydro's] continued support despite these challenges has been invaluable in helping us shape the education portion of our Energy Transition Initiative.”
The experience highlights the importance of pairing technology with customer support, education and affordability measures to help households navigate the transition to cleaner energy solutions.
Benefits beyond the home
Once all 200 installations are completed by February 2027, we estimate the upgrades will help avoid approximately 490 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions every year. To put that into perspective, that annual impact is comparable to any of the following:
- Taking 164 gas-powered cars off the road every year [1]
- Avoiding more than 211,000 litres of gasoline consumption (enough to drive about 2.6 million kilometres, or travel from Toronto to Vancouver approximately 600 times) [1]
- Avoiding the use of more than 12,000 standard barbecue propane tanks (enough for more than 100,000 backyard barbecues) [2]
[1] Fuel economy based on approximately 8 litres/100 kilometres fuel efficiency.
[2] Based on a standard 20 lb propane tank containing approximately 17 litres of propane, with 10 to 15 uses per tank.
This project is also helping us better understand how different heating and cooling technologies perform in Toronto homes. Through partnerships with academic institutions, we are studying the real-world impacts of cold-climate air-source heat pumps and hybrid heating systems, generating insights into home comfort, indoor air quality, energy use, emissions reductions and customer experience. These findings will help inform future clean energy programs and support wider adoption of efficient home heating and cooling technologies.
A new heat pump installed through this project.
Looking ahead
Although applications are now closed, the project's impact continues to grow as the next 100 installations move forward.
Customers interested in improving their home's energy performance can explore our available offers and rebates to help reduce the cost of eligible upgrades, including heat pumps and other clean technologies. Customers facing financial challenges may also qualify for assistance programs that can help manage energy costs.
For participating households, this project represents more than a home upgrade. It demonstrates how targeted support can help more residents benefit from modern energy technologies while contributing to a lower-carbon future.