By the Solar X Team. Reviewed by the Solar X Engineering Team (ESA/ECRA licensed). Published May 25, 2026.
Quick answer: The Durham Greener Homes Loan lets Durham Region homeowners borrow up to $125,000 at a fixed 2% over 15 years for solar panels, battery storage, EV chargers, and other home energy upgrades. It is a Local Improvement Charge loan attached to the property and repaid through your property tax bill.
Who runs what (read this first):
The loan is approved and administered by the Region of Durham through the Durham Greener Homes program, with support from the Windfall Ecology Centre. Solar X does not approve, issue, or guarantee the loan. We design and install your solar and battery system, and provide the contractor quote your coach needs. Approval, EnerGuide results, and fund disbursement are decided by the program. No install timeline is final until those approvals are complete.
What the Durham Greener Homes Loan Actually Is
A Local Improvement Charge (LIC) loan is a municipal financing tool. Municipalities have long used it to fund shared infrastructure like sidewalks and sewers. Durham Region has extended the same mechanism to home energy retrofits, so the cost of upgrades is recovered through a special charge on the property tax bill.
Two features make it different from a normal bank loan or dealer financing:
- It is tied to the property, not the owner. If you sell the home before the loan is repaid, the remaining balance transfers to the next owner along with the property. The new owner keeps the upgrades and continues the payments.
- It repays through property taxes. You are not managing a separate lender account. The charge is added to your tax bill over the 15-year term, and you can pay off the remaining balance in a lump sum at any time.
For homeowners who want solar but do not want to drain savings or take on a high-interest personal loan, a 2% fixed rate over 15 years is one of the lowest-cost financing options currently available in Ontario. Other Ontario municipalities are rolling out or designing similar LIC programs. Better Homes Ottawa, for example, offers low-interest LIC financing up to $125,000, and the Town of Aurora is currently designing its own program. See our breakdown of the Aurora Home Energy Retrofit Loan Program for a closely related structure.
Loan Terms at a Glance
| Term | Detail |
|---|---|
| Maximum loan | Up to $125,000 |
| Interest rate | 2% fixed |
| Repayment period | 15 years, fixed |
| Repayment method | Property tax bill (Local Improvement Charge) |
| Upfront access | Up to 50% of eligible funds before work is complete |
| Cost split | At least 80% energy efficiency, up to 20% weather resiliency |
| Early payoff | Allowed in a lump sum at any time |
| Who can apply | Durham Region property owners |
Source: Durham Greener Homes Loan, Region of Durham. Verify current terms directly with the program before signing.
What Your Monthly Payments Could Look Like
These are the official program payment examples. Actual figures depend on your approved loan amount.
| Loan Amount | Monthly Payment | Total Paid Over 15 Years |
|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | $64.35 | $11,583.16 |
| $50,000 | $321.75 | $57,915.78 |
| $100,000 | $643.51 | $115,831.57 |
| $125,000 | $804.39 | $144,789.46 |
Payment figures are the official program examples, published by the Region of Durham.
A typical residential solar and battery project sits well under the $125,000 ceiling, so most Durham homeowners use only a fraction of the available limit. Run your own system size and cost first with the Solar X solar calculator so you know the number you are actually financing. For a full breakdown of how this loan stacks with Ontario rebates, see our Ontario solar and battery financing guide.
See how much solar could save your Durham home
System size, savings estimate, and the number you would actually finance. About 2 minutes.
Calculate My Savings →ESA Licence #7017538 · 10,000+ Ontario installations · No obligation
What You Can Finance With It
Solar is squarely eligible. The program lists rooftop and ground-mounted solar photovoltaic systems, battery storage, and EV chargers under its energy-efficiency category, which means a solar plus battery project counts toward the 80% energy-efficiency portion of the loan.
The full list of eligible upgrades is broad:
- Solar, storage and EV: rooftop or ground-mounted solar PV, battery storage, EV charging stations
- Heating and cooling: air source and ground source heat pumps, heat or energy recovery ventilators, smart thermostats, duct sealing
- Building envelope: attic, wall, foundation and basement insulation, air sealing, weather stripping, window, skylight and exterior door replacement
- Water heating: electric or heat pump water heaters, drain water heat recovery, solar hot water
- Electrical: panel and wiring upgrades, load management equipment
- Resiliency (the 20% portion): backflow valves, sump pumps, basement waterproofing, permeable pavement, low-flow fixtures
- Permits and assessments: EnerGuide evaluation costs and building permit costs
What is not eligible: appliances, cosmetic work, routine maintenance, and anything you already completed before enrolling in the program.
Eligible-measure list confirmed against the official Durham Greener Homes Loan program page.
The 80/20 Rule, Explained Simply
At least 80% of your total project cost must go to energy-efficiency measures. Up to 20% can go to weather resiliency upgrades that protect against flooding, heat, and wind.
For a solar-focused homeowner this is rarely a constraint. Solar PV and battery storage both count as energy efficiency, so a project built around solar and storage already satisfies the 80% requirement. The 20% resiliency allowance is a bonus you can use for something like a sump pump or backflow valve in the same project if it makes sense for your home.
Who Qualifies
You qualify to start the process if you:
- Own a residential property in Durham Region, including Ajax, Brock, Clarington, Oshawa, Pickering, Scugog, Uxbridge, or Whitby (the eight municipalities listed by the Region of Durham)
- Are willing to complete a pre-retrofit and a post-retrofit EnerGuide home energy evaluation
- Accept the program conditions, including mandatory participation in case studies and sharing at least 24 months of pre- and post-project energy data for verification
Two timing rules that trip people up:
- A pre-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation only counts if it was completed on or after April 28, 2022 (Durham program rule).
- A post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation only counts if it is completed after you enroll in the program.
If you have never had an EnerGuide assessment, your Greener Homes Coach will help you arrange one. Natural Resources Canada runs the EnerGuide rating system that these evaluations use.
How to Apply, Step by Step
Book a free coach consultation
Book a free consultation with a Durham Greener Homes Coach through the program's get-started page.
Review your options
Your coach explains the loans and rebates that fit your plans.
Complete the Eligibility Verification Form
Complete the form your coach provides and upload it to your program portal.
Get approved to proceed
If your eligibility checks out, your coach sends a funding request form.
Complete a pre-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation
Must be dated on or after April 28, 2022.
Submit your documents
Including the EnerGuide report and your contractor quotes. This is where a Solar X quote for your solar and battery system comes in.
Sign the Property Owner Agreement
Once everything is approved.
Access up to 50% of the funds
To begin the work.
Complete the approved upgrades
Keep every invoice and receipt.
Complete a post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation
After the work is finished.
Submit a Project Completion Report
Through your program portal.
Receive the remaining funds
Once all conditions are met. Repayment then runs through your property taxes, or you can pay the balance off early.
How the Loan Works Alongside Ontario Solar Rebates
The Durham Greener Homes Loan is financing. It pays for the project. Ontario's Home Renovation Savings Program is a rebate. It returns part of the cost of eligible measures. They are different instruments, so many homeowners use the loan to fund the work and separately pursue any rebate they qualify for. Your Greener Homes Coach helps you decide which programs apply to your specific project.
A few honest caveats so you plan correctly:
- Rebate programs have their own rules. The Home Renovation Savings Program solar stream runs on a load displacement model and is not compatible with net metering, so the path you choose affects system design. We walk through both paths in our Ontario solar battery storage rebate guide.
- The federal Canada Greener Homes Loan stopped accepting new applications in October 2025 (per Natural Resources Canada). If you see a guide treating it as current, it is out of date. If you already have a federal loan, see our Canada Greener Homes Loan alternatives guide and cash-in guide.
- No program can fund the exact same measure twice. Rebates and financing can coexist, but two grants cannot pay for the same panel.
For a fuller picture of how Ontario incentives and electricity rates affect your return, see our Ontario hydro rates guide and our breakdown of time-of-use, tiered, and ULO rates.
The Fine Print Worth Knowing Before You Commit
This is a strong program, but go in with clear eyes:
- Funds are released on completion. You get up to 50% upfront, and the remaining balance only after your post-retrofit EnerGuide and Project Completion Report are accepted. Budget for that timing.
- Participation is a condition, not optional. The program requires you to take part in case studies and to share at least 24 months of energy data before and after the work.
- Approvals are not guaranteed. Eligibility, EnerGuide outcomes, permits, and disbursement are all decided by the program and the relevant authorities. Nothing about an install date is final until those approvals land.
- It is debt on your property. The charge stays with the home until repaid. That is convenient if you sell, but it is still a 15-year obligation, so confirm the monthly figure fits your budget.
Always verify current terms directly with the program before signing. Program details can change.
Is This the Right Financing for You?
The Durham Greener Homes Loan tends to be a strong fit when you want to go solar without a large upfront cash outlay, you plan to stay in or sell the home with the upgrades intact, and you value a fixed low rate over a long term. It is less compelling if you intend to pay cash, since you would simply skip the interest, or if your project is small enough that a short personal loan clears faster.
The practical next step is to size the actual project. A 2% rate only matters once you know the number you are financing.
Where Solar X Fits
Solar X is a licensed Ontario solar installer serving Durham Region, including Ajax, Whitby, Pickering, Oshawa and the rest of the GTA. We are the contractor side of this process, not the lender. Here is what that means for you:
We do not approve the loan, set the rate, or release the funds. That is the Region of Durham's program. Keeping those roles clear protects you and keeps the paperwork clean.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the interest rate on the Durham Greener Homes Loan?
The interest rate is a fixed 2% over a 15-year repayment term. You can also pay off the remaining balance in a lump sum at any point without being locked into the full term.
How much can I borrow through the Durham Greener Homes Loan?
You can borrow up to $125,000. At least 80% of the project cost must go to energy-efficiency measures such as solar, battery storage, heat pumps, or insulation, and up to 20% can go to weather resiliency upgrades.
Can I use the Durham Greener Homes Loan for solar panels and batteries?
Yes. Rooftop and ground-mounted solar PV, battery storage, and EV chargers are all listed as eligible energy-efficiency upgrades, so a solar plus battery project qualifies under the 80% energy-efficiency portion of the loan.
How does the loan get repaid?
The loan repays as a Local Improvement Charge added to your property tax bill over 15 years. Because it is attached to the property, the remaining balance transfers to the new owner if you sell the home before it is paid off.
Do I need an energy audit to qualify?
Yes. The program requires a pre-retrofit EnerGuide home energy evaluation and a post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation. The pre-retrofit evaluation only counts if it was completed on or after April 28, 2022, and the post-retrofit one must be completed after you enroll in the program.
Who approves and administers the loan?
The loan is delivered by the Region of Durham through the Durham Greener Homes program, with support from the Windfall Ecology Centre. Your installer, including Solar X, provides the contractor quote and completes the work but does not approve or issue the loan.
Can I combine the loan with Ontario solar rebates?
The loan is financing and rebates such as the Home Renovation Savings Program return part of the cost, so they are generally pursued together. They cannot both pay for the exact same measure, and rebate programs have their own eligibility rules. Your Greener Homes Coach helps you confirm what applies to your project.
Which Durham Region areas are eligible?
Property owners across Durham Region are eligible, including Ajax, Brock, Clarington, Oshawa, Pickering, Scugog, Uxbridge, and Whitby.
How quickly do I get the money?
You can access up to 50% of the eligible funds to start the work. The remaining balance is released only after your post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation and Project Completion Report are reviewed and approved, so plan your cash flow around that timing.
Ready to Size Your Durham Solar Project?
Solar X will design your system and prepare the quote your Greener Homes Coach needs, at no cost and no obligation. We run the math on financing versus paying cash before you decide anything.
Official Resources & Sources
- 1Durham Greener Homes Loan (program page)durhamgreenerhomes.ca
- 2Book a Greener Homes Coachdurhamgreenerhomes.ca
- 3Region of Durhamdurham.ca
- 4Windfall Ecology Centrewindfallcentre.ca
- 5Natural Resources Canada: Canada Greener Homes Initiative and EnerGuidenatural-resources.canada.ca
Related Guides
This article is for general information only and reflects program details current as of May 2026. Program terms, rates, and eligibility are set by the Region of Durham and are subject to change. Solar X is a solar installer, not the loan administrator, and does not approve or guarantee financing. Verify all current terms with the program before making a purchasing decision. Last updated: May 25, 2026.
Solar X Canada · ESA/ECRA Licensed · 955 Bay St, Suite 2307, Toronto, ON M5S 0C6 · 1-833-376-5279 · info@solar-x.ca