North Coast
BC Hydro PowerSmart Energy Saving Kit Bulk Distribution Program
Each energy saving kit contains Compact Flourescent Light Bulbs, weather stripping, window insulator film, electrical outlet and switch sealers, fridge and freezer thermometers, a low-flow showerhead, tap aerators, and an energy–saving nightlight. Read More.
Sponsoring agency:
BC Hydro
Type of agency:
Utility company
Program offerings
Kits can be distributed through a general process or by direct install.
Eligibility
This program is available for Not-For-Profit Housing Providers that manage their own stock of Housing
Restrictions
Total household income must be at or below the thresholds in Statistics Canada’s Low Income Cut-offs (LICO). – Participants in the program must have a BC Hydro residential rate account, or non-profit housing providers with a commercial build meter.
Application procedure
contact Steve Austin, Power Smart Residential Marketing for an application form.
Contact information
Telephone:
604-453-9206
In addition to the Energy Saving Kit program, some housing providers may be eligible for BC Hydro’s Energy Conservation Assistance Program (ECAP), which provides low-income residential customers with a free energy efficiency evaluation, energy education and free installation of basic and extended energy conservation measures.
LiveSmart BC Efficiency Incentive Program
LiveSmart BC offers grants for energy efficiency upgrades for heating, hot water, insulation, windows and doors, ventilation, and draft proofing for your home.
For more details, see the LiveSmart BC Efficiency Incentive Grant Chart.
Sponsoring agency:
LiveSmart BC
Type of agency:
Provincial government
Program offerings
To access grants, homeowners must have a Home Energy Assessment with a Certified Energy Advisor before and after renovations.
The Energy Assessment includes:
- a detailed energy evaluation of your home carried out by a Certified Energy Advisor
- a "blower door" test to find air leaks
- a customized report that shows where your energy dollars are being spent and what you can do to improve your home's energy efficiency
- an energy efficiency rating label that shows you how energy efficient your home is compared with others in your region
Eligibility
For single family homes, row houses, and mobile homes on permanent foundations.
Application deadline
Must complete follow-up assessment by March 31, 2011
Application procedure
To book an Energy Assessment with City Green, the only non-profit provider of the LiveSmart BC incentive, call 1.866.381.9995 or book online.
Contact information
Telephone:
1.866.381.9995
Email:
savings@citygreen.ca
RBC Energy Saver Loan
If you've recently purchased-or are planning to purchase-an energy efficient product or service for your home, you could qualify for the RBC Energy Saver Loan.
This innovative and "green" financing solution can help you create a more energy efficient home faster while saving on your borrowing costs.
Sponsoring agency:
Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)
Type of agency:
Financial institution
Program offerings
Receive 1% off the interest rate for your fixed rate instalment loan over $5,000
ORReceive a $100 rebate on a home energy audit on a fixed rate instalment loan over $5,000.
Eligibility
The following products and services are eligible for Energy Saver Loans:
- Environmentally-friendly products and services recommended as a result of a home energy audit
- Products and services that qualify for a government grant as outlined by the Office of Energy Efficiency
- ENERGY STAR qualified products, which could save you hundreds of dollars in energy costs over time
- Hybrid cars
Application procedure
A home energy audit is a report generated by a licensed professional who is specially trained to examine your home's major heating and cooling systems. They will make recommendations to help you improve your home's energy efficiency and lower your energy costs. You can then decide what you want to do and how much you want to spend.
Simply follow these steps to arrange for your home energy audit.
Choose a licensed home auditor through the Natural Resources Canada website at www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca . Obtain quotes from a few auditors and choose one that you feel offers the best overall value.
Note: To qualify for the $100 rebate, your audit must be completed sometime within the 90 days prior to being approved for your loan or within 90 days after receiving your loan.
- Once your audit is complete, obtain a receipt or invoice from the auditor for a refund from RBC
Receiving Your RBC Energy Audit Rebate
- Submit your audit receipt or invoice to your branch within 120 days of receiving your RBC Energy Saver Loan.
- Your home energy audit rebate will be credited to your RBC account. The amount will be the actual invoiced amount of the home energy audit, up to a maximum amount of $100.
Contact information
Telephone:
1-866-719-2880
Website:
RBC Energy Saver Loan
Other Ways to Turn Energy Saving Efforts into Cash
To receive additional government rebates and incentives that you may be entitled to, be sure to follow these steps:
- Complete some or all of the suggested renovations and improvements within 18 months and have your auditor return to verify the work. Your auditor will submit an application on your behalf to both the federal and provincial governments.
- Ask your municipal government if similar incentives and rebates are available in your community.
Renovation and Retrofit of Existing Social Housing
Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada announced $1 billion for social housing renovation and retrofit. Of the $1 billion, $850 million is being delivered by provinces and territories on a cost-matched basis for existing federally assisted social housing projects which they administer on behalf of the partnership. The remaining $150 million is being delivered by CMHC for existing federally assisted off-reserve housing which it directly administers. Eligible repairs include general improvements, energy efficiency upgrades or conversions, and modifications in support of persons with disabilities.
As of February 1, 2010, CMHC is accepting applications from eligible project sponsors for the remaining $75 million funding for year two. Sponsor groups can apply online or through the mail. Eligible repairs include general improvements, energy-efficiency upgrades or conversions, and modifications in support of persons with disabilities.
Sponsoring agency:
CMHC
Type of agency:
Federal government
Eligibility
Application deadline
February 22, 2010
Application procedure
Apply online or download the application here.
Contact information
Website:
Renovation and Retrofit of Existing Social Housing — Projects Funded and Administered by CMHC
Solar BC Incentive
SolarBC contractors will provide you with a $2,000 discount at the point of sale of your solar hot water system. Or, rather than the full $2,000 from SolarBC, you can apply for a Zero Interest Loan and receive a smaller discount.
Sponsoring agency:
Solar BC
Type of agency:
Provincial government
Eligibility
Use the online SolarRating tool to find out how suitable your home is for solar hot water
Restrictions
The SolarBC Residential Project offers incentives only for systems installed by registered installers. Read more about Choosing a Registered Installer.
Contact information
Telephone:
1 866 650 6527
Website:
Solar BC Incentive
Terasen Gas Efficient Boiler Program
Teresan Gas is offering assistance in selecting an efficient boiler configuration for your project. This program is accessible to commercial building owners, developers, consulting engineers or contractors for installing or upgrading to condensing or near-condensing boilers. The program is offering cash rebates of up to 75% of the purchase price premium.
Sponsoring agency:
Terasen Gas
Type of agency:
Utility company
Eligibility
To qualify for assistance in selecting an efficient boiler configuration for your project and financial incentives for installing or upgrading to condensing or near-condensing boiler you must be a commercial building owner, developer, consulting engineer or contractor. For more information please visit the Terasen Gas website.
Application procedure
Vist the Terasen Gas Efficient Bolier Program webpage for details.
New Construction Application Form
Replacement Market Application Form
Contact information
Telephone:
1-888-477-0777
BC Hydro Continuous Optimization for Commercial Buildings
Over time, building systems do not operate as optimally as they could and will use more energy than they should in order to satisfy occupant comfort and lighting requirements. The term "retrocommissioning" is used to identify activities that attempt to reduce energy use through the identification and implemention of low-cost operational and maintenance changes.
As challenging as it is to retrocommission a building successfully, it is even more challenging to ensure that the benefits persist. That's where BC Hydro's new, time-limited Continuous Optimization Program can help.
The program assists commercial building owners in retrocommissioning their buildings, then helps maintain and continually improve the level of efficiency in their building operations. Because this is a new program, we're looking for customers with a commitment to building operations and energy management to help us pilot the proposed approach.
Sponsoring agency:
BC Hydro
Type of agency:
Utility company
Program offerings
The Continuous Optimization Program offers incentives, tools and support to help you get your building in good working order – and to keep it that way.
The program has built-in feedback and quality assurance mechanisms designed to give you the information and skills you need to determine whether your energy use is on target. It also enhances your building's efficiency over time.
As a result, you and your staff will better understand how your building uses energy, and how you can improve the efficiency of the building's operations and maintain the associated savings.
Eligibility
The Continuous Optimization Program is for commercial buildings that:
- Are greater than 50,000 square feet;
- Have a Building Energy Management system in good working order;
- Can provide documentation including mechanical and electrical schematics; control drawings; testing, adjusting and balancing reports; and operation and maintenance reports;
- Have well-maintained equipment and systems;
- Have no major retrofits or tenant improvements planned for the next one to two years.
Application procedure
Start your building on the path of continuous improvement in energy-efficient operation. As a first step, contact your BC Hydro Key Account Manager to determine your eligibility for the Continuous Optimization Program. If you do not have a Key Account Manager, please contact Graham Henderson at 604 453 6471.
BC Hydro Project Implementation Funding
Implementation Funding is available to large commercial, government and institutional customers to reduce the capital cost of implementing electrical energy efficiency projects.
Implementation Funding is designed to allow customers to meet internal hurdle rates, such as payback periods and return on investment. Through the Power Smart Partner Program, you could receive funding for up to 60% of the incremental cost of lighting, mechanical, HVAC and other energy efficiency projects. The funding level is also based on a tiered approach, meaning projects that were previously too costly may now be eligible for richer incentives.
Sponsoring agency:
BC Hydro
Type of agency:
Utility company
Eligibility
Commercial, government and institutional customers are eligible for Implementation Funding under the Power Smart Partner program if the project
- saves a minimum of 100,000 kWh/year (or 50,000 kWh for mechanical or HVAC only projects) by implementing a proven energy saving technology, where the project performance is measurable and sustainable. You can bundle projects from different sites with different end-uses in order to qualify for funding.
- Is hardwired or permanent in nature, and has a simple payback of greater than two years before factoring in the incentive amount.
Application procedure
- Submit an Implementation Funding application and proposal.
A BC Hydro Energy Study is acceptable as a proposal, and is eligible to be fully funded by BC Hydro upon project completion.
- BC Hydro will review the application and issue an Incentive Agreement upon approval.
- You sign the agreement and implement the project.
- Once the project has been implemented, submit the required completion documents.
- Upon project approval, you will be issued the incentive payment.
Please note that any component of the project cannot be initiated without an Incentive Agreement in place with BC Hydro. If the project has started prior to an Incentive Agreement, it will not be eligible for any incentives from BC Hydro.
To find out more about Implementation Funding, contact your BC Hydro Key Account Manager, call 1 866 522 4713 or visit www.bchydro.com/business.
BC Hydro Energy Study
BC Hydro’s Energy Study program helps Power Smart Partners conduct studies within their commercial organizations. The program can investigate any energy-using system, such as lighting, mechanical or information technology, within a facility.
This program provides three important services:
- Co-funding with the potential for 100% funding of the energy study.
- A list of pre-qualified consultants capable of performing detailed commercial energy studies. (Note: To qualify for funding, the consultant must be a registered member of the Power Smart Alliance.)
- Access to Power Smart’s technical and energy management resources throughout the energy study process.
Sponsoring agency:
BC Hydro
Type of agency:
Utility company
Program offerings
The typical process follows six easy steps:
- Contact your BC Hydro Key Account Manager to discuss the opportunity for an energy study at your facility.
- If required, select a consultant from BC Hydro’s list of pre-qualified consultants.
- Meet with BC Hydro and the consultant to discuss the scope of the study.
- The consultant prepares a proposal for BC Hydro as part of an Energy Study Application.
- The consultant performs the energy study and prepares a report.
- BC Hydro reviews the energy study report and then issues co-funding payment directly back to you, the customer.
Eligibility
Application procedure
To find out more about energy studies, contact your BC Hydro Key Account Manager or call 1 866 522 4713
Contact information
Website:
BC Hydro Energy Study
BC Hydro Power Smart New Homes Program
The most cost-effective way to save energy in the home is to design with energy efficiency in mind. Our New Home Program encourages builders and developers to build an energy-efficient home – a Power Smart home. Working with builders and developers, BC Hydro Power Smart wants to create homes that cost less to operate and are more comfortable places to live.
Builders who build to Power Smart New Home standards receive:- Financial incentives* for the home’s EnerGuide rating and the installation of ENERGY STAR appliances
- Promotional opportunities and funding
- Power Smart branding for the home
Sponsoring agency:
BC Hydro
Type of agency:
Utility company
Eligibility
The Power Smart New Home Program is designed for residential builders and developers of single family homes, town homes, or qualifying low-rise multi-family residential buildings.
Application procedure
- Conduct a pre-construction evaluation.
Get house plans evaluated by a Certified Energy Advisor who will make recommendations to increase the performance rating of the home.
- Construct the home(s).
- Conduct a post-construction verification.
After construction, a blower door test is conducted by the Certified Energy Advisor to verify the air changes per hour (ACH), which is inputted into the software program for a final performance rating.
- Apply for incentives and a Power Smart label. The home receives a Power Smart label when an EGNH 77 rating or higher is achieved.
- To submit to BC Hydro, download and complete the application form:
- Single Family Dwelling and Row/Townhouse [PDF, 363 Kb]
- Apartments and Condominiums [PDF, 388 Kb]
- Application forms can be mailed to:
Power Smart New Home Program
900-4555 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC V5H 4T8 - After processing the application form, incentives will be paid to the builder.
A Power Smart New Home representative can discuss energy-efficient design and products with you. Contact us for more information. Our representatives will provide you with all the information you need to participate.
- To submit to BC Hydro, download and complete the application form:
Contact information
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