Mainland/ Southwest
Vancouver Home Energy Loan Program (HELP)
Wondering how to finance your energy saving upgrades? Through Vancouver’s Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) Vancouver homeowners can access low-interest loans of up to $16,000 for energy saving upgrades, including:
- High efficiency furnaces
- High efficiency hot water tanks
- Air source heat pumps
- Blown-in cellulose insulation in attic and/or walls
- Basement insulation
- Weatherization (air-sealing)
How Does It Work?
Interested homeowners book an energy assessment with a Certified Energy Advisor to get a retrofit plan, and then receive loans, complete upgrades, access rebates, and start saving on their energy bills right away. Loan repayments are made through the City of Vancouver. For more details, see the Home Energy Loan Program website.
Will I Save Money?
The City of Vancouver has selected upgrades for this program based on their demonstrated energy saving potential. After upgrades, your home will be more energy efficient, so your utility bills should shrink.
Sponsoring agency:
City of Vancouver, Vancity
Type of agency:
Local government
Financial institution
Eligibility
All Vancouver homeowners with no outstanding tax bills or liens on their property and who intend to make select energy efficiency upgrades to their single family homes and duplexes can apply for the Home Energy Loan Program. Loans are subject to approval by Vancity.
Application procedure
Step one is to book a home energy assessment with a Certified Energy Advisor today! For complete step-by-step process, please see the Home Energy Loan Program brochure (link).
To book a home energy assessment with City Green, contact us online (link) or by phone at 604.255.5734. For Cantonese service, call 604.255.5734 x. 124. For Mandarin service, call 604-999-7932.
Contact information
Revenue Canada Capital Cost Allowance
You might acquire a depreciable property such as a building, furniture, or equipment to use in your business or professional activities.
You cannot deduct the cost of the property when you calculate your net business or professional income for the year.
However, since these properties wear out or become obsolete over time, you can deduct their cost over a period of several years. The deduction for this is called capital cost allowance (CCA)
For more information please see the Claiming Capital Cost Allowance (CCA) webpage.
Sponsoring agency:
Revenue Canada
Type of agency:
Federal government
Eligibility
Contact information
Website:
Claiming Capital Cost (CCA)
Metro Vancouver Wood Stove Exchange Program
Metro Vancouver residents are eligible to receive a rebate for trading in their old uncertified wood burning appliance for a new low emission appliance.
The rebate amount is:
- $250 per exchange when replacing an uncertified wood burning appliance with a qualifying wood burning appliance OR propane appliance OR EnerChoice rated natural gas appliance OR electric insert.
- $350 per exchange when replacing an uncertified wood burning appliance with a qualifying natural gas appliance that is NOT EnerChoice rated.
Please note that rebate funding is limited and will be issued to qualifying residents on a first come, first served basis.
Sponsoring agency:
Metro Vancouver
Type of agency:
Local government
Eligibility
To be eligible for a rebate you must be a Metro Vancouver resident and the exchange must take place within a dwelling located in the region. To find out if you live in Metro Vancouver, click here.
Application procedure
Step 1 – Find out if you qualify
To find out which appliances can be traded in and which can be purchased as replacements, and also to confirm whether or not you reside within the program area boundaries, you can:
- Review the information posted on this web page:
- Program Area
- Qualifying Appliances for the Metro Vancouver Wood Stove Exchange Program
- Contact Grace Cockle, Metro Vancouver Program Coordinator.
- Contact a participating Retailer (see section below).
Step 2 – Shop
When you are ready to shop for your new low-emission appliance, visit a participating retailer (see section below) to arrange purchase.
Step 3 – Obtain permits
Contact your municipality about obtaining a building permit for the installation of your new appliance. Also, before you exchange your old wood burning appliance, it is recommended that you contact your insurance company to find out if there are any savings associated with the exchange of your old appliance. Also, you may need to confirm if your insurance company imposes any additional requirements, such as an inspection by a WETT (Wood Energy Technical Training) certified technician, for the installation of the new appliance.
Step 4 – Fill out paperwork and disable & recycle your old appliance
Your retailer will help you to fill out the necessary paperwork and also with the disabling & recycling of your old wood appliance. If preferred, residents can disable and recycle their old appliance on their own, however, prior to beginning these steps you must contact the Metro Vancouver Coordinator or your retailer for important information on the proper procedure.
Step 5 – Receive your rebate
The rebate amount is:
- $250 per exchange when replacing an uncertified wood burning appliance with a qualifying wood burning appliance.
- $350 per exchange when replacing an uncertified wood burning appliance with a qualifying natural gas appliance.
The retailer will help you ensure all the required paperwork and documentation is forwarded to Metro Vancouver for verification and processing. Please note that it may take up to 8 weeks, once the completed paperwork has been submitted, before you receive your Metro Vancouver rebate cheque via Canada Post.
Contact information
Telephone:
604-436-6722
Vancouver Solar Homes Pilot - Limited Time Offer
Vancouver’s Solar Homes Pilot is offering $3000 towards the cost of solar hot water systems in Vancouver – this is roughly 50 per cent of the cost of a system. The funding is available to 30 homes on a first come, first served basis. Your home’s hot water system must be heated by gas to qualify for this rebate.
Sponsoring agency:
City of Vancouver, SolarBC, FortisBC and Offsetters.
Type of agency:
Local government
NGO
Utility company
Eligibility
Visit Vancouver Solar Homes webpage for details on eligibility and application process.
Contact information
Email:
sustainability@vancouver.ca
ENERGY STAR Clothes Washer Rebate
BC Hydro and FortisBC have teamed up to help provide you with a $75 rebate for purchasing an ENERGY STAR washing machine. In addition to that, you could save money on your energy bills, because ENERGY STAR models use less mechanical energy and less water.
To learn about the application process and find out more information, please go to either the FortisBC ENERGY STAR Clothes Washer Rebate webpage, or the BC Hydro Power Smart Appliance Rebate Program webpage.
Sponsoring agency:
Fortis BC and BC Hydro
Type of agency:
Utility company
Eligibility
Restrictions
- To qualify you must purchase your washing machine between April 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011.
- Applications must be submitted within 90 days of purchase in order to qualify.
- Only one $75 rebate per appliance.
- Full terms and conditions are available on bchydro.com.
Contact information
Telephone:
Call BC Hydro at 604-431-9463 or 1-800-431-9463 outside the Lower Mainland
EnerChoice Fireplace Program
Purchase an EnerChoice fireplace between June 1, 2011 and May 31, 2012 with an EnerGuide™ label that tells you how energy efficient it is, and you could be eligible for a $300 rebate from FortisBC.
For more information, please visit the EnerChoice Fireplace Program webpage.
FortisBC is also still accepting applications for the $150 rebate for qualifying fireplaces purchased and installed between July 1, 2010 and May 31, 2011.
Sponsoring agency:
FortisBC
Type of agency:
Utility company
Eligibility
Application procedure
Step 1. Review the terms & conditions.
Step 2. Purchase an eligible EnerChoice fireplace and have it installed by a gas contractor registered with the BC Safety Authority (BCSA). You can find a list of retailers at enerchoice.org.
Step 3. Complete the application form and include copies of the invoice showing details of all worked performed, including the date of installation, make and model.
Step 4. Send us the completed application and invoice to:
EnerChoice Fireplace Program
FortisBC
P.O. Box 9090
Surrey, BC, V3T 5W4
Step 5. If you qualify, FortisBC will mail you a cheque for $300. Please allow a minimum of 90 days to process.
Contact information
Telephone:
1-800-663-8400
Email:
rebates@fortisbc.com
Website:
EnerChoice Fireplace Program
FortisBC Switch 'n' Shrink Program
Change your oil or propane heating system to natural gas, and install a new ENERGY STAR rated high efficiency heating system and you may qualify for a $1,000 cash rebate.
Also, you could be eligible for $50 more with an electronically commutated motor (ECM), with the rebate being supplied by either BC Hydro or FortisBC PowerSense.
Sponsoring agency:
FortisBC and BC Hydro
Type of agency:
Utility company
Program offerings
Includes a forced air furnace with an AFUE rating of 90 per cent or higher, a boiler with an AFUE rating of 85 per cent or higher, or a condensing combination system used for both space and water heating.
Eligibility
Restrictions
- The rebate is not applicable when switching from wood or electric space heating systems.
- Oil to propane conversion only available in propane service areas.
- Not available in Whistler.
- New customers must apply for or receive a natural gas service line connection between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2011 to be eligible for this program.
- Gas service line must be activated before February 29, 2012.
- Heating system must be purchased by December 31, 2011, and installed by February 29, 2012
- See Terms and Conditions page for complete information.
Application deadline
Offer expires December 31st, 2011
Application procedure
Please see the application form for more details.
You can combine this incentive with the LiveSmart BC grants.
Contact information
Telephone:
1-800-663-8400
Email:
rebates@fortisbc.com
Website:
Switch 'n' Shrink Program
Residential Water Saver Kits (Langley)
Langley's drinking water (both municipal supply as well as private wells) is largely from local groundwater resources. To encourage conservation of these precious and limited groundwater supplies, the Township of Langley and Environment Canada are subsidizing water-saving kits on a trial basis.
Sponsoring agency:
Township of Langley
Type of agency:
Local government
Program offerings
Indoor Water-Saving Kit
Cost: $10 - Limit 2 per household.- 1 water-efficient showerhead (2.0 GPM)
- 1 dual setting kitchen faucet aerator (1.5 GPM)
- 2 dual-thread faucet sink aerators (1.5 GPM)
- 2 toilet tank banks (for older toilets)
- 1 package of dye tablets to detect toilet leaks
- 1 small roll Teflon tape
Outdoor Water-Saving Kit
Cost: $15 - Limit 1 per household.- 1 trigger-release spray nozzle
- 1 hose timer
- 1 rain gauge
- 1 hose repair set
- 12 replacement washers
Eligibility
Application procedure
Available at the Township's Civic Facility, Operations Centre, or your local Recreation Center.
For more information, contact the Engineering Department at 604-532-7300 or enginfo@tol.ca.
Contact information
Telephone:
604-532-7300
Email:
enginfo@tol.ca
Website:
Water Wise Community
Rain Barrel Subsidy (Langley)
The Township offers residents the water saver rain barrel, a 190 litre (50 gallons) open top version. The high quality container is a great way to reduce summer demand on your water system while providing non-chlorinated water for your garden. Also offered is a garden watersaver, a rainwater collection system that automatically diverts water from the downspout to your rain barrel. Water will be diverted back into the drain when the barrel is filled.
Sponsoring agency:
Township of Langley
Type of agency:
Local government
Program offerings
Rain Barrels
Cost: $35 - Limit 1 per household.The Township offers residents a 190 litre (50 gallon) water saver rain barrel. This high quality container is a great way to reduce summer demand on your water system while providing non-chlorinated water for your garden.
Garden Watersaver
Cost: $15 - Limit 1 per householdThis rainwater collection system automatically diverts water from the downspout to your rain barrel. Water will be diverted back into the drain when the barrel is filled.
Eligibility
Township residents only. Limit one per household.
Application procedure
To purchase the rain barrel, call 604-532-7300. The Civic Facility accepts payment by cash, cheque, or credit card. The Operations Centre only accepts cash or cheque.
Contact information
Telephone:
604-532-7300
Email:
enginfo@tol.ca
Website:
Water Wise Community
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.
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