Are there incentives to green a home?

There are several government, utility and other incentives to encourage homeowners to green their homes. These include, but aren’t limited to, the following information. Check with your local municipality, regional district and utilities for additional incentives.

• Residential Retrofits and Renovations
• New Residential Construction
• Multi-Unit Residential Buildings

Residential Retrofits and Renovations

ecoENERGY Efficiency for Housing
The ecoENERGY Efficiency program is investing $195 million between 2011 and 2016 to maintain the Government of Canada’s momentum to improve energy efficiency in Canada — at home, at work and on the road. The ecoENERGY Efficiency for Housing program is part of the Government of Canada’s strategy to advance clean energy solutions. This program encourages the construction and retrofit of low-rise residential housing, making the stock more energy efficient.

Northern Savings Credit Union Smart Home Energy Loan - Clients in northern BC may be eligible to recieve $300 cash back towards the cost of a home energy assessment and low-interest Smart Home Loans if you finance your renovations through Northern Savings Credit Union.

LiveSmartBC - This renewed BC-wide two-year, $60 million efficiency incentive program will help British Columbians reduce their carbon footprints and their energy costs. The LiveSmartBC: Efficiency Incentive Program will give homeowners access to rebates for audits and energy efficiency incentives.
Funding for this program runs until March 31, 2013.

Vancity Credit Union Bright Ideas Loan - The Bright Ideas Loan will help homeowners make energy-saving renovations to their homes by leveraging the LiveSmart BC Efficiency Incentive Program - a bright idea with many benefits.

FortisBC clients renovating electrically heated homes and completing the ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes Grant Program may be eligible for a $50 rebate toward the cost of an energy assessment, plus bill reductions of up to $1,500 for installations of ENERGY STAR windows, heat pumps or insulation. Non-electrically heated homes also qualify for some incentives. Other rebates and incentives are also available.

BC Hydro Power Smart Windows Rebate
ENERGY STAR® labelled windows are Provincial Sales Tax exempt and can help you increase comfort and reduce your heating bill, which can account for more than half of your home's energy bill. Up to one-third of the heat from your home can escape through windows.

BC Hydro Fridge Buy-Back Program
BC Hydro will pickup and recycle your old, inefficient second fridge and give you $30 for it.

BC Hydro Power Smart Appliance Rebate Program
BC Hydro's popular Power Smart Appliance Rebate can get you up to $75 off select ENERGY STAR® labelled clothes washers, dish washers, refrigerators and freezers.

Capital Regional District of Victoria SmartWash Rebate - The Capital Regional District offers a $125 rebate for replacing your old inefficient clothes washing machine. And, you could save between 35 and 50% on your water use and 50% on your energy use.

Water Meter Program - Richmond
Encourages voluntary installation of water meters to promote water conservation. The program pays for meter installation.

Water Meter Program – Surrey
Encourages voluntary installation of water meters to promote water conservation. The program pays for meter installation.

Water Conservation Program - Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) - The goal of the SCRD's Water Conservation Program is to reduce the rate of drinking water consupmption by promoting water efficient practices and technology.

City of Vancouver Home Energy Loan Program (HELP)
Vancouver homeowners can qualify for up to $7,000 in government rebates, and borrow up to $16,000 through Vancity at a 4.5% fixed interest over ten years to complete select home energy upgrades.

City of Vancouver Water Saver Kits
Vancouver residents can purchase water saving kits at a reduced price ($12 each), plus tips to use water more efficiently in the home and garden.

Saanich Green Building Rebate Program - The District of Saanich offers rebates on building permit fees for new and renovated single family homes built to energy efficient standards.

New Residential Construction

Power Smart New Home Program
The most cost-effective way to save energy in the home is to build with an energy-efficient design. BC Hydro may provide builders who build to EnerGuide for New Houses standards: financial incentives when available and where appropriate; promotional opportunities and funding; and Power Smart branding for the home.

BC Hydro Power Smart Windows Rebate

Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC): Energy Efficient Mortgage Loan Insurance Refund

Saanich Green Building Rebate Program
Build in the District of Saanich and receive up to 30% off the cost of your building permits when you build your home to meet Built Green™, R-2000, BC Hydro Power Smart or EnerGuide 80 standards. Also available is a free one-hour consultation with City Green Solutions energy efficiency specialists.

Multi-Unit Residential Buildings

Affordable Warmth BC
To support the upgrades to multi-unit residential buildings that house low-income tenants, City Green is providing complimentary energy assessments, along with energy efficiency toolkits and workshops, to a select number of buildings.

For other Canadian incentives, visit Natural Resource’s Office of Energy Efficiency site here.

Visit Metro Vancouver’s BUILDSMART site for incentives related to these categories:

• commercial, institutional and industrial new construction
• municipal or federal new construction
• commercial, institutional and industrial retrofits and renovations
• municipal or federal retrofits and renovations
• non-profits and charitable organizations new and retrofits

In the US visit the Environmental Protection Agency site for national, state and local incentives.