Province doubles home energy retrofit rebates
The B.C. government is doubling CleanBC Better Homes retrofit rebates for select home-heating and energy-efficiency upgrades to support B.C.’s economic recovery and help British Columbians save on energy costs.
“With many people continuing to work from home due to the pandemic, we’re doubling popular CleanBC rebates for select home energy retrofits and upgrades,” said Bruce Ralston, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation. “Together with our partners, we are helping families switch from fossil fuels to clean energy and make their homes as efficient, comfortable and affordable as possible.”
The province’s CleanBC plan aims to reduce the environmental impact of existing buildings and to waste less energy. By using more clean energy and using it more efficiently in homes and buildings, British Columbians can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality.
“People want affordable options to heat their homes with clean energy to reduce pollution and help address climate change,” said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. “By doubling our support through CleanBC, we’re helping people improve the places they live with more incentives to make the switch to cleaner, more efficient technologies and supporting good jobs across the province as we recover from COVID-19.”
Select residential rebates to switch to high-efficiency heating equipment, while saving energy and reducing greenhouse gases, have increased as follows until June 30, 2021:
* double the rebate from $3,000 to $6,000 when switching from a fossil fuel heating system to a high-efficiency heat pump;
* double the rebate from $1,000 to $2,000 when switching from a fossil fuel water heater to a heat pump water heater;
* double the rebate from $500 to $1,000 for an electrical service upgrade when switching from a fossil fuel heating system to a heat pump; and
* a $3,000 rebate on an interest-free loan when switching from a fossil fuel heating system to a high-efficiency heat pump and accessing the CleanBC low-interest financing program.
Applicants must pre-register for a promo code by March 31, 2021, and complete their upgrades by June 30, 2021, to participate.
In 2019, 10 per cent of B.C. households were using heat pumps as their primary or secondary heating source, up from only three per cent in 2007.