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How to Save Money While Helping the Environment

How to Save Money While Helping the Environment

The Canadian Government has committed to making Canada greener, one house at a time. How? Through the Canada Greener Homes Initiative, rebates, and a top-up from BC Hydro and Clean BC. You can get up to $11,000 for switching to an electric heat pump from a fossil fuel heating source, including a $3,000 rebate top-up from BC Hydro and CleanBC’s existing $3,000 rebate.

The Canadian Greener Homes Initiative

In addition to the rebates and top-ups from BC Hydro and CleanBC, you might be eligible for up to $5,000 in additional, separate rebates from the Government of Canada. They are offering grants from $125 to $5,000 to help recoup costs from eligible home retrofits, and up to $600 a contribution towards the total costs of your pre and post retrofit EnerGuide home evaluations. They are also offering 5,000 to $40,000 interest-free loans with a repayment term of 10 years to help you undertake major home retrofits.

*The Canada Greener Homes Grant program is currently experiencing delays in processing registrations for home evaluations. This could delay your installation if you choose to apply for the grant.

If you’re looking at replacing a heating system powered by fossil fuels, like natural gas, oil, or propane, here’s what’s available from BC Hydro and CleanBC:

Ductless Mini-Split Heat Pump

Up to $3,000 from the CleanBC rebate
Up to $3,000 from the BC Hydro top-up
Total: up to $6,000

Ductless Multi-Split Heat Pump

Up to $3,000 from the CleanBC rebate
Up to $3,000 from the BC Hydro top-up
Up to $4,000* from the Canada Greener Homes grant (*must apply separately)
Total: up to $10,000

Central-Ducted Heat Pump – Including Cold Climate Models

Up to $3,000 from the CleanBC rebate
Up to $3,000 from the BC Hydro top-up
Up to $5,000* from the Canada Greener Homes grant (*must apply separately)
Total: up to $11,000

Eligibility for Top-Up

Your home must currently be primarily heated with natural gas, oil, or propane, and you must have a residential account with BC Hydro. You must also meet our general eligibility requirements, including living on an eligible property type. The heat pump must be the primary heating system of the home, and old or back-up systems powered by fossil fuels must be fully decommissioned or removed (proof is required). Your invoice must be dated September 28, 2021 or later, and you need to apply for the rebate within six months.

Beginning October 1, 2022, Proof of Removal will be required. Program rebate requirements will be changing to require proof of fossil fuel system removal if you are switching from an oil, propane, or natural gas heating system to a heat pump. Proof of decommissioning will no longer be accepted; the fossil fuel heating system will need to be removed. When installing a dual fuel ducted heat pump, you can retain the natural gas or propane furnace only if the outdoor unit and the indoor unit(s) of the heat pump and the existing furnace model numbers match the AHRI certificate that references all components of the system.

Product Eligibility

The heat pump must be listed on the rebate-eligible heat pump list, and it needs to be sufficiently sized to function as the primary heating source for the entire home, meaning it will need to heat at least 50% of your home for the entire heating season to 21ºC.

Ductless mini-split heat pump

  • The indoor unit of the heat pump serves one zone, which must be a main living area (the family room, living room or open-concept kitchen-living room).
  • The system must meet all the following requirements:
    • Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) of at least 16
    • Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF Region IV) of at least 10.00
    • Variable speed compressor (others are not eligible)
    • An AHRI certified reference number that references all components of the heat pump, including outdoor and indoor units

Ductless multi-split heat pump

  • The indoor unit of the heat pump serves multiple zones, and least one indoor unit must serve a primary living space (family room, living room, or open-concept kitchen-living room).
  • The system must meet all the following requirements:
    • Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) of at least 16
    • Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF Region IV) of at least 9.30
    • Variable speed compressor
    • An AHRI certified reference number that references the outdoor unit.

Central ducted heat pump

  • The indoor unit of the heat pump serves multiple zones. At least one indoor unit must serve a primary living area (the family room, living room, or open-concept kitchen-living room) of the premises.
  • The system must meet all the following requirements:
    • Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) of least 16
    • Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF Region IV) of 9.30 or higher
    • Variable speed compressor
    • An AHRI certified reference number that references all components of the heat pump, including the outdoor unit, indoor units, and air handler or furnace
    • Products with a maximum static pressure of less than 0.6″ WC are considered mini-split or multi-split systems.

Is your home already heated by electricity?

Thanks for doing your part! Electrically heated homes are not eligible for this top-up, but you can still get a rebate of up to $2,000 for installing a heat pump.

How to apply

  1. Review the above eligibility criteria.
  2. It is recommended that you get three quotes from contractors. For heat pump rebates, additional contractor requirements apply.
  3. Once you’ve secured a contractor, install the heat pump. Be sure to keep copies of your installation invoice and any other supporting documentation.
  4. After the installation, complete the online application. BC Hydro, CleanBC and applicable municipal rebates are all handled together.

Together, these grants and top-ups are not just helping homeowners save money, they’re creating new jobs across Canada for energy advisors—most importantly, they are aiding in the fight against climate change.

Contact us today.