Save on Home Improvements with ecoENERGY Retrofit –
Homes Program Incentives

By Kari Kylo, BC Hydro Power Smart

BC Hydro supports Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan’s) ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes Program due to its attractive financial incentives for homeowners to make their homes more energy-efficient, resulting in a decrease in energy-related greenhouse gases and air pollution, as well as a reduction in one’s residential energy bills. BC Hydro’s website is updated regularly to feature on-going and future retrofit offers – visit www.bchydro.com.

To start, simply hire an independent energy advisor certified by NRCan to perform an energy efficiency evaluation of your home. Once the evaluation is complete, you will receive a personalized report, including a checklist of recommended retrofits to improve the energy efficiency of your home.

You must complete your retrofits and receive your post-retrofit evaluation by March 31, 2011, or within 18 months from the date of your pre-retrofit evaluation report, whichever comes first and subject to available funding.

Here are just a few examples of eligible improvements/retrofits that you can make to your single-family home, and the grant amounts available:

IMPROVEMENTS:	GRANT AMOUNTS:
DOORS/WINDOWS/SKYLIGHTS (heated space only)
Replace windows, skylights and exterior door(s) with models that are ENERGY STAR qualified for your climate zone. (*per unit replaced).	*$40
AIR SEALING
Perform air sealing to improve the air-tightness of your home to achieve the air change rate indicated in your ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes report.	$190
BASEMENT INSULATION
Insulate your foundation’s wall area and increase its insulation value to a minimum of R-23. The grant is based on the percentage of wall area that is insulated and does not include walls between individual units.	Up to $1,250
DOMESTIC HOT WATER SYSTEM
Install a solar domestic hot water system with solar collectors that meet the CAN/CSA F378.87 standard AND provides a minimum energy contribution of 6000 megajoules per year. SolarBC contractors will provide you with a $1,000 discount at the point of sale of your solar hot water system. Visit www.solarbc.ca for more details.	$1,250

For more detailed information on ecoENERGY program incentives, visit http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca.

To learn more about BC Hydro’s Power Smart residential programs such as the Fridge Buy-Back program, discounts on ENERGY STAR®? light fixtures and CFLs, mail-in rebates, ENERGY STAR® windows, and PST exemptions, visit www.bchydro.com/powersmart.

Save on Home Improvements with ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes Program Incentives

Save on Home Improvements with ecoENERGY Retrofit –
Homes Program Incentives