Burning fossil fuels (e.g. natural gas or oil) for space and water heating in our buildings is the second largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in our community. You can make your home more climate-friendly by upgrading to a renewable energy system at time of replacement (for example, a central or ductless heat pump), and improving the efficiency of your home. This page is for existing home upgrades to detached and semi-detached homes. If you're looking for other rebates, check out Saanich's new construction rebate or the rebates for multi-unit and commercial buildings including condos.
Free expert support
NEW regional service available! The Home Energy Navigator program helps homeowners take the next step, regardless of where they’re in their retrofit journey, and aims to reduce barriers to completing a home energy retrofit. This new regional service provides participants with free support from local energy experts, including:
- Rebate navigation
- Virtual home energy consultation
- Quote reviews
- Customized retrofit roadmap
- And more!
The Home Energy Navigator Program is a free program created by the CRD and local government partners in the capital region and informed by industry experts, including numerous local contractors. It is being executed by City Green Solutions, a local non-profit with decades of experience helping homeowners save energy.
Incentives for renewable and efficiency upgrades
(Terms apply and rebates are subject to change.)
Heat Pump Rebates:
- Up to $6,000 for a heat pump from CleanBC for switching from fossil fuel primary space heating (i.e., a furnace or boiler, not a fireplace) to a central or mini-split heat pump.
- Up to $2000 when upgrading from electric baseboards and/or wood to a heat pump ($2000 from BC Hydro for a central or $1000 from BC Hydro for a mini-split heat pump).
- Up to $10,000 from the Federal Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program (for income-qualified households).
- $500 from CleanBC for electrical panel upgrades if required for fossil fuel primary space heating (i.e., a furnace or boiler, not a fireplace) to heat pump upgrades.
- Up to $4,300 for a combination space and water electric heat pump from CleanBC (Up to $4000 for combination heat pump plus $300 bonus).
- Up to $1000 for an electric heat pump water heater from CleanBC.
- Mortgage loan insurance refund up to 25% from CMHC or Sagen
- COMING June 18, 2024! CleanBC Better Homes Energy Savings Program: up to $21,000 to switch from fossil fuel heating to a high-efficiency heat pump (up to $16,000 for the heat pump plus up to $5,000 for associated electrical system upgrades).
OR Heat Pump Financing
- Canada Greener Homes Loan: $5,000-$40,000 in interest-free financing for 10 years.
- Saanich Heat Pump Financing: The next intake closes September 22, 2024. Spaces are available for both income qualified and standard stream!
OR Tax Exemption
- Saanich’s Climate Action Tax Exemption (CATE) Program offers a tax holiday for electrification retrofits in commercial, multi-unit residential, and mixed-use buildings.
Insulation, Windows, Energy Evaluations, and Other incentives:
- Up to $5,500 for insulation improvements from CleanBC.
- Up to $100 per window and door upgrade from CleanBC (up to a maximum of $2,000).
- Up to $2000 bonus rebates for completing multiple upgrades from CleanBC.
- FREE upgrades for income-qualifying homes (ECAP) from BC Hydro and FortisBC.
- GST/HST refund for a new or substantially renovated primary residence.
- Mortgage loan insurance refund up to 25% from CMHC or Sagen.
- NEW! Income qualified program 60-95% of upgrade costs.
- And more!
For more info, visit www.betterhomesbc.ca.
Why make the switch from natural gas or oil to a heat pump?
- A heat pump can be three times as efficient as a natural gas furnace
- Heat pumps are climate-friendly, running on renewable, low carbon electricity
- If switching from oil, you will save between 40 – 75% on your energy bills each year; homes switching from natural gas will have similar or smaller energy costs with a heat pump - see www.saanich.ca/maketheswitch to learn more.
- Dramatically reduce your home’s greenhouse gas emissions by getting your home off fossil fuels
- Get comfortable and cost effective heating and cooling all year round, with air filtration (learn more about keeping your indoor air cool and clean during a heat wave or smoky sky event).
Free, expert advice from CleanBC Better Homes Energy Coach Service
CleanBC Better Homes is BC's online hub for homeowners to access information, incentives and support to reduce energy use and carbon pollution in new and existing homes. Right now there are tens of thousands of dollars of rebates available across a wide variety of retrofits, so use this step-by-step Rebate Guide to get started.
A free Energy Coach Service is available through a phone and email hotline if you have questions about specific rebate programs, home energy upgrade options, EnerGuide home evaluations, or if you just don’t know where to start. Contact the free Energy Coach Service at 1-844-881-9790, ask@betterhomesbc.ca or visit Betterhomesbc.ca
For resources and incentives for commercial, institutional, and multi-unit residential buildings, go to CleanBC Better Buildings at BetterBuildingBC.ca.
