The following programs are currently available for multi-family buildings (including rentals, stratas, and non-profit housing) to support building upgrades and EV charging:

Advice and Concierge Programs

• Strata Energy Advisor 
• Rental Apartment Retrofit Accelerator (RARA) Pilot Program
• CRD Building Benchmarking Program

• EV charging support - see our EV Charging in Multi-unit buildings page

Financial Incentives (rebates and financing)

• Saanich Climate Action Tax Exemption Program
• Multi-unit Residential Building Retrofit Program
• Province of BC Clean Buildings Tax Credit
• Social and Non-Profit Housing Incentives 
• Free Portable Air Conditioners (Income-Qualified)
• EV charging incentives- see our EV Charging in Multi-unit buildings page
• Rebates for Solar Panels & Battery Storage
• BC Hydro Peak Saver

Advice and Concierge Programs

Strata Energy Advisor

Strata Councils ready to upgrade their building can access the Strata Energy Advisor program which provides in-depth support to implement energy-saving solutions, reduce emissions, and boost comfort.

From identifying retrofit opportunities aligned with major capital renewals, navigating technology and financing options, and supporting implementation, the Strata Energy Advisor Program is here to help, and free! Visit StrataEnergyAdvisorBC.ca.  

Rental Apartment Retrofit Accelerator (RARA) Pilot Program

The Rental Apartment Retrofit Accelerator (RARA) helps rental housing providers confidently plan and implement energy-saving building upgrades. This free concierge-style service connects you with experienced engineers and retrofit specialists who will guide you through every stage of the process – from identifying opportunities to accessing funding and incentives.

Learn more and apply at LandlordBC.ca/RARA.

CRD Building Benchmarking Program

The CRD, in collaboration with the District of Saanich and the City of Victoria, launched the regional CRD Building Benchmarking Program to help local governments as well as building owners and property managers track, manage and reduce energy use and carbon emissions from large buildings). All buildings over 10,000 square feet are required to report their energy and emissions on an annual basis.

For more information: Building Benchmarking Program | District of Saanich.

Financial Incentives (rebates and financing)

Saanich Climate Action Tax Exemption Program

Saanich’s Climate Action Tax Exemption (CATE) Program offers a municipal tax exemption for capital projects that involve fuel switching in commercial and multi-unit residential (rental apartment and condominium strata) buildings.

Properties can receive an exemption valued at between 50-100% of project costs after accounting for other rebates, with a maximum term of 10 years for residential buildings and 3 years for commercial buildings.

The program is now open and accepting applications. Learn more and apply. 

Multi-Unit Residential Building Retrofit Program

Offered by BC Hydro and the Government of BC. Learn more.

• Opportunity Assessment: up to $5,000 
• Feasibility Study: up to $30,000 
• Rebates for Equipment upgrades: for whole-building upgrades including heat pumps, windows, insulation, lighting, water heating, and more
• Solar panels and batteries

Energy Savings Program Condo and Apartment Rebate (Income-Qualified)

• Up to $5,000 to replace an electric heating system with an electric heat pump
• Up to $3,500 to replace an electric water heating system with a heat pump water heater

Province of BC Clean Buildings Tax Credit

Many types of buildings including multi-unit residential buildings, retail, offices, schools, and more can access this tax credit for reducing energy use intensity. Learn more.

Social and Non-Profit Housing

Funding available for social and affordable housing providers include the following:

• CleanBC Social Housing Incentives, offers energy study funding, project implementation support and GHG reduction incentives
• The Sustainable Affordable Housing Program, administered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) provides funding to retrofit existing affordable housing units, including planning, studies, pilots and capital costs.

Free Portable Air Conditioners (Income-Qualified)

The Government of B.C. is providing $10 million in funding to expand the Energy Conservation Assistance Program (ECAP) to include portable air conditioners to support vulnerable customers. Income-qualified customers in all housing types, including condos and apartments, can apply online now.

Rebates for Solar Panels & Battery Storage

• Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels: Up to $10,000 for commercial or multi-unit residential buildings and up to $50,000 for social housing providers, Indigenous governing bodies and remote microgrid communities
• $1,000 per kilowatt (kW) of installed generator capacity.  
• Rebate amount capped at 50% of total installed product cost (including labour and materials). 
• Battery energy storage systems:  Up to $10,000 for commercial or multi-unit residential buildings and up to $50,000 for social housing providers, Indigenous governing bodies and remote microgrid communities
• Minimum storage size: 5 kilowatt-hours (kWh).
• $500 per kWh of installed storage capacity.  
• Rebate amount capped at 50% of total installed product cost (including labour and materials). 

BC Hydro Peak Saver

Enroll your home devices in BC Hydro's Peak Save program. The program allows BC Hydro to adjust your devices remotely during times of high electricity demand. Participation helps support safe, reliable electricity across the province. 

How it Works - during occasional peak events (lasting no more than four hours) BC Hydro makes small, temporary adjustments to your enrolled devices. Changes are small, with most participants not even noticing a difference. 

Enroll your products and recieve a bonus of up to $500, plus ongoing seasonal rewards, including $50 per device and $250 for batteries. 

Learn more and apply through BC Hydro Peak Saver. 

 

Learn more about climate-friendly homes, including where to start for retrofits in multi-family buildings.