Information Bulletin
For immediate release

Saanich, BC – Enrollment in the District of Saanich’s innovative Heat Pump Financing Program is once again open.

Launched in April 2022, this is the eighth intake for the program that provides interest-free financing up to $12,000, helping residents upgrade their oil, natural gas, or propane heating systems to electric heat pumps. Homeowners repay the financing over ten years through an additional levy on their property tax payments, making these sustainable energy updates more accessible.

Reducing barriers

The program is designed to reduce the up-front cost of a heat pump for homeowners, while taking climate action by drastically reducing participants’ greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improving their resilience through the addition of cooling.

Of the households in the program to date, participants reported spending an average of nearly $2,500 per year to heat their homes with oil heating, with most participants likely to save over $1,000 in energy costs per year. Households switching from natural gas to a heat pump are likely to have similar energy costs, but with the added benefit of cooling in the summertime. On average, households participating in the program have reduced their emissions by over 5 tCO2e per year – that’s similar to taking three to four gas cars off the road in Saanich!

Upcoming intake

Apply by October 13 to take advantage of the new energy evaluation discount to help participants identify the right upgrades for their home, estimate the energy and cost savings from potential upgrades and qualify for additional incentives. 

Learn more

Find out more about the Heat Pump Financing eligibility requirements and steps to participate at saanich.ca/heatpumpfinancing.

Hear from Saanich residents who have already taken part in the program: https://greenmunicipalfund.ca/case-studies/oil-efficiency-one-saanich-homeowners-path-cleaner-heating

Participants are also encouraged to sign up for the complementary Home Energy Navigator program, which offers free expert support throughout the retrofit journey for residents in the Capital Region.

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Media contact:
Saanich Communications
media@saanich.ca