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Heating and cooling your home accounts for about half of your energy bill, making it the single largest energy expense for most homes in B.C. Improving your home’s heating is a sound long-term investment: it’s low-risk, it pays dividends through lower heating costs, it improves your quality of life and it reduces your environmental impact. Whether you are building a home, own an existing house, condo or apartment, or rent, there are steps you can take to make your home more energy efficient. Find the improvements you are ready to make. Change is a progression. Challenge yourself one step at a time.

Many of the steps you will take to improve your heating system can also keep your home cool in warm weather. Check out our Home Cooling Green Guide.

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home inspectorsGet An Energy Audit & Make Changes.

An energy audit is a great way to start making your home more energy efficient.

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caulking a windowDraft Proof Your Home. 
Wherever you feel cold air coming in around a window or door, you have a leak...
people moving out with boxesChoose A Smaller or Efficient Home. 
Moving to a new home is a great opportunity to make energy-efficient decisions...
programmable thermostat down button pushedLower Your Thermostat.
One simple way to minimize wasted energy and reduce heating costs, is to heat your home strategically...
programmable thermostat small lcd displayInstall A Programmable Thermostat.
Lower your heating (and cooling) costs by about 10% with a programmable thermostat.
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Shade Your Windows.
Heat loss from windows can account for 10% to 25% of your heating bill in winter.

condensation on glass panelUpgrade Your Ventilation. 
The average family produces 10 to 50 litres of moisture a day...
filter replaced on heat pumpMaintain Your Heating System. 
Tuning up the equipment you have and giving it regular maintenance can go a long way...
man reading near fireplaceMake Sure Your Fireplace Is Efficient. 
When you cozy up to a crackling fireplace on a cold day, you might be robbing your home of heat.
HVAC equipment

Carefully Consider a Heat Pump
In some areas, a heat pump can significantly lower your heating costs.

attic insulation

Add and Upgrade Insulation.
Upgrading your heating system might make your home warmer, but if it can’t hold the heat in, you will waste energy.

Team Power Smart promo

LiveSmart BC reaches target

LiveSmart BC has reached its target and, as of August 15, 2009,  will no longer provide incentives to new participants. 

For more information, visit LiveSmart B.C.'s home rebates pages.
 
Note that many residential rebates are still available under Natural Resources Canada's ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes program.

Last Modified: Oct 29, 2009

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