Power Smart New Home Program

Set your development apart in a crowded marketplace.

It's a competitive housing market, and you benefit from making your development stand out from the crowd. That's what constructing a Power Smart home can do, because buyers are looking for homes that are both comfortable and cost less to operate.

What incentives are available

The Power Smart New Home Program supports the nationally accepted EnerGuide Rating Service by providing financial incentives* and cooperative marketing to new residential home construction.

Our incentives include:

Single family detached, row/townhouse/duplex

• EnerGuide rating of 80 or higher: up to $2,000* per home
• ENERGY STAR Package: up to an additional $200 per home
  • Includes the following ENERGY STAR products: refrigerator, dishwasher, front-loading clothes washer, minimum 6 compact fluorescent light bulbs and bathroom ventilation fan. All products must be installed in a residential unit.

Multi-unit residential buildings (low-rise and high-rise)

• ENERGY STAR Package: up to $200 per suite
  • Includes the following ENERGY STAR products: refrigerator, dishwasher, front-loading clothes washer, minimum 6 compact fluorescent light bulbs and bathroom ventilation fan. All products must be installed in a residential unit.

*This incentive is not available where EnerGuide 80 is mandated by municipal bylaws or building codes, and the amount for single family detached homes varies depending on the issue date of the building permit.

Application steps:

1. Complete the enrollment form in full.
2. Based on the number of eligible units, complete the appropriate application form in full.
3. Submit the enrollment form, the application form and all relevant recipts and invoices to BC Hydro Power Smart.

Forms:

• Power Smart New Home Program enrollment form [PDF, 137 KB]
• Power Smart New Home Program single home application form [PDF, 109 KB]
• Power Smart New Home Program bulk application spreadsheet 
  • MS Excel format [XLS, 164 KB]

Getting an EnerGuide rating

The EnerGuide rating for each home is calculated by a Certified Energy Advisor, using the energy modelling of building plans and the results of an air leakage test performed once the house has been built.

1. Get started by contacting Power Smart. We will provide you with a list of Certified Energy Advisors (CEA).
2. The CEA will help you enrol with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan).
3. The pre-construction evaluation is conducted by the CEA who will evaluate your house plans and provide any recommendations to improve the home’s EnerGuide rating.
4. The post-construction verification is also conducted by the CEA, who conducts an air leakage test on each home.
5. The CEA submits the final results to NRCan.
6. Submit the Power Smart New Home Enrollment and Application forms with the EnerGuide rating and file number for the home.
7. NRCan issues a label for each home and Power Smart issues the incentive for your approved project. 

Email us for more information and apply today!

Who participates in the Power Smart New Home Program?

Now more than ever potential new home buyers are interested in purchasing houses with a smaller environmental footprint, with lower energy costs and great comfort. Check out these developments that are participating in the Power Smart New Home program.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

Customers who purchase a Power Smart home may be eligible for a 10% refund on their mortgage loan insurance premium from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). As of April 1, 2010, an NRCan EnerGuide (EG) rating of 80 (previously 77) will be required on purchase transactions in order to be eligible for CMHC Green Home.

Contact us

To learn more about the Power Smart New Home program, email us.