Talk to your neighbours. If your condo heating and cooling needs aren’t being met, or you're interested in adding EV charging to the building, it’s likely others are looking for upgrades too.
Expert insights, from heat pumps to EV charging to hiring the right electrician
There are a ton of questions out there around reducing energy use, decarbonizing, and adding comfort to multi-unit housing in B.C. We've looked to a handful of energy experts for tips and advice for apartment/townhome owners, and for strata councils.
A stratas and energy use discussion at Everything Electric Vancouver this past September featured Lisa Mak of the Community Energy Association, Jodine Baluk of Groovy Energy, Glen Gordon of Unico Power Corp. and Darla Simpson of the Zero Carbon Innovation Centre. Here are some of the highlights from the forum, along with tips from other energy experts around B.C.
1. Talk to your neighbours to get things rolling
Waiting for things to happen rarely pays off. For example, if your heating and cooling needs aren't being met, it's likely that your neighbours are experiencing the same thing.
"We have this perception that we shouldn't complain," says Simpson, from the Zero Emissions Innovation Centre's BC Retrofit Accelerator. "It's like ‘We want EVs, but nobody else does'. Our research says that more people want these things than not. So start by talking to neighbours, asking about who's been thinking of buying an EV or heat pump, and getting a group together to get things started."
2. All stratas need an electrical planning report
To plan for increased electrical demand – including electric vehicle (EV) charging and heat pumps – strata corporations with five or more strata lots are required to obtain an electrical planning report by December 31, 2026 or December 31, 2028 depending on where the strata corporation is located in B.C.
The report is required so that stratas and communities understand their power limitations and administer its use fairly and effectively. And don't wait until a month or two before the deadline. The report may require monitoring of energy demand in your building over a period of six to 12 months.
You'll need a qualified professional to prepare the report: an electrical engineer, an applied science technologist or a licensed electrician.
For more information on the importance of electrical planning reports for stratas, see our Q & A with Tony Gioventu, executive director of the Condominium Home Owners' Association of B.C. (CHOA). And don't miss Gioventu's regular Condo Smarts column.
3. Upgrade priorities vary greatly from one building to another
There's no one-plan-fits-all solution. One strata may want to go all in on heat pumps or EV charging. Another may need to first work on the building envelope, starting with windows.
"Everyone has different priorities, different needs," says Mak, who works as a climate solutions specialist with the Community Energy Association. "Each strata's journey can be very different."
One valuable resource is our opportunity assessment funding, which covers up to 100% of the costs of an assessment by an energy consultant who's a member of the BC Hydro Alliance of Energy Professionals. A consultant will look at the possibility of everything from transitioning to high-efficiency heating and cooling systems, to lighting upgrades, the integration of solar panels and/or energy storage, and EV charging infrastructure.
4. There's a new lower threshold for approving EV charging project
Strata corporations can now approve some EV charging decisions by a majority vote instead of by a ¾ vote. Lower voting thresholds make it easier for strata corporations to approve and install electric vehicle charging as a strata corporation expense.
How a Vancouver strata built EV charging support
EV charger rebates for multi-unit residential buildings
5. If you qualify by income, there are free upgrades available
Did you know we offer free programs for our lower-income customers to help you save energy and money? And even if you're a tenant, you can qualify for free products and potential upgrades if your electricity account is in your name.
- Our free energy-saving kits include LED light bulbs, weather stripping, high-efficiency showerheads, water-saving tap aerators, foam outlet gaskets, an LED night light, fridge and freezer thermometer, and step-by-step instructions.
- You may also be eligible for our Energy Conservation Assistance Program, which offers free upgrades – including heat pumps and insulation – depending on your housing type.
- If you're a current client of your regional health authority's Home Care Program or Mental Health and Substance Use Program, you may be eligible for a free portable air conditioner.
6. Bulk buys of equipment will save you money
Installing EV charging in a building parkade is going to cost you a lot more alone, than with a collective strata-supported project. You'll save money on projects with bulk buys: both on equipment and in the skilled trades required to install them.
"There are innovative ways to finance heat pumps, and if your building has similar-sized units with similar designs, bulk buying and installation will keep costs down," says Mak. "Try to get everything done at once, which makes it more affordable and accessible for everyone."
7. Always use highly qualified electricians
Jodine Baluk of Groovy Energy referenced a recent failed inspection at a Lower Mainland EV charging installation as an example of what can happen when you don't use qualified electricians.
"Choose a qualified, credible electrical engineering firm or electrician," said Baluk. "There are a lot to choose from, so don't be tempted to take a shortcut."
For larger projects, get a referral from the BC Hydro Alliance of Energy Professionals, a network of registered professionals including consulting engineers and other energy management specialists registered with BC Hydro. We recommend that you get three quotes from members of the network.
We offer rebates for equipment upgrades in multi-unit residential buildings, including heat pumps, heat pump hot water heaters, high-efficiency windows, ventilation make-up air units, LED lighting upgrades and controls, parkade carbon monoxide controls, variable-speed drives, and electrical capacity upgrades
Did you know? We're offering a 30% bonus incentive on electrical energy efficiency projects for mechanical and lighting upgrades submitted between September 1, 2025 and February 12, 2026.
8. On a strata council? Get educated, share what you learn… and listen
Unico Power Corporation's Gordon strongly suggests that a strata council emphasize the improved experience of upgrades, including electrification, by presenting facts that speak to improved comfort and long-term cost savings.
"Our perspective is to talk about making things better, not more expensive," said Gordon. "This should not be seen as a sacrifice. This isn't about spending a bunch of money to feel good. It's about a better experience, better performance and comfort going forward.
"A few years ago we were talking to [automotive engineer] Sandy Munro and he said ‘You don't have a technology problem, you have a psychology problem'. It's really important that whoever's speaking to condo owners is a good communicator and a good listener."