Energy efficiency retrofit incentives
Lead energy efficiency upgrades in your community
The Partners in Indigenous Energy Efficiency & Resilience program is designed for Indigenous Governing Bodies that are coordinating home energy efficiency upgrades in multiple homes for their community members.
This offer provides financial incentives to help cover the costs of energy efficiency upgrades and retrofits, plus project management funding for eligible projects.
On this page:
The offer
Indigenous Governing Bodies can get financial incentives for a range of energy efficiency upgrades for existing homes, along with project management funding that can be used to hire additional staff or external consultants, while funding lasts.
Participants can choose between two payment pathways: the pre-payment pathway, which provides partial upfront funding, or the rebate pathway, which offers rebates after the project completion.
Eligible energy efficiency upgrades
| Eligible upgrade | Incentive amount (maximum) per premises |
|---|---|
| Attic insulation | $2,000 |
| Exterior wall cavity insulation | $2,000 |
| Exterior wall sheathing insulation | $2,000 |
| Basement/crawlspace insulation | $2,000 |
| Other insulation (exposed floor, floor over crawlspace*, basement header) | $2,000 |
| High efficiency windows and doors | $950 per rough opening; $9,500 per Premises |
*One incentive for basement/crawlspace insulation or floors over crawlspace.
Incentives vary depending on the home's pre-renovation space heating energy type.
Air source heat pumps (convert from electric)
| Eligible upgrade | Incentive amount (maximum) per premises |
|---|---|
| Electric air source heat pump | Mini-split, single head | $5,000 |
| Electric air source heat pump | Multi-split, 2 or more heads | $9,000 |
| Electric air source heat pump | Central ducted | $12,000 |
Air source heat pumps (convert from fossil fuel)
| Eligible upgrade | Incentive amount (maximum) |
|---|---|
| Electric air source heat pump | Mini-split, single head | $10,000 per Premises (from oil) $7,500 per Premises (from natural gas or propane) |
| Electric air source heat pump | Multi-split, 2 head | $14,000 per Premises |
| Electric air source heat pump | Multi-split, 3 head | $16,000 per Premises |
| Electric air source heat pump | Central ducted | $16,000 per Premises |
| Northern top-up* (switch from natural gas to electric) | $1,500 (mini split) per Premises $3,000 (multi split or central ducted) per Premises |
| Community building heat pumps** | Up to $200,000 per building |
*Eligible homes must be located north of and including the District of 100 Mile House (latitude 51.628°N).
**The Northern top-up is not available for community building heat pumps.
Air source heat pumps (convert from wood)
| Eligible upgrade | Incentive amount (maximum) per premises |
|---|---|
| Electric air source heat pump | Mini-split, single head | $5,000 |
| Electric air source heat pump | Multi-split, 2 head | |
| Electric air source heat pump | Multi-split, 3 head | $6,500 |
| Electric air source heat pump | Central ducted |
Dual fuel ducted systems (convert from natural gas or propane)
| Eligible upgrade | Incentive amount (maximum) per premises |
|---|---|
| Upgrade from FortisBC natural gas | $15,000 |
| Upgrade from tank propane | $15,000 |
| Upgrade from Pacific Northern Gas piped natural gas or piped propane | $11,500 |
| Northern top-up* (switch from natural gas or propane to dual fuel) | $3,000 |
*Eligible homes must be located north of and including the District of 100 Mile House (latitude 51.628°N)
Furnace or boiler (convert from natural gas)
| Eligible upgrade | Incentive amount (maximum) per premises |
|---|---|
| High-efficiency gas furnace | $2,000 – $3,000 |
| High-efficiency gas boiler | $2,000 |
Thermostats
| Eligible upgrade | Incentive amount (maximum) per premises |
|---|---|
| Advanced programmable thermostat (connected to central heating system) | $200 |
| Advanced programmable thermostat (connected to electric baseboards) | $200 per thermostat; maximum $600 per home |
Incentives vary depending on the home's pre-renovation space heating energy type.
Air to water heat pump (convert from electric or wood)
| Eligible upgrade | Incentive amount (maximum) per premises |
|---|---|
| Air to water heat pump | $5,000 |
| Combined space and water heat pump (electric) | $8,500 |
Air to water heat pump (convert from natural gas, propane or heating oil)
| Eligible upgrade | Incentive amount (maximum) per premises |
|---|---|
| Air to water heat pump | $16,000 |
| Combined space and water heat pump (electric) | $19,500 |
| Eligible upgrade | Incentive amount (maximum) per premises |
|---|---|
Electric heat pump water heater (convert from electric, natural gas, propane, heating oil or wood) |
$3,500 |
Condensing natural gas water heater (convert from natural gas) |
| Eligible upgrade | Incentive amount (maximum) per premises |
|---|---|
| Energy Star® refrigerator | $1,000 |
| Energy Star® chest freezer | $500 per eligible unit; $1,500 per Premises |
Each of the upgrades above have specific requirements; see our Program Offer Requirements [PDF, 396 KB] for more details.
Incentive funding is also available for eligible:
- Health and safety remediation.
- Ventilation systems (including heat recovery ventilators and energy recovery ventilators).
- Electrical service upgrades (if converting from fossil fuel to electric space or water heating).
- Project management support (10% of eligible energy efficiency project incentives).
How it works
Indigenous Governing Bodies who participate in this offer will need to designate a project lead who will work with one of our Energy Coaches to apply for funding.
The project lead is responsible for:
Managing the retrofit projects in their community, including coordinating with their team of staff and contractors, and the homeowners / residents.
Compiling information on the planned retrofits and the home where work will be completed.
Working with an Energy Coach to prepare and submit applications and supporting documents via the Conservation and Energy Management (CEM) Hub.
Eligibility
Indigenous Governing Bodies connected to the integrated electricity system and/or natural gas infrastructure (BC Hydro [PDF, 177 KB] or FortisBC accounts) (i.e., grid connected) are eligible to apply to this program.
An Indigenous Governing Body defined under British Columbia's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, 2019.
Must be connected to a current residential utility service account with BC Hydro or FortisBC and heated primarily by electricity.
Occupied as a primary residence.
Must be located in BC Hydro's service territory [PDF, 177 KB] or FortisBC's service territory.
Available to individually metered single-family or secondary suite detached dwellings, mobile homes on a permanent foundation, or side-by-side duplexes/homes or townhouses.
Multi-unit residential buildings such as condominiums, high-rises, and apartment buildings. If you're looking to make energy efficiency upgrades to these building types, you may be eligible for our multi-unit residential building offers.
Vacation homes or premises that are not year-round primary residences.
Garages, workshops, and outbuildings.
Newly constructed building or a new addition to an existing building.
How to apply
Applications are completed online once your project is planned. Have the required documents complete and ready to upload. You'll be asked to log in to the Conservation and Energy Management (CEM) Hub. If you don’t have an account with CEM Hub yet, an Energy Coach can register you.
Need help? If you're already working with an Energy Coach, you can contact them directly for assistance. If you don't have one, you can request an Energy Coach.
To apply, you'll be required to log in to CEM Hub first. Have the following documents completed and ready to upload:
Project workbook (.xlsx format). Completed workbook describing the scope of the planned project, including home addresses, building type, primary heating sources, and details of planned retrofits for each home address.
Energy assessment report(s). For all homes included in the project workbook (required for pre-payment pathway).
Contractor quotes (required for pre-payment pathway). Copies of contractor quotes for all retrofits included in the project workbook.
When the retrofit project is completed, access your existing application via CEM Hub to submit final documentation and declare project completion.
You'll need to have the following documents ready to upload for the pre-payment pathway:
Updated project workbook (.xlsx format). Updated workbook with details on final retrofits completed, home addresses, building type, and primary heating sources.
Paid invoices. Copies of all itemized invoices for your retrofit project including equipment purchase and installation and other associated costs.
Contractor quotes (required). Copies of contractor quotes. At least one contractor quote needs to be uploaded. We recommend at least three.
You'll need to have the following documents ready to upload for the rebate pathway:
Project workbook (required). Completed workbook containing upgrade details and number of homes for each.
Paid invoices (required). Copies of all itemized invoices for your project including equipment purchase and installation and other associated costs.
Find a qualified contractor
Choosing the right contractor is an important step in a successful energy retrofit. A well-trained contractor is your best bet to achieve your energy efficiency goals.
Look for a licensed contractor with a GST number and valid B.C. business license in the trade relevant to the project.
Qualified contractors will:
Provide quotes.
Purchase and install the upgrade systems and appliances.
Implement and complete the project.
Follow all jurisdictional requirements, standards, and best practices.
We recommend that participants work with a contractor that's a member of the Home Performance Contractor Network (HPCN).
We work with FortisBC and CleanBC to maintain a list of registered HPCN contractors across the province. If you're working with a trusted contractor that isn't part of the HPCN, they can find out more information about how to become a member on the HPCN website.
Related offers
Explore the other Partners in Indigenous Energy Efficiency & Resilience offers.
Energy assessment funding
Get $500 per home in funding for an energy assessment that helps identify ways to reduce energy costs and improve efficiency within the home.
Heating system maintenance rebates
Reduce the annual maintenance costs of space and water heating equipment.
Basic energy saving measures
Indigenous Governing Bodies can access free energy-saving products and training to complete minor energy-efficiency upgrades for homes in their community.
Offers for individual Indigenous customers
Home renovation rebates
Get up to $12,500 in rebates for making energy-efficient upgrades to your home's heating system, insulation, windows and more.
CleanBC Better Homes Energy Savings Program
Available to income-qualified applicants, this program provides enhanced rebates for home upgrades, covering up to 100% of project costs to help make energy-saving upgrades more affordable.
Program in partnership with FortisBC and CleanBC
