Heat pump rebates for condo and apartment units

• Home must be a unit in a purpose-built rental, strata condominium, or equity co-op building, older than 12 months and in one of the following types of residential buildings: 
  • Low- and high-rise apartment buildings. 
  • Stacked townhome buildings. 
  • Multiplexes with six or more units. 
• Home must be a year-round primary residence. 
• The unit must have a residential account with BC Hydro or the City of New Westminster.  
• Utility accounts must be in the name of the resident and/or homeowner or in the name of a strata corporation. If you’re not the account holder, you must have a completed utility account holder consent form [PDF, 132 KB].  

The following types of homes are not eligible for this offer: 

• Single-family homes (detached dwelling) and secondary suites in a single-family home (detached dwelling). 
• Mobile homes. 
• Duplex, triplex, row home or side-by-side townhomes. 
• Multiplex buildings with up to five units. 

• The unit must be primarily heated by electricity before the upgrade (e.g. electric baseboards, radiant ceilings, radiant floors, or forced-air furnace). Gas or wood fireplaces are considered secondary heating. 
• The new heat pump must be the primary heating system, replacing the existing system. If required, the back-up space heating system must also be electric. 
• At least one indoor head must serve a main living area of the unit. 
• Participants must confirm eligibility and request a pre-approval code prior to installing any upgrades.
  • If the eligible home is in a strata or equity co-op building, all upgrades must be approved by the strata or equity co-op board prior to requesting a pre-approval code. 
  • Pre-approval codes are valid for six months. Beyond this date, participants must reapply to determine their eligibility.  
• The system must be sized and installed to maintain 21°C throughout the area served at outside temperatures of -5°C. 
  • The existing hard-wired electric heating system must be decommissioned (disconnected).
  • If supplemental heating is required to maintain an indoor air temperature greater than 22°C in all living spaces at the outside winter design temperature, the existing hard-wired electric heating system may be retained as a supplemental heating system. 

The new heat pump must: 

• Be on our rebate-eligible heat pump list. 
• Have an Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) certified reference number that references all components of the heat pump. 
• Meet the product performance ratings: 
  • Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) (Region IV) ≥10, Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) ≥16 or,  
  • HSPF2 (Region IV) ≥ 8.5, SEER2 ≥ 15.2. 
  • Be listed in the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnership (NEEP) Cold Climate Air Source Heat Pump list. 

• Must be installed by a Home Performance Contractor Network (HPCN) member.  
• All upgrades must be installed:
  • By a licensed contractor with a GST number and a valid B.C. business license for the trade applicable to the upgrade being installed. Self-installations are not eligible.
  • In accordance with the equipment manufacturer’s instructions and guidelines.
  • In compliance with BC Building Code, municipal and strata bylaws and permit requirements.
• Replacing an existing heat pump or adding a head(s) to an existing heat pump are not eligible. 
• Must have exterior penetrations following BC Housing – Detailing Guide for Heat Pump Penetrations in Existing Buildings. 
• Must be installed in accordance with the Heat Pump Best Practices Installation Guide for Existing Homes [PDF, 2.3 MB]. 
• Must be installed in compliance with BC Building Code and local bylaws.