Feasibility study funding for social housing
Carry out an in-depth study of retrofit measures
Funding is available to help with the cost of a professional feasibility study to identify detailed strategies for your energy retrofit, including basic design, costing, and technical feasibility. This offer is available as part of the BC Hydro Social Housing Energy Savings Program.
The offer
Get funding up to $37,500 to cover the cost of a feasibility study. The study must be completed by an engineering consultant who’s part of our Alliance of Energy Professionals, and funding can be directly paid out to your consultant.
We recommend conducting feasibility studies with scopes that are likely to get implemented in the immediate future. You can access this funding multiple times to study other measures, up to the program maximum.
For a full outline of energy study requirements, download the Feasibility Study Guidelines [PDF, 314 KB].
Funding for 100% of the project cost is available, up to $37,500 per site depending on the type of study.
A site is defined as a single building or group of buildings sharing HVAC equipment. Please refer to participant guide for additional detail.
Types of feasibility studies
Mechanical (funding range $8,000 to $30,000)
| Project complexity | Funding range |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | $8,000 to $15,000 – For projects with common efficiency upgrades without structural considerations. |
| Level 2 | $15,000 to $22,000 – For projects with integrated project development, evaluating multiple efficiency upgrades or complex building systems (e.g., centralized HVAC). |
| Level 3 | $22,000 to $30,000 – For medium projects plus multiple buildings with high-energy use (e.g., long-term care facilities). |
Electrical (funding range $1,000 to $2,500)
| Project complexity | Funding range |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | $1,000 to $2,500 – For lighting-only projects. |
Structural (funding range $3,000 to $5,000)
| Project complexity | Funding range |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | $3,000 to $5,000 – For structural analysis (e.g., roof or wall-mounted installations). The amount depends on the number of locations assessed. |
How it works
- Talk to your Key Account Manager. They’ll be your main point of contact and will help you complete your application.
- Determine the scope of your study. Approach a consultant and provide them with the feasibility study proposal template [XLSX, 148 KB]. Your engineering consultant must be a member of our Alliance of Energy Professionals.
- Online application. Once your consultant has prepared a proposal, complete an online application for feasibility study funding.
- Application review. We'll review your application and meet with you and your consultant to review your proposal and determine the amount of funding for your study. Once it's approved, you'll sign a funding agreement, and the consultant can complete the study.
- Complete feasibility study. Your consultant will provide you with a detailed study report outlining the costs and benefits of your planned project.
- Submit your documentation. Complete and submit your feasibility study documentation within six months of application approval.
- Reimbursement. You or your consultant will receive reimbursement depending on the option selected in your application.
Eligibility
- Must be a non-profit, non-profit co-operative, local government/provincial housing authority or Indigenous housing provider operating a multi-unit residential building.
- Building or facilities must be in BC Hydro’s service area [PDF, 177 KB] or City of New Westminster.
- Feasibility study report must meet the requirements specified in the program’s feasibility study guide [PDF, 314 KB] and must be prepared by a member of our Alliance of Energy Professionals.
How to apply
You'll be asked to log in to the Conservation and Energy Management (CEM) Hub first.
Gather the following before applying:
- Information about your building such as its BC Hydro account numbers and address.
- A completed feasibility study proposal [XLSX, 148 KB] along with your consultant’s contact information.
- Your preferred method of receiving your funds.
Don't have a CEM Hub profile yet? Register now.
Before you apply, ensure you have all the required documentation. To apply, you’ll need:
- Feasibility study proposal (required) – Completed by your consultant, a proposal for your feasibility study including the scope and associated cost. Download the proposal template [XLSX, 148 KB]
Once your study’s complete and you've received the study report, return to your online application. Declare that it’s complete and provide your final documents.
You'll be prompted to log in to CEM Hub first.
You'll need to have the following documents ready to upload.
- Feasibility study report (required) – The final feasibility study report from your consultant outlining the options and costs for the specific system you’re planning to upgrade.
- Program workbook (required) – Completed by your consultant, includes your project's measures, costs, energy savings, and more. Download the program workbook template [XLSX, 741 KB]
- Invoices (required) – Copies of the itemized invoice(s) for your study.
One or more of the following documents may also be required. Check your funding agreement to confirm.
- Energy calculations (required for custom lighting and mechanical projects) – The custom energy and/or lighting calculations to determine the energy savings for your project. For custom lighting projects, provide a completed lighting calculator per site using the template provided. For custom mechanical projects, provide a custom calculation per site in your preferred format. Download the lighting calculator template [XLSX, 741 KB].
Resources
Explore tools and resources designed to guide you through the program.
- Social Housing Energy Savings Program participant guide [PDF, 1.8 MB]
- Request your building's peak demand data. For multi-unit residential or mixed-use buildings looking to check overall building capacity to add new electrical load.