Victoria, BC— The Capital Regional District (CRD), City of Victoria and District of Saanich are partnering with EfficiencyBC to offer up to $2,700 in rebates to residents who switch from a fossil fuel-powered home heating system to an electric heat pump.
Offered as part of the Province’s new EfficiencyBC program, this rebate program will significantly reduce the cost for residents looking to lessen their home’s carbon footprint.
According to the Province’s Community Energy and Emissions Inventory, energy used to heat and power buildings is the second-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) in the capital region.
“Our new incentive program is a testament to the CRD’s commitment to both reducing GHGs in our region and preparing our community for climate change,” says Larisa Hutcheson, General Manager of Parks & Environmental Services with the CRD. “Electric heat pumps are the most efficient way to reduce your home’s GHG output—and, compared with oil heating, making this switch has the same impact as not driving your car for 15 years.”
Switching from oil heating to an electric heat pump also eliminates the risk of an oil tank leaking into the environment. A leaking tank is an expensive fix for homeowners and can lead to oil spilling into creeks, harbours, shorelines and drinking water sources.
“Every year, Saanich responds to approximately five oil spills from home heating fuel tanks. Safely removing and replacing oil tanks with a more efficient heating system not only reduces the risk of oil spills, but helps us move closer to Saanich's target of becoming a 100% Renewable Energy Community," says Rebecca Newlove, Sustainability Manager with the District of Saanich.
Residents can apply through EfficiencyBC for incentives that help them save energy. Among other rebates, BC residents can receive up to $2,000 for replacing a fossil fuel home heating system (oil, natural gas or propane) with an electric heat pump. To meet the requirements, homeowners must install a qualifying, all-electric central or mini-split heat pump and remove their fossil fuel heating system.
In addition to this base rebate, the CRD is offering a $350 incentive for the first 200 participating homes that make the switch across the region. The District of Saanich is offering an additional $350 top-up to the first 100 homes that participate in their municipality, while the City of Victoria is offering the same top-up to 60 homes on a first-come, first-served basis over the next two years. These additional local incentives bring the total rebate available for qualifying residents in these municipalities to $2,700.
“As part of Victoria’s Climate Leadership Plan, we are committed to helping residents make smarter energy choices and reduce community GHG emissions. These new incentives will help make home energy upgrades more affordable and can help lower energy bills, particularly when switching away from heating oil,” says Jess Dawe, Manager of Energy and Climate Action with the City of Victoria.
The program makes it easy for residents to access all of the EfficiencyBC, BC Hydro, FortisBC and local residential renovation incentives with a single application and free energy coaching services.
“EfficiencyBC benefits the entire province by making GHG-reducing energy retrofits more affordable for homeowners and businesses,” says Michelle Mungall, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. “Along with reducing our impact on climate change in an affordable way, we’re creating good-paying jobs in communities across BC, including the Capital Regional District. I’m very pleased about this partnership.”
EfficiencyBC is funded by the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada under the Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund and is in partnership with BC Hydro, FortisBC, BC Housing and many local governments. The EfficiencyBC program will dedicate $24 million to helping people save energy and reduce their environmental footprint.
For more information about the overall program, visit www.efficiencyBC.ca. To learn more about region-specific top-ups, visit www.crd.bc.ca/heatpump.
Proud to be recognized as one of BC’s Top Employers and Canada’s Greenest Employers, the CRD delivers regional, sub-regional and local services to 13 municipalities and three electoral areas on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Governed by a 24-member Board of Directors, the CRD works collaboratively with First Nations and all levels of government to enable sustainable growth, foster community well-being, and develop cost-effective infrastructure while continuing to provide core services to residents throughout the region. Visit us online at www.crd.bc.ca.
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Melanie Tromp Hoover, Communications Supervisor
CRD Environmental Protection
Tel: 250.360.3287
Cell: 250.818.1489