Multi-Unit Residential Building Owners, Managers and Developers 

If you own, manage, or develop multi-unit residential buildings, or do any combination of the three, there are incentives avaialble to help make your building more efficient.

Program (Click on name for description)	Agency	Category	Web Link	Deadline
Light Commercial ENERGY STAR® Boiler Program	FortisBC	Those installing boilers sized at less than 300,000 BTU/h (88 kWt)	Link	N/A
Efficient Boiler Program	FortisBC	Those installing boilers sized larger than 300,000 BTU/h (88 kWt)	Link	N/A
Efficient Commercial Water Heater Program	FortisBC	Commercial Developers and Building Owners	Link	N/A
Power Smart for New Construction Program	BC Hydro – Power Smart	Large Building Developers	Link	N/A
Power Smart New Home Program	BC Hydro – Power Smart	Multi-Unit Residential Developers	Link	N/A
Energy Saving Kit Offer	BC Hydro – Power Smart and FortisBC	Low-income multi-unit residential managers	Link	N/A
Energy Conservation Assistance Program	BC Hydro – Power Smart	Low-income multi-unit residential managers	Link	N/A

Light Commercial ENERGY STAR® Boiler Program If you're building, converting or upgrading your heating system, you may qualify for a cash rebate from FortisBCof up to $1,495 by installing an ENERGY STAR condensing or near-condensing boiler sized up to 299 MBH (88 kWt). The rebate is $3 per MBH for near-condensing boilers and $5 per MBH for condensing boilers.  This rebate typically applies to: Owners of small commercial buildings Owners or managers of small (5-20 units) rental or strata multi-family dwelling; Commercial developers or builders; or A long-term lease holder for a commercial enterprise.

Efficient Boiler Program If you're a commercial building owner, developer, consulting engineer or contractor, FortisBC can help you select an efficient boiler configuration for your project. They can also help you with financial incentives for installing or upgrading to condensing or near-condensing boilers for new construction and replacement projects. Incentives For all participants, the purchase price incentive applies to the incremental purchase price of a natural gas near-condensing or condensing boiler over the purchase price of a standard efficiency boiler. FortisBC offers additional incentives for both new construction and retrofit boilers, including towards consultants fees for an assessment of annual gas usage for space heating and for venting modifications in retrofit projects, as well as a monitoring incentive and a rebate on each gigajoule saved. Benefits Save up to 40% in energy costs over a standard efficiency boiler Improved operating efficiency through correct boiler sizing Lower space requirements in mechanical rooms Opportunity to increase occupant comfort, and reduce building maintenance and operating costs Improved efficiency appeals to buyers who recognize the value it adds to their investment Increased value of your development Competitive advantage over other projects Reduced greenhouse gas emissions This rebate is for those that are pre-approved (contact FortisBC to see if your project qualifies) and are purchasing a boiler from the eligible boiler list. It typically applies to large rental and strata multi-family buildings with 20 or more units and with gas-fired central heat and water.

Efficient Commercial Water Heater Program High performance natural gas models offer efficiencies of up to 95 per cent and are more reliable than standard models. Whether you're building new or upgrading, installing a high-efficiency water heater is one way to prevent your profits from running down the drain. Another is to apply for a rebate of up to $15,000. FortisBC has developed a list of qualifying water heaters. The energy savings and the rebate may result in a payback in as little as two years.

Power Smart New Construction Program  The New Construction Program is designed for commercial, institutional and multi unit residential new developments or major building retrofits in BC Hydro's service territory, to help reduce the costs of building energy efficient buildings. There are three offerings under the program: Whole Building Design Buildings that can save 50,000 KWh of electricity per year, and are in the early stages of the design process, are eligible for capital incentives. BC Hydro is offering to fund up to 100 per cent of an approved energy modeling study cost, allowing you to zero in on the best electric energy conservation measures from the ground up. With the study findings at your side, you’ll have no trouble establishing the business case for a high-performance building design. System Design New commercial, institutional and multi-unit residential buildings that want to look at specific systems or are further in the process to participate in Whole Building Design and that can save 50,000 kWh of electricity per year can be eligible for our capital incentives. System Design offers simple energy study requirements and available energy study funding for approved systems. Energy Efficient Lighting Design Lighting can account for half of the total electricity use in commercial buildings. That’s a major expense. With great lighting design, buildings will cost less to operate and maintain, with a smaller environmental footprint. BC Hydro offers up to $1,000 for the creation of an efficient lighting design that exceeds applicable building code by 10 per cent (ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1) and that can save at least 10,000 KWh/yr. The design energy savings and incentives are calculated using a “Lighting Calculator” that can be downloaded from the BC Hydro website. Capital Incentives for Actual Energy Savings Once a building owner/developer has taken part in the Whole Building Design, System Design or the Energy Efficient Lighting Design study, they may be eligible to receive incentives for the implementation of approved electric energy conservation measures. Buildings participating in the Whole Building Design offer can take advantage of BC Hydro's Tiered Incentives, ranging from up to $30,000–$60,000 per 100,000 kWh saved. Higher incentives are available on projects that implement electricity conservation measures that reduce consumption from the baseline by a greater percentage. Buildings participating in System Design and Energy Efficient Lighting Design may be eligible for BC Hydro's fixed incentive rate of up to $30,000 per 100,000 kWh. For more information, go to the BC Hydro New Construction Program website or call 1-866-522-4713.

Power Smart New Home Program The Power Smart New Home Program encourages builders and developers to build energy-efficient homes. Low-rise and high-rise multi-unit residential buildings are eligible for up to an $200 per suite in incentives from the New Home program if they install an ENERGY STAR Appliance Package, including: refrigerator; dishwasher; front-loading clothes washer; minimum 6 compact fluorescent light bulbs; and bathroom ventilation fan. To learn more about the Power Smart New Home program, email BC Hydro.

Energy Saving Kit Offer BC Hydro Power Smart offers a bulk delivery program for the Energy Saving Kit (ESK). This program will allow qualified subsidized Housing Providers to easily distribute ESKs to their clients. BC Hydro will provide simple application forms for a Housing Provider to distribute and subsequently collect from each Account Holder participating in the program. The bulk order of ESKs will be sent to the Housing Provider to distribute to the participants on BC Hydro’s behalf. Depending on funding availability, BC Hydro is also offering the option for the Housing Provider to receive Direct Installation Funding (approximately $30 per kit to cover the labour and administrative costs associated with installing the kits for clients).

Energy Conservation Assistance Program BC Hydro Power Smart offers bulk delivery of the Energy Conservation Assistance Program for housing organizations with multiple units. Eligibility for bulk projects is calculated using the average electric consumption for the entire housing complex as well as evaluating the organization’s low income criteria. Housing providers will work with BC Hydro's Program Delivery Agents to coordinate the project with their tenants. This might include notifying tenants, holding a community meeting, and helping set-up appointment schedules. To express your interest in Bulk ECAP offer and obtain the appropriate application documents, please complete the registration form and a representative from BC Hydro will contact you.