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Homeowners get $1,500 for energy retrofits
With the cold winter months just around the corner, East Kootenay local governments and utilities are offering $1,500 more in rebates to residents for keeping their homes warm in the winter.
“We are pleased to work with FortisBC/BC Hydro to pilot this bonus incentive in the East Kootenay. The bonus offers a great opportunity for East Kootenay residents to access up to $5,000 in total incentives this year. By including windows, heating systems, and heat recovery ventilators in the bonus, we hope that East Kootenay residents will be able to complete additional energy upgrades to help reduce energy bills and improve home comfort,” stated Margo Longland, Senior Program Manager of Power Smart Residential Marketing with BC Hydro.
The new Comprehensive Energy Upgrade Bonus adds to the existing LiveSmart BC and the East Kootenay Energy Diet program. Residents can access the $1,500 bonus incentive when they improve their insulation plus two other eligible upgrades such as high efficiency windows or a heating system.
East Kootenay residents can now access:
– Discounted energy assessments with a City Green Certified Energy Advisor, through the East Kootenay Energy Diet (www.eked.ca)
– Up to $5,000 in rebates plus low-interest financing for insulation, windows, heating systems, and other energy saving home improvements.
– Coaching a support through the East Kootenay Energy Diet These incentives are only available if you have a home energy assessment before December 31 and complete home energy upgrades prior to March 31, 2014. To get started, sign up online at www.eked.ca.
“Recommendations from a Certified Energy Advisor can save you hours of planning time and thousands of dollars by assisting you to make energy upgrade decisions that are right for your home and budget,” explains Peter Sundberg of City Green Solutions.
Cranbrook residents Sharon and Joseph Cross will be one of the first homeowners to complete a ‘deep’ retrofit, meaning that they are completing multiple retrofits to improve the energy efficiency of their home.
Sharon Cross is pleased with the process: “We are seeing the benefits already with a comfortable indoor temperature and significantly less energy being consumed. Getting the retrofits done before winter sets in will give us a good indication of savings when the electric and gas bills come in.”
The East Kootenay Energy Diet is delivered by Community Energy Association and is made possible by funding from BC Hydro, Columbia Basin Trust, Regional District of East Kootenay and FortisBC, and through a partnership with LiveSmart BC, East Kootenay Community Credit Union and Kootenay Savings.
Energy Assessments are delivered by the non-profit organization City Green Solutions.
Additional subsidies for home energy assessments are offered by the District of Sparwood, City of Fernie, Regional District of East Kootenay (for Electoral Areas) and City of Kimberley.
For more information, go to www.eked.ca, email [email protected] or call Megan at 250-531-0690.
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