Rebate Program
Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program in B.C.
The Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program (CGHAP) supports low-to-median-income homeowners and tenants with no-cost energy-efficiency retrofits. Unlike a traditional rebate that reimburses a fixed dollar amount after a homeowner purchases equipment, CGHAP uses a direct-install model. Approved program delivery organizations arrange the home assessment, recommend eligible upgrades and coordinate installation, with approved retrofit costs covered by the program. In British Columbia, CGHAP-supported upgrades are delivered through participating provincial and utility programs, including the Energy Conservation Assistance Program offered through BC Hydro and FortisBC. Eligible upgrades may include air-source heat pumps, insulation, weatherization and ventilation improvements, depending on the home's condition, heating system, technical suitability and available program funding. Households apply through the appropriate B.C. utility program rather than directly to the Government of Canada.
How the program works in British Columbia:
- Check household income and general program eligibility.
- Apply through the appropriate utility delivery partner.
- If approved, a program delivery contractor arranges a free home energy evaluation.
- The evaluation determines which upgrades are suitable and eligible for the home.
- Approved upgrades are coordinated and installed by program-selected contractors at no cost to the participant.
- Available upgrades depend on the home's existing heating system, condition, technical suitability and program funding.
Heat pump eligibility:
- Electrically heated homes may qualify for a ducted or ductless air-source heat pump.
- Homes heated by natural gas, oil, propane or wood may qualify to switch to an electric heat pump.
- Existing fossil-fuel heating equipment may need to be removed or decommissioned, or a dual-fuel system may be used where program and technical requirements allow.
- Not every eligible household or home will receive a heat pump. The final recommendation is based on the program's home energy evaluation.
Applying in B.C.:
Apply through BC Hydro when the applicable service is BC Hydro electricity, City of New Westminster electricity, Pacific Northern Gas, or qualifying oil, propane, wood or other heating fuels within BC Hydro service areas.
Apply through FortisBC for eligible FortisBC electricity or natural gas customers and customers of participating municipal electric utilities including Grand Forks, Summerland, Penticton and Nelson Hydro.
The program is supported by the Government of Canada through the Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program and by the Government of British Columbia through CleanBC.
Eligibility
Eligibility is income-qualified and depends on household income, home type, utility provider, existing heating system, home condition and technical suitability.
Current B.C. program requirements include:
- Household income must be within the applicable program income limits.
- The home must be an eligible residential property in British Columbia.
- Eligible homeowners and, in some cases, renters may apply.
- Renters must generally have the applicable utility account in their name and obtain landlord consent.
- The household must apply through the appropriate B.C. utility delivery program.
- The home must complete a program home energy evaluation before eligible upgrades are determined.
- Eligibility for a heat pump depends on the home's existing heating system and technical suitability.
- Homes currently heated by electricity may qualify for a ducted or ductless heat pump.
- Homes heated by natural gas, oil, propane or wood may qualify to switch to an electric heat pump.
- Meeting the income and general eligibility requirements does not guarantee a specific upgrade.
- Final upgrades are determined through the home energy evaluation, program criteria, technical requirements and available funding.
- Participants cannot choose their own contractor; program-approved delivery contractors coordinate eligible installations. Funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis and is subject to program availability.
Applicable Services
- Heat Pumps
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