Burning fossil fuels (e.g., natural gas or oil) for space and water heating in our buildings is the second largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in our community. You can make your home more climate-friendly by upgrading to a renewable electricity heating system at time of replacement (for example, a central or ductless heat pump), and improving the efficiency of your home. This page is for existing home upgrades to detached and semi-detached homes. If you're looking for other rebates, check out the Incentives for Multi-Unit Residential Buildings webpage.
Free Expert Support
The Home Energy Navigator program helps homeowners take the next step, regardless of where they’re in their retrofit journey, and aims to reduce barriers to completing a home energy retrofit. Talk to an expert for personalized help with your home upgrades!
The Home Energy Navigator Program is a free program created by the CRD and local government partners in the capital region.
Pilot: BC Home Energy Planner
The District of Saanich is participating in BC's new virtual Home Energy Planner pilot program and we need your help! This is a free online tool, where you answer a short questionnaire and get an instant free home energy report, which includes an energy score and recommended impactful upgrades. You can then choose what home energy upgrades you’re interested in to get a personalized plan for your home.
This provincial program is free – it’s simple and quick. If you own a home in Saanich we need your help in testing the tool in this pilot phase!
Complete your questionnaire now!
Incentives for Renewable and Efficiency Upgrades
(Terms apply and rebates are subject to change.)
Heat Pump Rebates:
- Up to $3,000 for a heat pump from CleanBC for switching from fossil fuel primary space heating (i.e., a furnace or boiler, not a fireplace) to a central or mini-split heat pump.
- Up to $2000 when upgrading from electric baseboards and/or wood to a heat pump ($2000 from BC Hydro for a central or $1000 from BC Hydro for a mini-split heat pump).
- $500 from CleanBC for electrical panel upgrades if required for fossil fuel primary space heating (i.e., a furnace or boiler, not a fireplace) to heat pump upgrades.
- Up to $4,300 for a combination space and water electric heat pump from CleanBC (Up to $4000 for combination heat pump plus $300 bonus).
- Up to $1000 for an electric heat pump water heater from CleanBC.
- Mortgage loan insurance refund up to 25% from CMHC or Sagen
OR Heat Pump Financing
- Canada Greener Homes Loan: $5,000-$40,000 in interest-free financing for 10 years.
- Saanich Heat Pump Financing: The next intake closes September 22, 2024. Spaces are available for both income qualified and standard stream!
OR Tax Exemption
- Saanich’s Climate Action Tax Exemption (CATE) Program offers a tax holiday for electrification retrofits in commercial, multi-unit residential, and mixed-use buildings.
Insulation, Windows, Energy Evaluations, and Other Incentives:
- Up to $5,500 for insulation improvements from CleanBC.
- Up to $100 per window and door upgrade from CleanBC (up to a maximum of $2,000).
- Up to $2000 bonus rebates for completing multiple upgrades from CleanBC.
- GST/HST refund for a new or substantially renovated primary residence.
- Mortgage loan insurance refund up to 25% from CMHC or Sagen.
- And more!
For more info, visit www.betterhomesbc.ca.
Income Qualified Rebates:
- Up to $10,000 from the Federal Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program (for income-qualified households).
- CleanBC Better Homes Energy Savings Program:
- Replaced the Income Qualified (IQ) Program on June 18, 2024.
- Up to $16,000 to switch from fossil fuel heating to a high-efficiency heat pump.
- Up to $3,500 for a heat pump water heater.
- Up to $5,000 for electrical system upgrades associated with switching to a heat pump.
- Up to $5,500 for insulation.
- Up to $9,500 for windows and doors.
- Up to $1,600 for ventilation.
- Up to $800 for health and safety measures.
- FREE upgrades for income-qualifying homes (ECAP) from BC Hydro and FortisBC.
Rebates for Solar Panels & Battery Storage:
- Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels: Up to $5,000
- $1,000 per kilowatt (kW) of installed generator capacity.
- Rebate amount capped at 50% of total installed product cost (including labour and materials).
- Battery energy storage systems: Up to $5000
- Minimum storage size: 5 kilowatt-hours (kWh).
- $500 per kWh of installed storage capacity.
- Rebate amount capped at 50% of total installed product cost (including labour and materials).
Why make the switch from natural gas or oil to a heat pump?
- A heat pump can be three times as efficient as a natural gas furnace
- Heat pumps are climate-friendly, running on renewable, low carbon electricity
- If switching from oil, you will save between 40 – 75% on your energy bills each year; homes switching from natural gas will have similar or smaller energy costs with a heat pump - see www.saanich.ca/maketheswitch to learn more.
- Dramatically reduce your home’s greenhouse gas emissions by getting your home off fossil fuels
- Get comfortable and cost effective heating and cooling all year round, with air filtration (learn more about keeping your indoor air cool and clean during a heat wave or smoky sky event).
