Vancouver Energy Audit

Qualify for $12,000 and more
renovation grants

To get grants, homeowners in Vancouver need two home energy audits.

The first energy audit must take place before you renovate - if you want your energy-saving upgrades to qualify for BC Rebates.

A second energy audit must be completed after all upgrades are finished.

Vancouver rebates – Update

Home energy audit — Vancouver

Vancouver — You pay $175 for the first energy audit. The BC government subsidizes the cost of homeowners’ first energy audit through the LiveSmart BC program, regardless of whether Vancouver homeowners make any energy-saving renovations.
First energy audit — Your first home energy audit takes approximately 2 to 3 hours to complete. Your certified ecoENERGY advisor will be happy to answer any questions about energy use in your home. The advisor will need access to the entire house, including attic, crawl space, heating and cooling equipment, or any other hard to reach areas.
Grant report — You’ll receive an ecoENERGY report as part of the first ecoENERGY audit. This report contains recommendations on how to improve the energy efficiency of your Vancouver home.
Vancouver rebates — The Government of Canada provides up to $5,000 in ecoENERGY rebates to eligible Vancouver homeowners. The Government of British Columbia grants up to $7,000 and more for home energy renovations through the LiveSmart BC rebate program - for a total BC rebates of more than $12,000.
Upgrade your Vancouver home — After reading your ecoENERGY report you may choose to do all, some, or none of the recommended energy-saving upgrades to your Vancouver home. You can complete the renovation work yourself or hire a contractor. You should document your renovations with receipts, photos and product literature to be sure you get full credit for all improvements.
Second energy audit — To be eligible for both Canada ecoENERGY grants and LiveSmart BC grants, Vancouver homeowners need a second, or follow-up, audit. In Vancouver, the cost of a follow-up ecoENERGY audit is $195.
Grant cheques — Vancouver homeowners can expect to receive a Government of Canada ecoENERGY grant cheque and a LiveSmart BC rebate cheque, mailed to their Vancouver address, approximately 90 days or more after their second energy audit. The Government of Canada and BC government issue cheques separately according to their own criteria and deadlines.
Canada ecoENERGY — To qualify for Canada ecoENERGY grants you must complete your follow-up (post-retrofit) audit by March 31, 2012. Use the opportunity to complete as many upgrades as possible.
LiveSmart BC — To qualify for LiveSmart BC rebates, you must finish your upgrade work and complete your second energy audit within 18 months of your first energy audit or before March 31, 2013, whichever comes first.
Combined grants — To take advantage of combined Canada ecoENERGY grants and LiveSmart BC rebates, we recommend that you complete all upgrade work and have your follow-up (post-retrofit) audit completed before the Canada ecoENERGY deadline of March 31, 2012.
Please note — Additional fees are applicable for oversize homes (>3500 sq. ft.). Travel fees may apply for outlying Vancouver locations.
Prices — Homeowner cost of first and second home energy audits in Vancouver are subject to change.

LiveSmart BC rebates

Vancouver homeowners can choose from a shopping list of South Coastal LiveSmart BC rebates + Government of Canada ecoENERGY grants:

Insulation — ceiling + wall + foundation, up to $6,265
Furnaces — high-efficiency gas up to $1,390
Heat pumps — air-source heat pump which doubles as air conditioner up to $2,100
Water heaters — condensing gas $675
Water heaters — tankless/instantaneous gas, condensing-type $675
Boilers — high-efficiency gas up to $1,350
HRV — heat recovery ventilator up to $1,275
Solar — hot water system $1,750 — the City of Vancouver offers an additional $3,000 incentive
Geothermal — ground- or water-source heat pumps which are energy-efficient heating and cooling systems up to $6,875
Air conditioners — replacement up to $250
(Canada ecoENERGY air conditioner grant only)

Vancouver homeowners can also get ...

Attic or roof — insulation up to $1,350
Exterior wall — insulation up to $3,075
Basement — insulation up to $2,250
Crawl space — insulation up to $1,800
Air sealing — for your home up to $830
Windows & doors — up to $100 for each replacement unit
Toilets — $65 for each low-flow replacement unit
(Canada ecoENERGY toilet grant only)

And there’s more.

BC Rebates List — Vancouver homeowners can qualify for tax-free grant amounts of up to $12,000 from the Governments of Canada and BC. Click here

Take advantage of governement grants + rebates up to $12,000 for home energy renovation in Vancouver BC:

Canada ecoENERGY grants — Vancouver homeowners can get up to $5,000 in home improvement grants from the Canadian government’s ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes program, which is in effect until March 31, 2012. Click here for more
LiveSmart BC rebates — The BC government’s LiveSmart BC: Efficiency Incentive Program provides rebates in addition to the $5,000 available in Canada ecoENERGY grants - for a total of more than $12,000. Vancouver homeowners can qualify for up to $7,000 and more in home energy grants through the BC government’s LiveSmart BC rebate program, which is in effect until March 31, 2013. Click here for more
Home Energy Audits — To qualify for Government of Canada’s ecoENERGY grants and LiveSmart BC rebates, Vancouver homeowners must get a home energy audit before and after their home improvement work. The BC government’s LiveSmart BC program also subsidizes the cost of your first home energy audit. Click here for more
Other BC rebates — Vancouver homeowners may qualify for a $3,000 rebate from from the City of Vancouver's Solar Homes Pilot when installing solar hot water systems. There are additional rebates for low-flow toilets, and even more grants, rebates and incentives from local BC governments and energy utilities.
Home Renovation Tax Credit — Many homeowners in Vancouver use “tax credit” to describe grant programs like LiveSmart BC rebates and Canada ecoENERGY grants. The original Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC) expired in 2010. With today’s 2011 “tax credit” programs there’s no need to wait until you’ve filed your annual income tax return to receive a home renovation tax credit. Your tax-free grant money will be sent within 90 days of your follow-up energy audit. Click here for more

Easy to start — Vancouver

All you do is make one call — 1-877-732-9888 — to book a home energy audit with a Vancouver Energy Advisor – your first step to qualifying for Canada ecoENERGY grants + LiveSmart BC rebates for home energy renovations.

Book your energy audit with a certified HomePerformance Energy Advisor. Your BC Energy Advisor will help you make the right energy saving choices for your Vancouver-area home. Click here

BC rebates — conditions

Some conditions apply.

Home energy audit — To qualify for Canada ecoENERGY and LiveSmart BC grants you must get an ecoENERGY home energy assessment before and after upgrades to your Vancouver home. You will receive grants for improvements started after your first audit.
Renovations — You can complete the improvements yourself or hire a Vancouver contractor. We recommend you retain copies of all documentation including invoices, receipts, photos and product literature to be sure you get full credit for all improvements.
Canada ecoENERGY — You need to apply for Canada ecoENERGY grants by completing your follow-up (post-retrofit) audit by March 31, 2012. Use the opportunity to complete as many upgrades as possible.
LiveSmart BC — You need to apply for LiveSmart BC rebates by completing your follow-up (post-retrofit) audit within 18 months of your first audit, or by March 31, 2013, whichever comes first.
Combined grants — If you want to take advantage of combined Canada ecoENERGY grants and LiveSmart BC rebates, we recommend that you complete all upgrade work and have your follow-up (post-retrofit) audit completed before the Canada ecoENERGY deadline of March 31, 2012.
Existing homes only — Newly built Vancouver homes occupied for less than six months do not qualify for grants. Once a newly built home has been occupied for more than six months, there is no limit to how old a home can be to qualify for LiveSmart BC rebates.
Local codes & by-laws — All improvements or renovations must meet Vancouver’s local building codes and by-laws. Pay special attention to the placement of vapour barriers when adding insulation to the building envelope. Before undertaking improvements or renovations, find out about the appropriate products and installation techniques to ensure that your home’s building envelope and indoor air quality will not be compromised.
Higher efficiency — To qualify for Canada ecoENERGY grants and LiveSmart BC rebates, any new equipment installed in your Vancouver home must have a higher efficiency than that of the original equipment it replaces.
Questions about eligibility — If you are not certain about the eligibility of your Vancouver house, or any specific renovations you are planning, you should request clarification from the Governments of Canada and BC. Homeowners are responsible for clarifying that their house and planned improvements are eligible for Canada ecoENERGY grants and LiveSmart BC rebates before undertaking any upgrade work and related expenses.
Grant tables — For a more complete list of eligiblity criteria see BC Rebate List and Canada Grants List.

BC rebates & incentives

LiveSmart BC rebates — Vancouver

Vancouver homeowners can qualify for tax-free rebates from the Government of British Columbia.

LiveSmart BC rebates — Get tax-free rebates of up to 7,000 for home energy improvements from the BC government. Click here
LiveSmart BC audit — The BC government subsidizes the cost of your first home energy audit. This subsidy is subject to available funds. Click here
Other BC rebates — Vancouver homeowners may qualify for a $3,000 rebate from the City of Vancouver Solar Homes Pilot when installing solar hot water systems. There are additional rebates for low-flow toilets, and even more grants, rebates and incentives from local governments and energy utilities.

Canada ecoENERGY grants — Vancouver<

Vancouver homeowners can qualify for tax-free rebates as part of the Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan.

Canada ecoENERGY grants — Get rebates of up to $5,000 for home energy improvements from the Government of Canada. Click here
You begin — by completing an ecoENERGY audit with a certified energy advisor. The BC government subsidizes the cost of your first home energy audit.
Your advisor — will apply for Canada ecoENERGY grants on your behalf, after you have completed your energy-efficient renovations and your Vancouver home has been re-assessed. You have until March 31, 2012 to make some or all of the improvements your advisor recommends for your Vancouver home, and complete a second audit.
Canada Grants List — Shows tax-free grant amounts from the Government of Canada. Click here

Home Renovation Tax Credit

Many Vancouver homeowners use “tax credit” to describe government grant programs like LiveSmart BC rebates and Canada ecoENERGY grants. The original Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC) expired in 2010.

2009 income tax credit — The original Home Renovation Tax Credit allowed families to claim a credit of 15 per cent of home improvement costs, between $1,000 and $10,000, on their 2009 income tax return. Each Canadian family could claim up to $10,000 in home improvement costs, for a credit of up to $1,350 per family.
2011 ‘tax credit’ programs — Newer programs provide government grants of up to $12,000 and more. And there’s no need to wait until you’ve filed your annual income tax return to receive a home renovation tax credit. Your tax-free grant money will be sent within 90 days of your follow-up energy audit.

Your advisor can help

By choosing a HomePerformance Energy Advisor to do your Vancouver home energy audit, you’ll receive information on LiveSmart BC home energy renovation grants, and Government of Canada ecoENERGY grants available in Vancouver and the Greater Vancouver Area.

Enjoy all the benefits

Do it right

Each Vancouver home has its own specific energy-savings needs, and yours is no different. The right renovations add up to big savings. By following the expert advice of a certified BC energy advisor, you’ll make the energy renovations or "retrofits" that are right for your Vancouver home — and help improve your energy costs and the Vancouver BC environment.

Three easy steps

Call for a Vancouver energy audit ... 1-877-732-9888
Choose the right renovations for you
Save energy and money

Energy renovations help ...

Save energy — Your Vancouver home won’t need as much energy to stay comfortable.
Save money — Less energy used = lower energy costs for you.
Grants + Rebates — Qualify for tax-free government grants for home energy renovation, sent directly to you.

And that’s not all. Here are more benefits ...

Greater comfort – Your home will be warmer in Vancouver winters, cooler in Vancouver summers.
Better health – You’ll eliminate indoor health concerns like chills and drafts, and keep your home free of airborne pollutants and pollen.
Increased home value – By making energy renovations, you’ll increase the resale value of your Vancouver home. An official Canada EnerGuide label proves you’ve done the work.
Simpler home maintenance – No more scrubbing moldy windowsills! Keep airborne dust and dirt outside where it belongs.

When you improve your home in Vancouver, you also make a difference to the rest of the world. You’ll help address important global issues like ...

Climate change – Energy renovations help reduce your Vancouver home’s greenhouse gas emissions, while protecting you from the effects of climate change and extreme weather.
Energy security – By reducing your Vancouver home’s energy use, you’ll be less deeply affected by energy price fluctuations and supply interruptions.

And there’s even more. Click here to learn how Vancouver homeowners like you are saving thousands of dollars and tonnes of greenhouse gases every year, by making the right energy-saving home renovations. Vancouver BC homeowners can make a difference.

Get started today!

Learn more about Renovation Rebates in Vancouver BC ...

Home Renovation

Window - replacement
Door - ENERGY STAR
Attic, roof - insulation
Exterior wall - insulation
Basement - insulation
Crawl space - insulation
Air sealing - air tightness, blower door test
HRV - heat recovery ventilator

Equipment

Furnace - high efficiency
Hot water heater - tankless, high efficiency
Air conditioner - central, window replacement
Heat pump - air source
Geothermal - heat pump
Boiler - gas, oil
Solar - hot water system
Toilet - efficient low flush

To qualify you need a Vancouver home energy audit before your renovations. For more information on tax-free government grants in British Columbia or to book a BC home energy audit call 1-877-732-9888.