Renovating your kitchen or installing new hardwood flooring will definitely make your home look nicer, but if youÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™re planning on staying in your home long term, a dollar return on the investment is unlikely. But thatÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s not the case with energy-efficiency upgrades and improvements!
Investing in a or increasing your are major upgrades, but not only will they reduce your homeÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s energy costs year-after-year, you may also be eligible for rebates through FortisBCÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s Home Renovation Rebate Program* and CleanBC Home Efficiency Rebates. And if you make two or more eligible energy-efficiency upgrades within 18 months of each other, youÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™ll also be eligible for their $300 two-upgrade bonus. ThatÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s on top of your rebates!
HereÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s how it works. LetÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s say this Christmas you replace your old furnace with a rebate-eligible new high-efficiency ENERGY STAR® model and FortisBC gives you a $1,000 rebate. Then next spring you have your attic insulated and get a $500 rebate from FortisBC. Because youÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™ve made two eligible upgrades within 18 months of each other, youÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™re eligible for the . All you have to do is check the bonus check box when you apply for your second rebate. So not only are you getting $1,500 in rebates and ongoing savings on your homeÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s heating (and possibly cooling with improved insulation) bills for years to come, youÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™re also getting an extra $300 just doing two upgrades.
Another option is to replace both your space and water-heating systems at the same time with a . Even though itÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s one system, it counts as two upgrades so youÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™d still be eligible for the $300 bonusÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥”and you donÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™t have to wait until you make your next upgrade to receive the bonus.
FortisBC is committed to helping customers reduce their energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions and improve the comfort of their homes. ThatÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s why they only provide rebates on the most efficient products and equipment and also require them to be installed to quality standards. A furnace may claim itÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s 99 per cent efficient, but if itÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s not installed properly, it may not work as efficiently as it was designed to. The same goes for insulation. If itÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s installed improperly, your home wonÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™t hold in the heat as well, and poorly installed insulation could also create mold and safety hazards.
To support a quality installation, FortisBC requires that furnaces be installed with a two-pipe direct vent system by a licensed gas contractorÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥”you can find one through their Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ and that insulation be installed by a licensed contractor. They even have a list of you can use.
Now, thatÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s energy at work.
*Conditions apply. Not all upgrades are eligible for the $300 two-upgrade bonus. Full program terms and conditions are available at fortisbc.com/homerebates. This program may be changed or cancelled at any time.