Renovating your kitchen or installing new hardwood flooring will definitely make your home look nicer, but if you鈥檙e planning on staying in your home long term, a dollar return on the investment is unlikely. But that鈥檚 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 home鈥檚 energy costs year-after-year, you may also be eligible for rebates through FortisBC鈥檚 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, you鈥檒l also be eligible for their $300 two-upgrade bonus. That鈥檚 on top of your rebates!
Here鈥檚 how it works. Let鈥檚 say this Christmas you replace your old furnace with a rebate-eligible new high-efficiency ENERGY STAR庐 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 you鈥檝e made two eligible upgrades within 18 months of each other, you鈥檙e 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 home鈥檚 heating (and possibly cooling with improved insulation) bills for years to come, you鈥檙e 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 it鈥檚 one system, it counts as two upgrades so you鈥檇 still be eligible for the $300 bonus鈥攁nd you don鈥檛 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. That鈥檚 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 it鈥檚 99 per cent efficient, but if it鈥檚 not installed properly, it may not work as efficiently as it was designed to. The same goes for insulation. If it鈥檚 installed improperly, your home won鈥檛 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 contractor鈥攜ou can find one through their 鈥� and that insulation be installed by a licensed contractor. They even have a list of you can use.
Now, that鈥檚 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.
