Looking for retrofit funding?
There is $800 million in deferred maintenance for the non-profit housing sector in BC; with a long list of urgent responsibilities, energy management and optimization can get overlooked until a society’s aging infrastructure is in a critical state.
We can help you tackle projects early to maximize financial rebates and support your portfolio’s longevity, and coach you through the labyrinth that is energy efficiency prioritization and incentive management.
There are many options for retrofit funding, with a number of variables depending on the project, your building type and your organization.
Please contact us at energy@bcnpha.ca if you have questions or would like more information.
Non-Profit Resilient Retrofit Grant Program
What is incentivized?
Up to 100% of the incremental consultant, capital, and replacement costs after grants/funds from others have been applied for retrofits projects including heat pump installation.
Eligibility
Registered non-profits operating affordable housing in Vancouver and in good standing with the BC Registry Services.
Who is does it help?
Non-profit housing.
Vancity Non-Profit Housing Retrofit Program
What is incentivized?
Get grants up to $80,000 to support planning for deep energy and carbon retrofit projects.
Eligibility
A non-profit housing society, non-profit housing co-operative or an organization that is a Vancity member and that helps non-profit housing providers implement climate-friendly retrofits.
Who is does it help?
Non-profit housing.
Social Housing Retrofit Support Program (SHRSP)
What is incentivized?
$8,000 towards an energy study to identify energy-saving measures in common areas.
$11,000 toward project implementation support. Rebates for HVAC, windows, insulation, commercial kitchen equipment, water heaters, LEDs and Variable Speed Drives (VSDs)
Eligibility
Fortis BC or BC Hydro customer with 9+ units
Who is does it help
Care homes, SROs, Multi Unit Residential Buildings (MURBs), some townhouses and rowhouses. Some shelters, churches, offices, stores and community centres.
Energy Efficiency Retrofit Program (EERP)
What is incentivized?
Boilers, domestic hot water tanks, and lighting retrofits. Some make up air (MUA) units, heat pumps and furnaces on a case-by-case basis.
Eligibility
Requires BC Housing operating agreement. Smaller projects under $100,000 per building. Society needs to be in good standings with BC Registry and commit to 10 years of social housing.
Who is does it help
Care homes, MURBs, and some townhouses and rowhouses
Capital Renewal Fund (CRF)
What is incentivized?
Funding building remediation projects that includes improving a building’s seismic or fire safety, or energy performance.
Eligibility
Minimum total funding per building is $250,000. Requires a remortgage. Building has BC Housing Operating Agreement (OA) or in some cases, recently ended OA.
Who is does it help
Care homes, SROs, MURBs, shelters and some townhouses and rowhouses.
Social Housing Incentive Program (SHIP)
What is incentivized?
$7,000 towards an electrical load analysis
$5,000 towards an energy study (which must include an electrical load analysis)
$7,000 towards project implementation support such as project management, project specification and a request for proposals, and engaging contractors to install equipment
Up to $200,000 in retrofit incentives (including building envelope) of a maximum of 75% of a project’s incremental cost based on a rate of $70/tCO2e of lifetime greenhouse gas savings
Capital incentives up to 100% to upgrade a building’s electrical system
Eligibility
Fuel switching projects and LCE projects only. Must be in good standing with BC Corporate Registry and a BC Hydro or Fortis Electric customer. Project must reduce 500+ tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e) over the measure’s lifetime.
Who is does it help
Non-profit housing societies, housing co-operatives or municipal housing authorities that operate multi-unit residential buildings. The program complements the SHRSP program.
Energy Conservation Assistance Program (ECAP)
What is incentivized?
Free direct install of energy-saving light bulbs, high efficiency showerheads, faucet aerators, pipe insulation and weather-stripping. Depending on eligibility, an ENERGY STAR® refrigerator, insulation in walls, attic, and/or crawlspace, and/or a high-efficiency gas furnace.
Eligibility
Fortis BC or BC Hydro customer
Who is does it help
Income qualified single family homes, townhouses, rowhouses and MURBs
Home Renovation Rebate Program (HRRP)
What is incentivized?
Furnaces, boilers, electric baseboard retrofitted to heat pumps, domestic water heaters, windows and envelope
Eligibility
Must be gas heated housing. Stacked town houses are not supported. Utilize ECAP for free insulation and furnaces prior to applying for this program.
Who is does it help
Single-family home, duplex, row home, townhouse
Municipal Top Ups
What is incentivized?
Converting to electric heat pump space heating from fossil fuels, electric service upgrades and home audits
Eligibility
Top up availability changes in each geographic area.
Who is does it help
Commercial utility customers
Business Energy Saving Incentives (BESI)
What is incentivized?
HVAC, lighting, motors, pumps, refrigeration
Eligibility
Program no longer incentivizes LED MR16 or LED hardwired from incandescent bulbs.
Who is does it help
Commercial utility customers
Custom from Hydro BC
What is incentivized?
Energy study funded up to 50% of study cost to a maximum of $20,000. Incentives funded up to 50% of the project’s incremental cost to a maximum of $200,000 based on a rate of $40-$60/tC02e. Products incentivized are heat pumps, heat recovery chillers, electric boilers and heat recovery ventilators (HRVs).
Eligibility
Can receive up to $200,000, which can be used across multiple projects or properties. Custom Lighting Program requires a minimum energy savings of 50,000 kWh/year to qualify.
Who is does it help
Commercial utility customers
Fortis Commercial Product Rebate
What is incentivized?
Furnaces, heat pumps, boilers, insulation, appliances, EV charging stations, windows and lighting projects
Eligibility
Incentives availability based on geographic area.
Who is does it help
Commercial utility customers
Financing
What is incentivized?
Vancity and Coast Capital offer loans. Benefits can include preferred interest rates, financing up to 100% of your capital upgrades and flexible repayment terms. Creditor insurance is available.
Eligibility
Age of building and annual revenue requirements vary by financing product.
Who is does it help
Businesses, not-for-profit organizations, housing co-operatives and property-managed strata
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)
What is incentivized?
Financing or loan renewals with low rates, equity capital investments, interest free loans and non-repayable contributions. Maximums of 95% of projected covered by loan and $250,000 per project funded.
Eligibility
Can require 20% of units to be renovated to become accessible. Can require a federally administered operating agreement.
Who is does it help
Non-profit housing and co-ops
Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)
What is incentivized?
Loans and grants to integrate leading-edge deep energy efficiency measures, fuel switching, and on-site renewable energy generation.
Eligibility
A minimum threshold of 25% reduction in energy consumption must be achieved. A maximum of 10% of the energy reduction can come from on-site renewable energy generation.
Who is does it help
Pre-construction and existing non-profit housing and co-ops
Related Links
Helpful info you need to support your work in BC’s non-profit housing sector.
Retrofit Coaching
This full-spectrum service will identify and determine the best efficiency opportunities.
Learn More
Boiler & Tank
Energy-efficient boiler and tank options that deliver cost savings and rebates.
Learn More
Case Studies
ECAP helped posAbilities incorporate energy-saving measures in their affordable housing building.
Learn More