Space heating is the largest use of energy in homes. A properly installed heat pump is two to three times more efficient than other alternatives and can provide you with both heating and cooling for today’s cold winters and hot summers.
Air-to-water heat pumps use hydronic distribution systems to heat and cool the home with a series of radiators or in-floor heating.
Available Rebates
You may be eligible to receive enhanced rebates that cover 60–95% of your home upgrade costs, with maximum rebate values of:
- Up to $9,500 if you install an air-to-water heat pump (space heating only).
- Up to $13,000 if you install a combined space and water heat pump (space and domestic water heating).
Upgrade type |
Rebate maximum |
|
Income level 1 |
Income level 2 |
|
| Air-to-water heat pump (space heating only) |
|
|
| Combined space and water heat pump (space and domestic hot water heating) |
|
|
- A $3,500 electrical service upgrade rebate is available when converting your fossil fuel primary space or water heating system to an electric primary space or water heating system.
Eligibility Requirements
To receive enhanced rebates through the CleanBC Better Homes Income Qualified Program, you must:
- Meet the income qualification requirements below:
- Rebate coverage is based on the combined income of all adults in your home and how many people live in your home, including adults and children. Combined incomes less than Income Level 1 are eligible for up to 95% of upgrade costs. Combined incomes less than Income Level 2 are eligible for up to 60% of upgrade costs.
Number of people living in your home(including adults and children) |
Combined pre-tax annual income of all adults in your home (excluding dependants): |
|
Income Level 1 |
Income Level 2 |
|
| 1 | $42,593 | $55,903 |
| 2 | $53,026 | $69,596 |
| 3 | $65,189 | $85,560 |
| 4 | $79,147 | $103,880 |
| 5 | $89,768 | $117,820 |
| 6 | $101,242 | $132,880 |
| 7 or more | $112,718 | $147,943 |
- Live in a home that is a year-round primary residence, is at least 12 months old, and one of the following types of residential buildings:
- single family home (detached dwelling).
- secondary suite in a single-family home (detached dwelling); the home and secondary suite must be individually metered.
- mobile home on a permanent foundation.
- duplex, triplex, row home or townhome, where each unit has its own natural gas and/or electricity meter. Utility accounts must be in the name of the resident and/or homeowner; utility accounts in the name of a strata corporation are not eligible.
- If you currently rent your home, you will need a landlord consent form to accompany your application.
- Pay your own energy utility bills. Utility accounts must be in the name of the resident and/or homeowner; utility accounts in the name of a strata corporation or landlord are not eligible.
- You must pre-register and receive an eligibility code before completing the upgrade.
Upgrade Requirements
- The new air-to-water heat pump system must:
- be sized to function as the primary heating system for the home.
- serve a main living area (e.g. family room, living room or open-concept kitchen-living room).
- when replacing a fossil fuel heating system, all the fossil fuel heating equipment (piping, appliances, fuel containers, vents and associated infrastructure) must be removed or decommissioned in accordance with all applicable laws.
- be listed as an eligible system on the Air-to-Water and Combined Heat Pump Qualifying Product List.
- be installed in accordance with the Heat Pump Best Practices Installation Guide for Existing Homes.
- Emergency replacement of fossil fuel space heating systems are eligible.
- Homes in Non-Integrated Areas of the electricity grid must contact IncomeQualified@betterhomesbc.ca for pre-approval before the installation.
- Homes with a combined space and domestic hot water boiler who are only installing an air-to-water heat pump for space heating may keep the boiler for domestic hot water. However, all connections between the boiler and the space heating system must be removed.
- All upgrades must be installed by a Registered Contractor who is approved to install home upgrades for the CleanBC Income Qualified Program, for the trade applicable to the upgrade being installed (e.g. Heat pumps must be installed by a licensed residential heating and cooling contractor).
How to Participate
- Confirm eligibility by reviewing the Rebate Eligibility Requirements, Participant Terms and Conditions, and Contractor Terms and Conditions.
- Complete the program’s pre-screen and pre-registration to determine your eligibility through the CleanBC Income Qualified Program participant portal. Once confirmed you will receive an eligibility code and opportunities report, outlining your suggested upgrades. You can also make an appointment with an income qualified program coach or schedule a virtual assessment for pre-registration assistance or support to identify the best upgrades for your home.
- Customer must choose an Income Qualified Program Registered Contractor to complete the upgrade.
- Contractors interested in becoming registered in the Income Qualified Program can contact IQPcontractorsupport@clearesult.com.
- After completing the upgrade, contractor will submit the rebate application and deduct the rebate from the final cost of the upgrade.
Deadlines
- The rebate application and supporting documentation must be submitted by the Registered Contractor within six (6) months of the invoice date.
Other
- See Income Qualified Program sample invoices:
- Check out other available rebates for the Income Qualified Program at BetterHomesBC.ca/Income-Qualified
- Check out our rebate search tool for other energy efficiency upgrades rebates.
- Did you see a building science or energy efficiency term you did not understand? Check out our glossary.
- By using, visiting, or browsing CleanBC and the Energy Coach service, you accept and agree to these Terms of Use.
Program Contact Information
- CleanBC Income Qualified Program IncomeQualified@betterhomesbc.ca 1-833-856-0333