CleanBC Better Homes New Construction Program
The CleanBC Better Homes New Construction Program provides rebates up to $15,000 for the construction of new, high-performance, electric homes. Through the CleanBC plan, the Province is supporting the adoption of the BC Energy Step Code and making energy efficient, climate-friendly homes more affordable and accessible for British Columbians.
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Overview
Rebate amount
Up to $15,000Who can apply
The program is open to licensed residential builders, owner builders who are authorized by BC Housing, and buildings authorized by Indigenous communities who are building a new Part home in B.C.
Deadline
Complete your project within 12 months of the date of your pre-approval confirmation email.
Submit the post-construction application and required supporting documentation within 6 months of the date of your heat pump invoice or As-Built BC Energy Compliance Report, as applicable for your rebate pathway.
Projects completed between May 31, 2023 and December 31, 2023 must submit their application no later than December 31, 2023.
Funding provided by
The Province of British Columbia
Rebate amount
Choose your rebate pathway
- Energy Step Code pathway: build a new home that meets a minimum BC Energy Step Code Level and is all-electric.
OR - Heat pump pathway: build a new home that uses an electric heat pump for space heating or water heating, regardless of Energy Step Code level.
Add-on rebates:
- Energy Advisor Support Rebate: work with a Program Qualified Energy Advisor to model the home and receive an additional rebate.
Energy Step Code pathway
Build a home to BC Energy Step Code 3 or higher that is all-electric (must use electric primary and secondary space and water heating systems and appliances).
Single family homes and duplexes
Rebate
Step 3
- plus $3,000 northern top-up*
Step 4
- plus $3,000 northern top-up*
Step 5
- plus $3,000 northern top-up*
Energy Step Code pathway
Build a home to BC Energy Step Code 3 or higher that is all-electric (must use electric primary and secondary space and water heating systems and appliances).
Triplexes and row or townhomes with 3+ units
Rebate
Step 3
- plus $1,500 northern top-up*
Step 4
- plus $1,500 northern top-up*
Step 5
- plus $1,500 northern top-up*
*To qualify for the northern top-up rebate, eligible homes must be located north of and including the District of 100 Mile House (latitude 51.628°N) and have a building permit issued on or after April 1, 2022.
Heat pump pathway
Build a home that uses an electric heat pump for space heating and/or water heating, regardless of BC Energy Step Code level.
Heat pump type
Rebate
Air-source heat pump
- ductless mini-split heat pump
- ductless multi-split heat pump
- central ducted heat pump
Efficiency requirements
- HSPF ≥ 10.00 and SEER ≥ 16.00 or HSPF2 ≥ 8.50 and SEER2 ≥ 15.20**
- Variable speed compressor
- Must be on the Qualifying Product List
Air-to-water heat pump
- Must be on the Qualifying Product List
Combined space and hot water heat pump
- Must be on the Qualifying Product List
Heat pump water heater
- Must be on the Qualifying Product List
Energy Advisor Support Rebate
Either the $1,000 rebate OR the $2,000 can be accessed but not both
Offer
Rebate
$1,000 per individually modelled home or unit
• $800 to the builder
• $200 to the Energy Advisor
$2,000 per individually modelled home or unit if northern top-up eligible*
• $1,600 to the builder
• $400 to the Energy Advisor
*To qualify for the northern top-up rebate, eligible homes must be located north of and including the District of 100 Mile House (latitude 51.628°N) and have a building permit issued on or after April 1, 2022.
Builders are eligible for a maximum of one primary space heating system rebate and one primary water heating system rebate per home or unit, regardless of the number of systems installed.
Heat pumps with fossil fuel back up are not eligible unless the home is eligible for and participating in the northern top-up offer.
**The CleanBC Residential New Construction Program will accept either the HSPF/SEER or HSPF2/SEER2 testing standard data from AHRI. The new HSPF2/SEER2 testing standard tests heat pumps to a higher standard that better represents homes in Canada, resulting in different efficiency data. An eligible heat pump that meets either the HSPF/SEER requirements or the HSPF2/SEER2 requirements and is on our qualified product list will qualify for a rebate.
Eligibility requirements
In order to qualify for this rebate, all of the following requirements must be met. Please read them carefully. Contact an Energy Coach if you have questions.
Requirements for the home
- Homes must be constructed in compliance with Part 9 of the BC Building Code and, where applicable, the municipally-adopted minimum BC Energy Step Code requirement.
- The home must be one of the following building types:
- Single-family home
- Laneway home
- Duplex
- Triplex
- Row/townhome
- The new home must be located in BC Hydro or New Westminster Electrical Utility service territory.
- Building permits for the home(s) must be issued on or after April 1, 2022.
- Important note: if your building permit was issued between September 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022, you may also be eligible. See the Rebate Eligibility Requirements – Version 1 to confirm your eligibility prior to pre-registering.
- You must receive pre-approval for the program by submitting a pre-registration form.
Requirements for the builder
- The program is open to licensed residential builders, owner builders who are authorized by BC Housing, and buildings authorized by Indigenous communities who are building a new home in B.C.
- All builders participating in the Energy Step Code pathway or applying for the Energy Advisor Support Rebate must work with a Program Qualified Energy Advisor approved to deliver the CleanBC Better Homes New Construction Program.
- You must receive pre-approval for the program by submitting a pre-registration form.
Additional requirements and terms and conditions apply.
Deadlines
Complete your project within 12 months of the date of your pre-approval confirmation email.
Submit the post-construction application and required supporting documentation within 6 months of the date of your heat pump invoice or As-Built BC Energy Compliance Report, as applicable for your rebate pathway.
How to apply
- Carefully read the Rebate Eligibility Requirements and Terms and Conditions to confirm your eligibility.
- Building permit issued between September 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022: Rebate Eligibility Requirements – Version 1
- Building permit issued on or after April 1, 2022: Rebate Eligibility Requirements – Version 2
- Terms and Conditions
- Submit the pre-registration form, including a copy of your building permit, to be added to the program waitlist. Within 30 days of submitting this form, BC Hydro will send you an email with the status of your submission.
- Complete your project within 12 months of the date of your pre-approval confirmation email.
- Submit the post-construction application and required supporting documentation:
- Energy Step Code pathway:
- As-Built BC Energy Compliance Report; and
- EnerGuide (N) Evaluation Homeowner Information Sheet (for Passive House certified homes, submit the Passive House Planning Package and a copy of the home’s Passive House certificate instead).
- Heat pump pathway:
- Heat pump installation invoice. See sample invoices;
- Heat load calculation that meets the program-approved methodology; and
- If applying for the Energy Advisor Support Rebate, the As-Built BC Energy Compliance Report and EnerGuide (N) Evaluation Homeowner Information Sheet.
- Energy Step Code pathway:
Who to contact
Questions about the rebate?
Contact an Energy Coach to get clarification or help with understanding this rebate.
Questions about your application?
Program updates
FAQs and more
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