Please note: Never give your banking information or any payment to someone who claims they are from CleanBC or another energy program. If someone contacts you and asks for this information, do not provide it. Please let us know at betterhomesbc@gov.bc.ca.
On this page
CleanBC Indigenous Community Heat Pump Incentive
The Province of B.C. offers free energy coaching services to support Indigenous communities wanting to take advantage of the CleanBC Indigenous Community Heat Pump Incentive and related energy efficiency offers.
Overview
Rebate Amount:
Up to $12,000 for residential homes OR up to $200,000 for community buildings installing heat pumps.
Who Can Apply:
Indigenous Communities installing heat pumps in eligible homes or community buildings.
Qualifying Products:
All residential heat pumps installed must be eligible for the CleanBC Better Homes and Home Renovation Rebate Programs and meet the eligibility criteria listed in the Program Guide. For community building heat pumps, contact ICEC@coach.betterhomesbc.ca to confirm project and system eligibility.
Funding Provided By:
The Province of British Columbia
Rebate Amount
| Residential buildings (e.g. on-reserve housing) | Fuel type before upgrade | Rebate |
|---|---|
A total maximum funding of $200,000 is available for each Indigenous Community program application across residential and community buildings, and intake is limited to one funding application per fiscal year.
|
|
Fossil fuel (natural gas, oil, propane) |
Up to $12,000 per heat pump |
Woodstove
|
Up to $6,500 per heat pump |
| Community buildings (e.g. administration office) | Fuel type before upgrade | Rebate |
|---|---|
A total maximum funding of $200,000 is available for each Indigenous Community program application across residential and community buildings, and intake is limited to one funding application per fiscal year.
|
|
Fossil fuel (natural gas, oil, propane) |
Up to $200,000 per heat pump |
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
- Community Type:
- For fuel-switching and woodstove to heat pump projects, must be an Indigenous Community whose homes and/or community buildings are primarily heated by propane, diesel, natural gas, oil, wood or other solid fuels.
- For efficiency projects (e.g., baseboard or electric furnace to heat pump), must be an Indigenous Community primarily served by diesel generated electricity.
- Community Support: must show proof of community support of the project (e.g., Band Council Resolution, Tribal Council Resolution, or Directors’ Resolution approving the project).
- Connected to Clean Electricity: Must have utility service with BC Hydro or FortisBC Electric or with a local municipal utility within the service territories of BC Hydro or FortisBC Electric. Remote communities powered by renewable energy generation are also eligible.
- Remote communities powered by diesel generation are eligible for efficiency projects (e.g., baseboard or electric furnace to heat pump conversions), subject to an assessment of their energy system.
- For questions regarding your project’s eligibility, please contact the Indigenous Community Energy Coach at ICEC@coach.betterhomesbc.ca to discuss eligibility.
- Residential Heat Pump Incentives – Housing Type: Homes eligible for the residential heat pump incentives must be one of the following types of buildings:
- Single family detached dwelling;
- Mobile home on a permanent foundation; or
- Side-by-side duplex, stacked duplex, side-by-side row home or townhouse (provided that each unit has its own natural gas and/or electricity meter).
Requirements for the new equipment
The new heat pump must:
- Be eligible for the CleanBC Better Homes and Home Renovation Rebate Programs and meet the following eligibility criteria (see Program Guide for more details):
- SEER ≥ 16.00, HSPF ≥10.00, variable speed compressor, minimum capacity of 12,000 BTU (1 ton)
- Must be on the Air Source Qualified Product List or the Air-to-Water and Combination Heat Pump Qualified Product List
- For Community Building Heat Pump systems, please contact the Indigenous Community Energy Coach program at ICEC@coach.betterhomesbc.ca to confirm project and system eligibility.
- Eligible heat pump upgrade expenses can include expenses up to the maximum amount for the following items:
- heat pump capital costs;
- heat pump installation costs;
- up to one year of heat pump maintenance costs;
- oil tank removal costs;
- gas system decommissioning costs;
- electrical upgrade costs (electrical panel upgrades and associated wiring) required as part of heat pump installation;
- ducting modification and/or cleaning costs required as part of heat pump installation;
- additional air filtration systems added to heat pump systems; and
- associated feasibility, energy study, or mechanical design costs for community buildings.
Requirements for the installation
- All heat pumps are recommended to be installed by a Home Performance Contractor Network (HPCN) member. In cases where this is not feasible, or where the Indigenous Community has identified a contractor that they would like to work with that is not an HPCN member, the Coach can help to ensure the contractor and installation will be carried out to the standards required by the Program. The Coach can also help identify potential contractors, or you can search for one using the contractor search tool.
How to Apply
- Project Scoping – Community identifies proposed project (Coach can assist). In-person meeting with Coach to learn about the Program and potential incentive eligibility. Carefully read the Program Guide and Terms and Conditions to confirm your eligibility.
- Registration – Indigenous Community registers with the Program (Coach can assist). Indigenous Community identifies heat pump contractor and receives quote (Coach can assist).
- Installation – Contractor provides heat pump details to Indigenous Community and Coach to confirm system eligibility. Contractor completes installation in participant community.
- Payment – Incentive application submitted to BC Hydro (Coach can assist). Payment issued to participant community. Exit survey, quality assurance, measurement and verification.
Who to Contact
CleanBC Indigenous Community Energy Coach
FAQs and More
Learn about heat pumps
Get help from professionals
Finding the right contractor is key to having a successful home energy retrofit.