FAQs Categories

If the home you are upgrading or have upgraded is not eligible for the CleanBC Better Homes and Home Renovation Rebate Program but is heated primarily by FortisBC natural gas that is billed at a residential rate, you may be eligible to receive rebates directly through FortisBC.

• To apply for these rebates, use the application forms available directly through FortisBC
• Applications must also be submitted directly to FortisBC.

If the building you are upgrading is a high-rise building, an apartment building, a stacked townhouse, or condominium that is billed at a commercial rate, your building may be considered a Commercial Building in regards to rebate programs.

• Commercial Rebate Programs are listed in our rebate search tool. Select Commercial Renovation from the Building Type list.
• Income qualified households may be able to access free Energy Saving Kits

U-factor can be expressed in metric units (W/m²·K) or imperial inch-pound units (Btu/h·ft²·F).

To convert imperial u-factors to metric u-factors, multiply by 5.678.

Example: My contractor has given me a quote for five new windows that I would like to replace. My contractor says they have a U-factor in imperial units (Btu/h·ft²·F) of 0.21 and I want to know what that is in metric units.

0.21 x 5.678 = 1.19 (W/m²·K)

New windows typically have a U-factor between 1.00 and 1.80 (W/m²·K), which converts to between 0.18 and 0.32 (Btu/h·ft²·F).

In order to receive a window rebate through the CleanBC Better Homes and Home Renovation Rebate Program, your windows must be ENERGY STAR® certified, have a metric U-factor (W/m²·K) of 1.23 – 1.4 for Tier 1 rebates or a metric u-factor (W/m²·K) of 1.22 or less for Tier 2 rebates and be listed on Natural Resource Canada’s ENERGY STAR certified fenestration product list.  Learn more about this rebate here.

The Tier 1 window and door rebate and the Tier 2 window and door rebate is designed to help with the additional cost of highly energy efficient windows.

ENERGY STAR certification with an U-factor < 1.22 (W/m2·K) is an industry benchmark for above average window performance. The U-factor maximum of 1.22 (W/m2·K) aligns with the next update to ENERGY STAR specifications (effective January 2020) as well as Provincial and Federal policies on energy efficient equipment in the building sector.

A variable speed compressor is an inverter driven compressor that can adjust its operating speed to match a home’s heat demand. Compared to conventional systems, variable speed systems have higher customer satisfaction rates, increased energy savings and less impact on the electrical grid. For these reasons, a variable speed compressor is required for mini-split, multi-split, and Tier 2 central heat pump rebates.

Variable speed compressors are very common in ductless mini-split systems but are available for mid and high-performance central systems as well. Heat pump installers are advised to speak with their equipment distributors about variable speed product options.

General benefits to a homeowner:

• More consistent indoor temperatures
• Quieter start-up of the outdoor unit
• Quieter operation due to increased time operating at low speeds/airflow
• Lower energy bills and better return on investment

Performance improvements relative to conventional systems:

• Higher efficiency at partial loads and significant seasonal energy savings, beyond what is captured in the HSPF and SEER ratings
• Higher capacity in cold weather and a better match to a home’s heating needs
• Faster defrost cycles
• At partial load operation, lower airflow requirements mitigate issues associated with high static pressure in existing ductwork
• Allows equipment to be sized for heating needs, while maintaining high performance in cooling operation.
• Gradual start-up is easier on equipment
• Gradual start-up is easier on local electrical grids
• Increased performance reduces peak energy demand in the heating season

There is no climate zone requirement for window and door installations, but all windows and doors must be ENERGY STAR® certified (any zone) and have a maximum U-factor of 1.40 (W/m²·K), regardless of installation location. Eligible windows and doors can be found on Natural Resource Canada’s ENERGY STAR® certified fenestration product list.

No. The heat pump’s capacity is linked to the AHRI certified reference number (and AHRI certificate) for the system. The AHRI certified reference number (or AHRI certificate) is required for the program application.

The minimum HSPF rating requirements for all heat pump installations are based on Region 4, regardless of location. Unless otherwise specified, manufacturers’ published HSPF ratings and the HSPF ratings published in the Air-Conditioning, Heating, & Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) Directory of Certified Product Performance are based on Region 4. The ratings found in the AHRI directory can be used to fulfill program requirements.

• Mini-Split and Multi-Split directory
• Central System directory

HSPF ratings for Region 5 are sometimes referenced in regulations or shown in reference to a heat pump’s performance in a specific climate. Region 5 metrics come from equipment test data and cannot be directly converted to Region 4 metrics. Region 5 metrics can be requested from manufacturers, but Region 4 metrics should be used for program requirements.

The CleanBC Better Homes and Home Renovation Rebate Program, formerly known as the Home Renovation Rebate and EfficiencyBC Program, provides rebates based on the dates of your invoices.  Rebate amounts may vary.

If you started your upgrades prior to September 28, 2018, please see our FAQ: “What if I started my renovations before September 28, 2018?”

Rebates available between September 28, 2018 and March 31, 2019:

• Invoices dated between September 28, 2018 and March 31, 2019 are processed under these CleanBC Better Homes and Home Renovation Rebate Program terms & conditions
• Upgrades with invoices dated between September 28, 2018 and March 31, 2019 will be processed with the rebates below.

Mini-Split and Multi-Split Heat Pumps

Central Heat Pumps

Combination Space and Water Heat Pump

 Window and Door Replacements

• New windows/doors must be ENERGY STAR® certified. The products must be listed on the ENERGY STAR certified fenestration list for windows and doors.
• New windows/doors must have a metric U-Factor of 1.22 (W/m2·K) or lower.
• Rebate of $50 per window and door, maximum of $1,000.

The CleanBC Better Homes and Home Renovation Rebate Program, formerly known as the Home Renovation Rebate and EfficiencyBC Program, provides rebates based on the dates of your invoices. Rebate amounts may vary.

The program terms and conditions that apply are also determined by the invoice date of your upgrades and the date of your pre-retrofit EnerGuide Home Evaluation, if you had one.

If you began your upgrades between September 28, 2018 and March 31, 2019, see our FAQ What if I started my renovations before April 01, 2019?

For additional information, check out bchydro.com/homerebates and fortisbc.com/homerebates

*If the draftproofing work was completed prior to September 28, 2018 (as determined by date on draftproofing invoices and receipts) you can access the rebate of up to $500. If the work was completed after September 28, 2018, you cannot access the up to $500 draftproofing rebate. However, as long as your pre-retrofit evaluation was before September 28, 2018, draftproofing can be counted as an eligible upgrade towards the $750 Bonus Offer regardless of when the work was complete.

If you completed a pre-retrofit EnerGuide home evaluation before September 28, 2018, but install three upgrades after September 28, 2018, you can access the Home Renovation Rebate Program $750 Bonus Offer and the Home Renovation Rebate and EfficiencyBC Program individual rebates as long as:

• The three upgrades you install meet the terms and conditions for the Home Renovation Rebate Program’s $750 Bonus Offer; and
• The individual upgrades meet the terms and conditions for the Home Renovation Rebate and Efficiency BC Program.

Home Renovation Rebate Program Deadlines

$750 Bonus Offer

If you completed a pre-retrofit EnerGuide home evaluation before September 28, 2018, you will have:

• 36 months from the time of your pre-retrofit evaluation to install three eligible upgrades, have your energy advisor complete a post-retrofit evaluation and your rebate application using the Home Renovation Rebate and EfficiencyBC online application form.
• The upgrades you are counting towards the $750 Bonus Offer must meet the terms and conditions of the Home Renovation Rebate Program.

Individual Upgrades

You can no longer apply for individual rebates for upgrades that were installed before September 28, 2018.

Energy Coach Home Evaluation Rebate

If you completed a pre-retrofit energy evaluation before September 28, 2018 and a post-retrofit energy evaluation within 36 months:

• You can still apply for the $150 Energy Coach Home Evaluation Rebate.
• You will not be eligible for the $300 EnerGuide Home Evaluation Rebate through the Home Renovation Rebate and EfficiencyBC Program.

Draftproofing

If you completed a pre-retrofit energy evaluation before September 28, 2018 and a post-retrofit energy evaluation within 36 months

• You can still apply for the $500 draftproofing rebate if the work was completed before September 28, 2018 (as per the date on your draftproofing invoices and receipts).
• If the draftproofing work was completed after September 28, 2018, you cannot access the draftproofing rebate for up to $500.
• In either case, you can count draftproofing towards the Bonus Offer.

Did you see a building science or energy efficiency term you did not understand? Check out our glossary.

The Home Energy Improvement Bonus is a rebate provided to homes that complete EnerGuide Rating System evaluations and install three or more bonus-eligible home energy upgrades. The rebate is calculated as the percentage change between your pre- and post-retrofit EnerGuide rating.* The bigger the percentage change in your EnerGuide rating, the larger the bonus rebate you will receive. Different combinations of bonus eligible upgrades will provide higher rebates than others. Work with a Program-Qualified Energy Advisor to determine the right Home Energy Improvement Plan for your home.

Remember: The Home Energy Improvement Bonus is a rebate you receive in addition to the individual rebates and the EnerGuide Home Evaluation Rebate. The chart below shows the potential range of the Home Energy Improvement Bonus amounts based on your heating system and  type of upgrades undertaken.

Important notes:

• Be sure to follow the Home Energy Improvement Bonus Eligibility Requirements
• If your community provides municipal top-ups, including EnerGuide Home Evaluation Top-ups and/or Convert to Electric Heat Pump Space Heating Top-ups there may be an additional $500 to $2150 in rebates available.
• If your home is older, poorly insulated, drafty, or has less efficient space and water heating systems, it may be easier for you to achieve a greater percentage reduction in your EnerGuide score and receive a rebate in the upper range or even higher than the amounts shown above; if your home is newer, well insulated, well air sealed or has more efficient space and water heating systems, it may be harder for you to achieve a large percentage reduction in your EnerGuide score and you may receive a rebate in the lower range or lower than shown above.
• Some types of changes to your home will increase the energy consumption of your home and reduce the Home Energy Improvement Bonus you may be eligible for: Switching from electricity to natural gas space or hot water heating systems, adding a new gas fireplace, adding new window or door openings, or expanding the size of your home.
• Energy improvements that are not bonus eligible but improve the efficiency of your home will still be factored into the bonus rebate amount. For example, draftproofing, insulation upgrades under the eligibility threshold, solar hot water, and other upgrades will all improve the efficiency of your home and help boost your rebate amount

To get started: Schedule an EnerGuide home evaluation with a Program-Qualified Energy Advisor. The energy advisor will provide you with recommendations to improve the energy efficiency of your home and help you determine which upgrade options are bonus-eligible and what your bonus rebate is likely to be.

* The Home Energy Improvement Bonus amount is calculated as $20 multiplied by the percentage reduction in your home’s EnerGuide rating (in gigajoules per year, or GJ/year) between your pre- and post-retrofit EnerGuide home evaluation. Three eligible upgrades are required. To see an example of how the rebate is calculated, see How does the Home Energy Improvement Bonus Work?

**This Home Energy Improvement Bonus range is provided as an average range of rebates and includes the $300 EnerGuide Home Evaluation Rebate. The actual rebate you will receive will depend upon a wide range of factors.

The Home Energy Improvement Bonus is a rebate of up to $2000 for improving your EnerGuide rating by installing three or more bonus-eligible upgrades. A pre- and post-retrofit EnerGuide home evaluation is required to determine the change in the EnerGuide rating of your home and the rebate amount. The Home Energy Improvement Bonus is paid out in addition to the rebates paid for eligible individual rebates.

Bonus-eligible upgrades include:

• Insulation – must have a minimum rebate value of $500 per location. Eligible locations are attic, exterior wall cavity, exterior wall sheathing and basement and crawlspace walls. Each location is considered one upgrade.
• Primary heating system (air-source heat pump (central or mini-split / ductless system), combination space and water heat pump, natural gas furnace, or natural gas boiler) – a maximum of one system is eligible for the rebate.
• Secondary heating system (natural gas fireplace) – a maximum of one fireplace can be counted toward the bonus and must replace an existing natural gas fireplace.
• Water heater (heat pump water heater or natural gas water heater) – a maximum of one hot water system can be counted towards this bonus.
• Windows and doors– must achieve a minimum rebate value of $250.

The Home Energy Improvement Bonus amount is calculated as $20 multiplied by the percentage reduction in your home’s EnerGuide rating (in gigajoules per year, or GJ/year) between your pre- and post-retrofit EnerGuide home evaluation.

For example: If your pre-retrofit EnerGuide rating was 250 GJ/year and your post-retrofit EnerGuide rating is 200 GJ/year you would do the following calculations:

1. 250 GJ/year – 200 GJ/year = 50 GJ/year [This is the change in GJ/year of your EnerGuide rating.]
2. 50 GJ/year ÷ 250 GJ/year = 0.20
3. 20 x 100 = 20 [You have achieved a 20 percent reduction in your home’s EnerGuide rating.]
4. $20.00 x 20 = $400.00 [This is the incentive you will receive, in addition to the individual rebates and the EnerGuide Home Evaluation Rebate.]

The Energy Efficiency Action Roadmap section of your EnerGuide Renovation Upgrade Report includes an estimate of GJ savings for recommended upgrades. See our FAQ How much will my incentive be for the Home Energy Improvement Bonus? to see the potential range of Home Energy Improvement Bonus rebate amounts based on the upgrades you do.

Keep in mind that not all upgrades recommended in your EnerGuide Renovation Upgrade Report are bonus-eligible. Always review the program terms and conditions before any renovations begin to ensure your upgrades will be eligible.

Even though some energy efficiency upgrades are not bonus-eligible, they may still improve your EnerGuide rating. For example, draftproofing (air sealing) is not a bonus-eligible upgrade but air sealing upgrades will improve (lower) your EnerGuide rating and allow you to access a higher bonus rebate.

If your renovation plans include upgrades that are not bonus eligible, ensure that at least three other upgrades are eligible so you can access the Home Energy Improvement Bonus. Other upgrades that are not bonus eligible but will contribute to lowering your EnerGuide rating and increasing your bonus rebate amount include:

• Insulation upgrades that have received individual rebates under $500 in value or that are not eligible for the individual rebate (DIY installation)
• Foundation insulation
• Exposed floor, floor over crawlspace or basement header insulation
• Solar hot water upgrades
• Photovoltaic panels
• Draftproofing/Air-sealing

To get started: Schedule an EnerGuide home evaluation with a Program-Qualified Energy Advisor. The energy advisor will provide you with recommendations to improve the energy efficiency of your home and can assist with determining which upgrade options are bonus-eligible.

Some systems may be eligible. Contact the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources for pre-approval before you install your system. Email betterhomesbc@gov.bc.ca with your location, current heating system, and the make and model of all components of your proposed heat pump system.

The proposed system must replace a fossil fuel (oil, propane or natural gas) heating system to be eligible and must be sufficiently sized to operate as the primary heating system for the home. A heat load calculation will be required.

Your HVAC contractor can help you select an eligible heat pump. Make sure to tell them you would like to install an eligible model and apply for rebates.

Eligible heat pumps can be found in the Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Institute’s heat pump directories:

Mini-split systems

• Tip: in the Quick Search Criteria choose “Mini-splits” in the Select Indoor Type
  • When upgrading from electric heating:
    • Single Head: SEER: 18 or higher, HSPF: 10 or higher
  • When upgrading from fossil fuel heating:
    • Single Head: SEER 16 or higher, HSPF: 9.3 or higher

Multi-split systems

• Tip: in the Quick Search Criteria choose “Ducted Indoor Units,” “Non-Ducted Indoor Units,” “Mixed Ducted and Non-Ducted Indoor Units,” or “Specific” in the Select Indoor Type
  • When upgrading from electric heating:
    • Multi Head: SEER: 16 or higher, HSPF: 9.3 or higher
  • When upgrading from fossil fuel heating:
    • Multi Head: SEER: 16 or higher, HSPF: 9.3 or higher

Central Systems

• Tip: in the Quick Search Criteria enter the minimum SEER and minimum HSPF (Region IV) values for the incentive you are applying for:
  • When upgrading from electric or fossil fuel heating:
    • Tier 1: SEER: 8.5 or higher, HSPF: 15 or higher
    • Tier 2: SEER: 9.3 or higher, HSPF: 16 or higher

Please see our FAQ, What are the heat pump requirements for the CleanBC Better Homes and Home Renovation Rebate Program? for a complete list of heat pump requirements.

Heat pump eligibility depends on the type of back-up being installed with the heat pump.

Applicable to All Homes

• Mini-split and multi-split heat pumps combined with natural gas or propane heating are not eligible for a heat pump rebate.

Homes Heated Primarily by Natural Gas or Propane

• Homes that are primarily heated by natural gas or propane who convert their primary heating system a heat pump with to a gas backup are eligible a heat pump rebate provided:
  • They are replacing an existing natural gas propane or propane furnace as the primary heating system.
  • The thermostat, outdoor temperature switch-over control or equipment control board must be set to the following temperatures for the life of the system:
    • Vancouver Island and Lower Mainland: 0^oC
    • Southern Interior and Northern BC: -5^oC
  • The heat pump must be sized to ensure that it has the capacity to meet the heat demand at or below the temperature set points above.  A heat load calculation is required, see What are the load calculation requirements for heat pumps?
  • Additionally, the AHRI certified reference number must show that the outdoor unit, indoor unit and furnace are a tested combination.
  • You may re-use the existing air handler to create a combination gas furnace/heat pump system. The system must be modified according to all applicable laws.
• Note: Combining a central heat pump with a natural gas backup or propane backup is eligible for the central heat pump rebate and any applicable Municipal Offers provided all other program Terms and Conditions are met.

 Homes Heated Primarily by Electricity

• Homes that are primarily heated by electricity who install a heat pump with a gas backup are not eligible for a heat pump rebate.

Homes Heated Primarily by Oil

• Any heat pumps combined with oil heating are not eligible for a heat pump rebate, unless they meet the following criteria:
  • Residents of Northern BC (ASHRAE Climate Zone 6, 7A, 7B or 8) with premises heated primarily by an oil furnace before the heat pump upgrade are exempt from the requirement to remove and decommission the oil furnace. They may still use the oil furnace as a back-up heating source.
  • For help identifying which climate zone your home is in, check out our What is my climate zone? FAQ.

The number of windows or doors eligible for rebates is based on the number of rough openings in which windows or doors were replaced. A rough opening is the framed opening of a window or door that may be able to hold one or more windows and/or doors. Each rough opening is counted as one window and/or door. For example, a bay window, which may be made up of several window sections, is regarded as one rough opening.

Up to $3,000 is available for air source heat pump upgrades from the CleanBC Better Homes and Home Renovation Rebate Program. The rebate amount varies depending on your electricity provider (BC Hydro or FortisBC), your primary heating fuel before the upgrade, the type of heat pump you want to install (mini-split, multi-split or central system), and the efficiency ratings of the system. A table is available for reference below, summarizing available rebates.

Some municipalities are currently offering additional incentives for heat pumps that are replacing natural gas, propane, or oil heating systems.

For more information on heat pump eligibility, see our FAQ What are the heat pump requirements for the CleanBC Better Homes and Home Renovation Rebate Program?

For more information on what Municipal Offers are available, see our FAQ Are there Municipal Offers available and how do I access them?

Requirements for installing a heat pump vary depending on your electricity provider (BC Hydro or FortisBC), your primary heating fuel before the upgrade, the type of heat pump you want to install (mini-split or central system), and the efficiency ratings of the system.

For information on what rebates are available, see What rebate is available for upgrading to a heat pump?

General heat pump requirements:

• Replacing or upgrading an existing or broken heat pump is not eligible for a rebate.
• The heat pump must be installed by a licensed contractor with a valid BC business license for the trade applicable to the installation work.
• Only air-source heat pumps are eligible for rebates. Geoexchange (ground-source) heat pumps are not eligible.
• If the home is currently heated with electricity, the heat pump must replace a hard-wired electric heating system such as baseboards, radiant ceiling, radiant floors or forced air furnace. However, these systems do not need to be removed.
• If the home is currently heated with oil, all oil heating equipment must be removed or decommissioned according to all relevant regulations and bylaws. If you are a resident of Northern BC (BCBC Climate Zone 6, 7A, 7B or 8) and currently heat your home with oil, please see the FAQ, Am I eligible for a heat pump rebate if it is combined with a gas, propane, or oil furnace as backup?
• If the home is currently heated with natural gas, all gas heating equipment must be removed, decommissioned, or modified according to all relevant regulations and bylaws. For a Tier 2 central heat pump, an existing natural gas furnace air handler may be re-used if its model number is included on the AHRI certificate for the new system. For more information and additional requirements, please see the FAQ Am I eligible for a heat pump rebate if it is combined with a gas, propane, or oil furnace as backup?
• See program terms and conditions for additional requirements.

Mini-Split Single Head Installation Requirements:

• When converting from fossil fuel heating, the system must have a SEER rating of 16 or higher, a HSPF of 9.3 or higher, a variable speed compressor, and an AHRI certified reference number.
• When converting from electric heating, the system must have a SEER rating of 18 or higher, a HSPF of 10 or higher, a variable speed compressor, and an AHRI certified reference number.
• If the home was heated primarily by fossil fuels (oil, natural gas or propane) prior to the installation of the new heat pump, all such fossil fuel heating equipment must be removed or decommissioned in accordance with all applicable laws.
• The indoor unit (head) must serve a main living area of the home.
• Premises with a natural gas or propane fireplace are eligible if the fireplace is a secondary heating system.
• Single head mini-split heat pumps cannot have a fossil fuel back-up system.

Mini-Split Multiple Head Installation Requirements:

• The system must have a SEER rating of 16 or higher, a HSPF of 9.5 or higher, a variable speed compressor, and an AHRI certified reference number.
• If the home was heated primarily by fossil fuels (oil, natural gas or propane) prior to the installation of the new heat pump, all such fossil fuel heating equipment must be removed or decommissioned in accordance with all applicable laws.
• At least one indoor unit (head) must serve a main living area of the home.
• Multi-head mini-split heat pumps cannot have a fossil fuel back-up system.

Central Heat Pump Requirements:

Tier 1 Central Heat Pump Requirements:

• Only homes that are heated primarily by electricity provided by FortisBC or by fossil fuels are eligible for the Tier 1 Central Heat Pump rebate.
• The system must have a SEER rating of 15, a HSPF of 8.5 or higher, and an AHRI certified reference number.
• A variable speed compressor is not required.

Tier 2 Central Heat Pump Requirements:

• The system must have a SEER rating of 16 or higher, a HSPF of 9.5 or higher, a variable speed compressor, and an AHRI certified reference number.

Central Heat Pump Requirements – Tier 1 & Tier 2:

• The system must have a maximum static pressure of 0.6” WC or higher. This information is available in the technical specifications of a heat pump system.
• If the Premises was heated primarily by oil before the heat pump upgrade, the heat pump must replace the oil heating system and all such oil heating equipment (tank, furnace or boiler, and associated infrastructure) must be removed or decommissioned in accordance with all applicable laws.
  • If you are a resident of Northern BC (BCBC Climate Zone 6, 7A, 7B or 8) and currently heat your home with oil, please see the FAQ, Am I eligible for a heat pump rebate if it is combined with a gas, propane, or oil furnace as backup?
• If the Premises was heated primarily by gas or propane before the heat pump upgrade and the heat pump is replacing the gas or propane heating system, all gas heating equipment (piping, appliances, fuel containers, vents and associated infrastructure) must be removed, decommissioned or modified in accordance with all applicable laws.
• If the Premises was heated primarily by gas or propane before the heat pump upgrade and the heat pump is being integrated into a combination gas furnace/electric heat pump, all such gas heating equipment (piping, appliance, fuel containers, vents and associated infrastructure) must be modified in accordance with all applicable laws. Combination gas furnace/electric heat pump systems are only eligible, provided:
  • If the gas furnace/electric heat pump system has been installed after November 01, 2018, a heating and cooling load calculation is completed to properly size the system. See What are the load calculation requirements for heat pumps? For more information.
  • The thermostat, outdoor temperature switch-over control or equipment control board is set to the following region-specific temperatures for the duration of the product lifetime:
    • Switch-over temperature for the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island regions: 0°C.
    • Switch-over temperature for the Southern Interior and Northern BC: -5°C;
  • The heat pump must be sized to ensure that it has the capacity to meet the Premises’ heat demand at or below the region-specific outdoor set-point.
  • The system, whether purchased as a whole new system or created by retrofitting an existing gas furnace, must have an AHRI certified reference number that shows the outdoor unit, indoor unit and furnace are a tested combination. An existing furnace air handler may be re-used if its model number is included on the AHRI certificate for the new system.

Update

The CleanBC Better Homes and Home Renovation Rebate Program requires that CSA F280-12 load calculations are performed in order to qualify for a rebate. While CleanBC strongly recommends load calculations be completed for all heat pump installations, this requirements has been removed for the present time for all heat pump installations, except for air-source heat pump installations that are combined with a natural gas or propane furnace as backup. Please see below for the load calculation requirements for combination systems.

Load Calculation Requirements

A load calculation is required for all air-source heat pumps in a combination furnace/heat pump system that are installed on or after November 1, 2018. This is being required to ensure the equipment is sized per program requirements (which helps to ensure program objectives of emission reduction occur), and encourage high-quality installations.

Rule-of-thumb equipment sizing will not be accepted.

Contractors can perform the load calculation by using any of the following options:

• the HRAI Residential Heat Loss & Heat Gain technical manual in combination with the Microsoft Excel-based spreadsheets supplied with the CAN/CSA F280-12 standard
• a software that uses the CAN/CSA F280-12 calculation methodology. For example, TECA’s Quality First software is being used with the CAN/CSA F280-12 methodology . Other software such as Right-F280 has been on the market since 2015.
• a software or worksheet that uses the CAN/CSA F280-90 calculation methodology.
• a software or worksheet that uses methodology from Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) Manual J
• a software or worksheet that uses methodology from TECA’s Quality First Forced Air Guidelines (5^th edition 2008)

A copy of the load calculation is part of the required documentation. The load calculation can be documented by a submittal sheet from compliant software or by a load calculation worksheet from TECA, HRAI, ACCA or the CSA F280 standard.

If your contractor is not sure if their current heat load calculation methodology meets these criteria, please have them contact betterhomesbc@gov.bc.ca.

The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) and the Thermal Environment Comfort Association (TECA) both offer training courses on CAN/CSA F280-12 load calculations. HRAI offers a 4-day course in Victoria and Vancouver. TECA is currently updating its Forced Air Guidelines Course with CAN/CSA F280-12 material and will be offering it throughout BC. Both organisations also offer technical manuals on residential heat loss and heat gain load calculations. There are a large number of available software solutions and mobile apps that allow you to do Manual J calculations.

The CleanBC Better Homes and Home Renovation Rebate Program requires the following information to calculate your rebate:

• The R-value of new insulation added
• The square feet covered by new insulation

The R-value that you have added is multiplied by the square feet covered, and then by a specific dollar amount that differs for each area of your home, as indicated in the table below.

Example: I had R20 of existing insulation in my attic and added R30 for a total of R50. I covered 900 square feet. My rebate is calculated as follows:

R30 × 900 sf x $0.02 = $540

My rebate for this work is $540.

Please note:

• Rebates are calculated based on the R-value of new insulation added and not the total combined final R-value for new and pre-existing insulation.
• The insulation added must have a minimum R-value added per location outlined in the table above.
• A minimum rebate of $500 is required for each insulation location to be eligible for either for both the Two Upgrade Bonus and the Home Energy Improvement Bonus.
• The insulation rebate amount cannot exceed the installed cost of the eligible upgrade indicated on the invoice.
• You cannot access a rebate for both crawlspace wall and floor above crawlspace – you must choose one or the other.

Did you see a building science or energy efficiency term you did not understand? Check out our glossary.

Some municipalities are offering top-up rebates for heat pumps and EnerGuide home evaluations. Municipal heat pump rebates are available for homes that are converting from fossil fuel heating (natural gas, oil or propane) to an electric air-source heat pump for space heating. EnerGuide home evaluation rebate top ups are available for all homes, regardless of heating fuel.

Municipal top-up rebates are automatically calculated when participants submit their program application online. No additional paperwork is required.

Municipal Offers vary by location, check out our rebate search tool for offers in your area.

Current municipal top ups include:

The CleanBC Better Homes and Home Renovation Rebate Program terms and conditions state that batts, loose fill, board and spray foam are eligible insulation types. Only products with Canadian R-values provided by the manufacturer are accepted. “System values” or values of materials not tested to Canadian national thermal insulation standards cannot be used for determining the amount of insulation added.

However, your contractor may install insulation that is foil backed. The insulating value of this is obtained by adding the thermal resistance value (R-value) of the insulation to the R-value of the foil insulation. If the R-value of the insulation (excluding the foil) meet the minimum requirements of the rebate program, it will be eligible and you can count it towards the insulation rebate.

Foil insulation is essentially a plastic bubble wrap sheet with a reflective foil layer, belonging to a class of products known as radiant foils. In Canada, these types of insulation often have R-values of R0 to R3.5. If there is no air space or clear bubble layer the R-value is R-0. Keeping the performance attribute of foil insulation in mind when planning insulation upgrades is important to ensure your upgrade maximizes its performance effectiveness. For more information on the different types of insulation, visit the Natural Resources Canada resource, Keeping The Heat In.

Did you see a building science or energy efficiency term you did not understand? Check out our glossary.