Energy resources and programs for existing detached homes

If you live in a single family home, duplex, or townhome, there are available rebates and helpful services to help you reduce emissions and make your house more healthy and comfortable.

Resources

How do I reduce emissions in my home?
In Vancouver, nearly 60% of our carbon pollution comes from buildings. This is mainly from burning natural gas (which is methane, a fossil fuel), for heating our homes and our hot water.

To do our part to fight climate change, we need to reduce emissions from buildings by 50% by 2030. That means ambitious and necessary actions to shift away from the use of fossil fuels in favour of equipment that uses clean and renewable energy.

Step 1: Reduce your energy use

Heating your home consumes over half of your total household energy.

You can save big, while reducing your footprint by:
- Lowering your thermostat
- Draft proofing your home
- Adding insulation and/or replacing your windows
- Ensuring your heating system is working efficiently
Get help with your renovation

Step 2: Switch to renewable energy

Most homes in Vancouver burn natural gas for a variety of functions, such as space heating and hot water for cooking and decorative purposes. Switching to electric appliances, like heat pumps or induction stovetops, can significantly reduce your home’s carbon footprint.

Considering rooftop solar? Learn more about applying for a residential solar PV permit
Available rebates
Provincial and federal programs

The Canada Greener Homes Loan offers 10-year interest-free financing from to help make your home more energy efficient and comfortable. Eligible retrofits must be recommended by an energy advisor and have not yet been started.

Income qualified energy saving programs
- The Clean BC Energy Conservation Assistance Program provides in-home visits and free energy-saving products and services, including insulation and air source heat pumps, to income-qualifying detached homes, townhomes, row homes, duplexes, manufactured homes, or mobile homes.
- CleanBC's Energy Savings Program offers up to $44,000 in rebates for income-qualifying townhomes, duplexes, multiplexes, detached homes, suites within detached homes, and mobile homes. Each unit must have its own natural gas or electricity meter, and the utility account must be in the name of the resident or homeowner.
- Free Energy Saving Kits for BC Hydro and FortisBC customers in income-qualifying households, including multi-family buildings. Each kit includes a water-efficient showerhead, faucet aerators, weather stripping, LED lights, and other energy saving products. One kit available for each household every 5 years.
Utility-based rebates

BC Hydro and Fortis-BC offer a range of additional residential rebates and loans for energy-efficient products, appliances, solar panels, battery storage, and peak energy saving.
Get help with your renovation
Free digital energy planner

Your home can be energy efficient, resilient, and comfortable in all weather. The BC Home Energy Planner can help. Learn more about how your home uses and loses energy.

Free home energy check-ups

The Home Energy Navigator program offers free support navigating home energy upgrades, including virtual home energy check-ups, expert local advice, and more.

Get an energy evaluation

Working with an Energy Advisor, you’ll gain a better understanding of your home’s energy use with a custom report and EnerGuide rating that helps you make home improvement decisions that fit your needs.

Schedule a visit with an Energy Advisor

Are you starting a renovation? See what energy requirements may apply

Talk to a CleanBC Energy Coach

The CleanBC Energy Coach service is a free, unbiased, expert advisory service for all stages of your energy-saving home improvement project. It explains draft-proofing, insulation, ventilation, heating and cooling systems, water-heating systems, windows and doors, and appliances and lighting.
- Phone (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm): 1-844-881-9790
- Online: Better Homes BC
Hire the right contractor

Hiring the right contractor will help you turn your energy assessment into energy upgrades and savings.
- Find helpful information and tips on hiring the right contractor
- Search the list of CleanBC program registered contractors
Heat pumps
A heat pump is an efficient home heating and cooling appliance that moves heat in and out of your home using electricity. A single system can both heat and cool your house year-round, and there is a wide range of systems to supplement or fully replace your existing heating or hot water systems.

Learn more about heat pumps, their benefits, and available rebates at CleanBC Better Homes .

How much do heat pumps cost?
- Compare costs of your current heating systems to a heat pump using the home energy calculator
- A case study of heat pump costs across the United States: Heat Pumps Costs — Here’s How Much Homeowners Are Paying in 2022
Regulations updates 2022 and 2024
From 2021 to early 2022, City staff engaged the public and industry professionals on proposed new requirements for existing homes.

Following this engagement, Council subsequently approved staff reports for initial requirements for electric system replacements and heat pumps.
- Review the Council report and supporting amendments — May 17, 2022
- Review the Council report and supporting amendments — June 11, 2024
Case studies and additional resources

Building to Electrification Coalition

The Building to Electrification Coalition (B2E) offers numerous resources for home energy upgrades, including information for homeowners wanting to buy a heat pump for electric space and water heating.

Zebx

Zebx is a central industry hub and first point of contact for building decarbonization in Vancouver and British Columbia, convening green building articles, videos, case studies and events related to home energy efficiency, resiliency, high-performance design, and more.