A new program could put more money back in Coquitlam residents' pockets if they choose to heat their home in a more energy-efficient manner.
As of Thursday (Feb. 9), property owners in the city are being offered rebates of up to $1,200 for swapping out their current gas heating pump to an electric model as part of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
This includes homes that have a heating system run by natural gas, oil or propane.
However, the campaign is only offering funds on a first-come, first-serve basis "depending on the scope" of a residence's retrofit, said Coquitlam environment manager Caresse Selk.
"Heat pumps are the most energy-efficient way to heat or cool a home in B.C.," she said in a news release.
"They can replace both a heater and air conditioner, and are more climate-friendly than systems that use fossil fuels and release greenhouse gases into the environment."
Selk said the municipality's rebate is a top-up to the CleanBC Better Homes fund that local homeowners can apply for after conducting an electric heat pump service upgrade.
To qualify for any or all of the $1,200 in rebates, the new pump(s) must be installed on or after Jan. 1, 2023, and residents must show an invoice as proof.
The money you can potentially earn, broken down, is as follows:
- $500 = Electrical service upgrade top-up
- For eligible participants upgrading their electrical service to 100, 200 or 400 amp service and switch from a fossil fuel (oil, natural gas, or propane) space or water heating system to an electric air source heat pump or heat pump water heater
- $350 = Electric heat pump top-up
- For eligible participants switching from a fossil fuel space heating system to an electric heat pump
- $350 = Electric heat pump water heater top-up
- For eligible participants switching from a fossil fuel water heater system to an electric heat pump water heater
As well, Selk said local property owners that make the switch, and complete an EnerGuide home evaluation, could also receive grants and interest-free financing loans through Canada's Greener Homes initiative.
Coquitlam's heat pump rebate is funded through the city's allocations from the provincial Local Government Climate Action Program, Selk added.
For more information, you can visit the energy efficient upgrades page of the City of Coquitlam website.
