PowerSense > Home Upgrades > Home Improvement Program PowerSense Home Improvement Program (HIP)
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Windows and DoorsENERGY STAR ® windows and doors are an essential component of the building envelope of any home. They’re an excellent long-term investment for your family and home because they can increase comfort by keeping your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer, and lower your bill by reducing heating costs. Rebate details: Rebate is based on $0.50 per square foot. Quick Links:
Solar Hot Water Retrofit SystemsFortisBC PowerSense is pleased to offer a $1,000 rebate for solar hot water retrofits done on a bulk scale in existing stratified communities, row housing and neighbourhoods. Quick Links: Insulation UpgradeProper insulation helps keep your home cool in the summer, and warm in the winter. It comes in a variety of types including mineral or organic material, plastic foam, spray foam, glass fibers, batts, blankets, rigid foam-board or fiberboard. Insulation performance is measured by R-value, which refers to its ability to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better, however different R-values are recommended for walls, attics, basements and crawlspaces, depending on the area you live. Rebate details: Rebate is calculated at $0.05 per kWh in savings. Quick Links
Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) Rebate or LoanAn Air Source Heat Pump can save you up to 40% on your home’s heating and cooling costs, and provide you with heat in the winter and cooling in the summer. An ASHP is an electric device that sits outside your home absorbing heat from the outdoor air in winter, and removing heat from inside your home in the summer. Air conditioners and refrigerators are examples of heat pump technology. Rebate & Loan Details: Rebate is calculated at $0.05 per kWh in savings, with an average rebate being approximately $300. Alternatively, you can apply for a loan of up to $5000 OAC financed over 10 years at 4.9%. Qualifying Models:Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN) and the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) have developed an EnerGuide rating system to determine the level of efficiency offered by each ASHP model. The EnerGuide ratings are usually printed on the back page of manufacturers ’literature for each model. One rating is for the cooling side called Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER). The other rating is for the heating side of the ASHP unit is called the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF). To qualify for PowerSense incentives, the ASHP unit must be ENERGYSTAR rated for Canada. LiveSmart BC:For installations to existing homes you can access the FortisBC rebate through the LiveSmart BC Incentives Program. If you are installing a heat pump and taking advantage of the LiveSmart BC incentives you do not apply directly to FortisBC for the PowerSense rebate. If you have a home heated primarily using electricity you can still take advantage of our loan, but $300 will be deducted from the LiveSmart BC rebate. Quick Links:
Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) Rebate or LoanA ground source heat pump can save you up to 65% on your home’s heating and cooling costs, and provide you with heat in the winter and cooling in the summer. Solar energy stored in the ground is captured in a solution circulating through underground pipes and carried back to a heat pump installed inside your home. The heat pump distributes heat indoors during cold weather, displacing conventional heating systems and collects it during hot weather, acting as an air conditioner. Rebate & Loan Details: Rebate is calculated at $0.05 per kWh in savings, with an average rebate on a 4000 sq. ft. home being approximately $900. You can also apply for a loan of up to $5000 OAC financed over 10 years at 4.9%. GSHP Incentive Requirements
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Lighting IncentivesLighting in your home accounts for 5 to 10% of your total energy use. It may not seem like much, but you can still achieve savings in the long-term by changing your usage habits and switching to more energy efficient technologies. Compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb rebate (Up to $5 per bulb)CFLs use 75% less energy, last up to ten times longer than incandescent bulbs, and are available for a wide variety of styles. Receive up to $5 (to a maximum of 50%) for every CFL bulb you purchase. Quick Links:
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Lots of equipment has chargers, such as laptops, cell phones and digital cameras. When they are not charging, unplug them, as they draw some power whenever they are plugged in. 
Energizing solar hot water in BC. SolarBC helps out with up to $1,625 towards the cost. Installing solar hot water will improve your energy security, save you money, and give you peace of mind.
The LiveSmart BC: Efficiency Incentive Program can help you save money and energy on residential and business upgrades.
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