Updated March 10, 2023

Determining the future of energy efficiency

At FortisBC, we’re always looking for new and innovative ways to help customers reduce energy use and lower greenhouse gas emissions. We've been focused on this goal since 2008, by offering rebates on high-efficiency equipment and education on low- and no-cost ways to save energy.

Mila’s job is to investigate and evaluate new, innovative technologies that may help determine the future of energy efficiency in B.C. Technologies like warm mix asphalt, ice rink de-aerators, gas heat pumps, hybrid heating and deep energy retrofits. “I love educating people on what we're doing to lead innovation and bring it to our customers," says Mila. "I'm passionate about leading our energy transition to help reduce greenhouse gases through the evaluation and market transformation of new energy- efficient technologies.”

Mila and the rest of the Innovative Technologies team is focused on finding technologies that perform at well over 100 per cent, so that by 2030 efficiencies this high will be the norm.

Innovation starts with you

How do we take an idea and turn it into reality? “That’s where our customers come in,” says Mila. “We need to know how these technologies perform in real-life settings, so we find customers to test them in pilot programs. This helps us determine if the technology is reliable, safe and practical for customers, and also if it achieves the claimed system efficiencies,” says Mila.

From pilot program to customer rebate

Since 2011, we've completed more than 20 pilot programs and 34 feasibility studies on potential technologies and transitioned more than 30 of them into rebate programs.^* We even ran a unique pilot program for ice rinks for a vortex mechanical de-aerator that removes micro air bubbles from cold water thereby eliminating the need to use hot water for ice resurfacing, saving gas. “The ice rink pilot was so successful that we now have a rebate program for commercial ice rinks,” says Mila. “There’s even a couple of professional hockey teams who’ve incorporated this technology into their arena’s ice resurfacing equipment! Now tell me that isn't cool,” she adds.

In 2022, the team successfully brought gas absorption heat pumps (with claimed efficiencies of 120 to 160 per cent) from pilot testing to a rebate available to all FortisBC commercial gas customers.

Metro Vancouver Housing Corporation participated in the gas absorption heat pump pilot, testing the technology for domestic water heating in one of their buildings in Vancouver. Adrian Lynch, a project engineer for Metro Vancouver said, "We were impressed not only with the operational cost savings but also with the fact that there were zero operational issues with the units."

Gas heat pumps for homes are currently being piloted by participating residential customers. 

An award-winning team

The Innovative Technologies team has been so successful, they won the Award of Excellence in Technology Innovation and Advancement from ESource, a research and consulting consortium for North American utilities.

Jim Kobialko, Manager, Innovative Technologies, receiving the award from Wayne Greenburg, CEO of ESource.

Join us. Sign up to find out about future pilot programs.

Help influence the future of energy efficiency in B.C.: sign up to learn about opportunities to participate in a future pilot program. If chosen, you could be eligible for incentives and be among the first to test a new product!

You might also be interested in:

• Learn more about our current pilot programs.
• Find out about our how we're transforming BC's energy for a cleaner tomorrow. 
• See how record investment is paying off in energy savings.

*Some rebate programs have been updated. Some rebates and offers are no longer available.