Small Commercial New Construction Program

Please note the Small Commercial New Construction Program is no longer available. If you're applying for 2023 rebates, please refer to the rebate details and deadlines below.

• You must have preregistered your project on or before December 31, 2023, to be eligible for rebates.

Available rebates for 2023 program applicants

Note: rebates are only available for participants who submitted a pre-registration application before December 31, 2023.

Step code rebates are based on the square footage of the completed building. Optional rebates for an energy model and airtightness testing are also available. Pre-approval is not required to be eligible for these rebates.

Energy model rebate

The energy model rebate can help you with the cost of a detailed engineering analysis of your facility. The rebate is 50 per cent of the cost of the energy model, to a maximum of $5,000.

Airtightness rebate

The airtightness rebate encourages you to include airtightness testing during and after construction and feed the results back into the energy model. For each stage (mid-construction and post-construction test) you may be eligible for a rebate equal to 75 per cent of the cost of the airtightness test, to a maximum of $2,500 per test (maximum of two tests).

Requirements:

• Airtightness tests must be performed according to (BCBC Part 10.2.3.5.): ASTM E 779, “Standard test method for determining air leakage rate by Fan Pressurization,” or USACE Version 3, “Air leakage test protocol for building envelopes.”
• The mid-construction test should be performed after the air barrier component of the building envelope is installed to help identify any problem areas while they're still accessible.
• The final test is performed after construction is fully completed and the energy model updated to provide a more accurate understanding of how the building performs.
• Tests must use an induced air pressure of not less than 75 Pa.
• Results of airtightness tests must be reported to FortisBC, not just whether it passed or failed requirements.
• Post-construction airtightness test results must also be entered into the final energy model using the procedure outlined in the City of Vancouver Energy Modelling Guidelines version 2.

How to apply

Please note the Small Commercial New Construction Program is no longer available. If you applied for rebates in 2023, please refer to the rebate details and deadlines below.

• For current rebates visit the Commercial New Construction Performance Program page. If you have any questions, please contact your FortisBC key account manager
  • The pre-registration email confirmation you received when you pre-registered your project with FortisBC (before December 31, 2023), in addition to your Small Commercial New Construction Program application

1. Review the Small Commercial New Construction Program participant guide and terms and conditions.
2. Work with an energy advisor or energy modeller to develop a model and assist with airtightness testing.
3. Once construction has been completed and within six months of building occupancy, email your completed and signed application along with the following supporting documents:
• a copy of the BC Energy Step Code Part 3 Energy Design Report or Part 9 Energy Compliance Report and EnerGuide® N Report and Label for service organization energy advisors or Energy Model Report
• as-built drawings of the building
• energy model invoice or progress draw (optional)
• air tightness testing results and invoice or progress draw (optional)
• if applicable, completed professional engineer of record declaration for MURBs (Appendix A on application form)

We’re here to help

If you have questions, contact your key account manager, energy solutions manager or technical advisor, call 1-866-884-8833 or email [email protected].