Source: City Green Solutions, Aug 17 09 

The LiveSmart BC Efficiency Incentive program was wildly successful in BC – so successful that provincial grant money planned to last for three years was completely allocated in just 15 months; however, the federal grants of up to $5000 are still available.

More than 40,000 homeowners participated in the LiveSmart BC Efficiency Incentive Program since April 2008.

Since the provincial budget is now fully allocated, as of August 16th, no new home energy assessment applications will be accepted. However, all homeowners that had an energy assessment prior to August 16th will still be eligible to receive both the federal ecoENERGY grants and the LiveSmartBC grants.

“Now is still an opportune time for homeowners to do home energy upgrades,” explains Peter Sundberg, the Executive Director of City Green Solutions. “The combination of grants currently available helps reduce up‐front costs and homeowners can also reduce their home energy bills by 30% or more by following City Green retrofit suggestions.”

An energy assessment with City Green still provides homeowners with access to the following grant and incentive programs:

 ecoENERGY Retrofit ‐ Homes Grants (up to $5000)

 SolarBC Grants for solar hot water installations (up to $1000)

 Home Renovation Tax Credit (up to $1350) for upgrades completed in 2009

 PST exemptions for most energy efficient products

City Green recommends that homeowners undertake energy efficiency upgrades now to take advantage of these time‐limited incentives. The PST exemptions for insulation, windows, space and water heating equipment and draft proofing supplies will expire with the introduction of the BC Harmonized Sales Tax in July of 2010. The Homeowner Tax credit, which helps reduce costs for retrofits, including for heat pumps, furnaces, windows, and insulation upgrades, expires on February 1, 2010. The ecoENERGY Retrofit Homes program is operational until March of 2011, subject to available funding.

Homeowners in BC have clearly demonstrated that despite the economic downturn, they are willing and able to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. The success of the LiveSmart BC program demonstrates that residential energy efficiency incentive programs are one of the most cost effective means to:

• achieve BC’s greenhouse gas emissions reductions target (33% reduction by 2020)

• stimulate local economies from Victoria to Fort Nelson

• support small businesses installing energy efficiency equipment

• help homeowners reduce their energy bills

• grow a green workforce that will strengthen BC as a leader in the energy conservation sector

“With every dollar that the province is spending on grants to homeowners, the LiveSmart BC program is leveraging $10 in consumer spending and another dollar in grants from the federal ecoENERGY program,” explains Sundberg. “Dollar for dollar ‐ where else can the provincial government get so many environmental and economic benefits out of one program?”

Media Inquiries:
Peter Sundberg
manager@citygreen.ca
250.419.1944

To book a home energy assessment and apply for grants, contact:
City Green Solutions
outreach@citygreen.ca
250 381 9995 (Vancouver Island)
604 370 0220 (Lower Mainland)
1 866 381 9995 (toll free)
www.citygreen.ca

Source: BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Aug 14 09

VICTORIA – Blair Lekstrom, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, today announced that the LiveSmart BC: Efficiency Incentive Program has reached its three-year target of 40,000 initial home energy assessments in only 15 months. As such, the program will no longer provide incentives to new participants, effective end of business Aug. 15, 2009.

The program was launched in May 2008 to run for three years, as part of the Energy Efficient Buildings Strategy. The Province implemented this innovative, one-stop shop program to provide homeowners with co-ordinated, easy access to provincial, utility partner and federal incentives. To date, 11,000 homeowners have completed efficiency retrofits.

Homeowners currently in the program have up until March 31, 2011, or 18 months after their initial energy assessment, to complete their retrofits and follow-up energy assessment, and will receive the rebates and incentives that are listed in the current LiveSmart BC: Efficiency Incentive Program incentive chart at www.livesmartbc.ca.

Homeowners entering the program on or after Aug. 16, 2009 are still eligible for the federal ecoENERGY program incentives, which have recently been increased by 25 per cent.

Ministry staff will continue to administer LiveSmart for homeowners who have entered the program, and are working with LiveSmart program partners on a future version of the Efficiency Incentive Program.

The Province remains committed to supporting energy efficiency and conservation in British Columbia, and to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 33 per cent and acquiring 50 per cent of BC Hydro’s incremental resource needs through conservation by 2020.

Contact:
Jake Jacobs
Public Affairs Officer
Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources
250 952-0628
250 213-6934 (cell)

For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca.

"Incentives for Energy Efficient Upgrades"

Laura Krohn, LiveSmart BC Outreach Specialist, Light House and City of Vancouver Sustainability Group

"Incentives for Energy Efficient Upgrades"

Laura Krohn, LiveSmart BC Outreach Specialist, Light House and City of Vancouver Sustainability Group 

Two complementary home energy efficiency grant programs create a splash