Rebates for equipment upgrades in multi-unit residential buildings
Funding available for whole-building retrofits
Offset the cost of energy-efficient equipment retrofits with rebates on heat pumps, windows, lighting and more. These rebates are part of the Multi-Unit Residential Building Retrofit Program.
Available to stratas, market rentals and equity co-ops, take advantage of this opportunity to upgrade your building with modern, energy-efficient equipment and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
On this page:
The offers
The available rebates are summarized below. Refer to our participant guide [PDF, 3.7 MB] for a detailed breakdown of product specifications and associated rebates.
For buildings currently heated by electricity
| PRODUCT | BC HYDRO REBATES |
|---|---|
| Heat pumps - single-head* | $1,000 per heat pump |
| Heat pumps - multi-split* | $800 per head |
| Heat pump - central system* | $1,200 per ton of capacity |
| In-suite heat pump water heaters* | $3,000 per unit |
| Central heat pump water heaters | $2,600 per suite served |
| Windows (high efficiency) | $30 per square foot |
| Ventilation make-up air unit | $2,000 per ton of capacity |
For buildings currently heated by natural gas, oil or propane
| PRODUCT | cleanbc REBATES |
|---|---|
| Heat pumps - single-head* | $3,000 per heat pump** |
| Heat pumps - multi-split* | $2,400 per head** |
| Heat pump - central system* | $3,600 per ton of capacity** |
| In-suite heat pump water heaters* | $3,000 per unit |
| Central heat pump water heaters | $2,600 per suite served** |
| Make-up air unit | $6,000 per ton of capacity** |
| Electrical capacity upgrades | $130/ tCO2e of lifetime GHG savings |
Other energy efficiency equipment upgrades
| PRODUCT | BC HYDRO REBATES |
|---|---|
| Variable-speed drives | Up to $140 per horsepower (motor HP) |
| Parkade carbon monoxide (CO) controls | Up to $250 per unit |
| LED lighting (common areas) | $10 to $185 per luminaire |
| Lighting controls (common areas) | $15 to $40 per unit |
*Must cover a substantial portion of the building suites. This offer is not for individual, in-suite upgrades.
**CleanBC is offering a rebate top-up for Northern B.C. communities. More details coming soon.
We also offer funding for custom projects, including envelope upgrades, other central heat pump systems, and heat recovery ventilation system upgrades, without pre-determined rebate amounts.
How it works
- Ensure you meet the eligibility requirements.
- As required based on your building's ownership type, gather the approvals and funds for your project.
- Engage a contractor who's qualified to perform the work. You can request a referral from our Alliance of Energy Professionals, and we recommend getting at least three quotes.
- Apply online before purchasing any equipment or removing any original equipment. You'll need the required documents, completed by your contractor.
- We'll review your application. If pre-approved, you’ll sign a funding agreement, and your contractor can complete the project.
- After your project’s complete, return to your online application and submit the required documents. This must be done within 12 months of your pre-approval date.
- We'll review your documents. If approved, we’ll process your rebate payment in accordance with your agreement.
Eligibility
- Available to purpose-built rental, condominium, and equity co-op buildings.
- Must be located in BC Hydro's service territory [PDF, 90 KB]
- Available to low-rise apartment, high-rise apartment, and stacked townhome buildings, three storeys or higher with common area lighting and central mechanical systems.
- This is a retrofit offer. New construction projects aren't eligible.
- Apartment/condo building: Larger multi-unit residential buildings with major common area and central systems. Includes low-rise (three to six storey) and high-rise (seven or more storey) buildings.
- Stacked townhome: A three- or four-storey townhome building with one unit stacked above another. Each unit has its own front entrance and there are no shared internal corridors.
- Multiplex: Small multi-unit residential buildings of three storeys or less with no significant common lighting or central mechanical systems.
- Commercial spaces in mixed-use buildings aren't eligible for this offer. Instead, see business energy saving incentives.
- Multiplexes and side-by-side rowhomes or townhomes aren't eligible. Instead, see our residential home rebates.
How to apply
Applications are completed online once you've hired your contractor and you have the required documents ready.
You'll be prompted to log in to the Conservation and Energy Management (CEM) Hub first.
Don't have a CEM Hub profile yet? Register now.
To apply, have the following documents complete and ready to upload.
- Workbook (required) – Completed by your contractor, includes your project’s measures, costs, energy savings, cost savings, and more. Download the workbook template [XLSX, 527 KB]
- Study report (optional) – The final feasibility study report from your consultant outlining the options and costs for the specific system you're planning to upgrade.
Once all equipment has been installed, return to your online application. Declare that it's complete and provide your final documents.
You'll be prompted to log in to CEM Hub first.
You'll need to have the following documents ready to upload.
- Invoices (required) – Copies of all paid, itemized invoices for your project including equipment purchase and installation and other associated costs.
- Schedule B (required) – A summary of your project and the applicant's project declaration. This form will have been provided with your agreement.
- Schedule C (required) – A reconciliation of actual project costs compared to expected. This form will have been provided with your agreement.
- Revised workbook (optional) – If your project changed since your initial application, upload the revised version.
Custom projects
We also offer funding for projects that involve a more customized approach without pre-determined rebate amounts. These projects require in-depth energy and costing calculations, and if you don't have those, you could benefit from a feasibility study. We'll work with you to determine funding amounts.
The same building eligibility criteria applies.
If your project includes any of the below upgrades, it’s a custom project:
- Electrical infrastructure upgrades.
- Any building envelope upgrades other than window-only retrofits.
- Central hydronic heat pumps that have supplemental electrical resistance or natural gas fired heating.
- Central heat recovery: Includes heat recovery from sewage or wastewater or exhaust air heat recovery.
- Central hydronic or domestic hot water heating that is electric resistance only.
- Heat pumps that aren't air-to-air systems, i.e. they're water-to-air, air-to-water, or water-to-water.
- Lighting redesign that includes changes to the light quantity and/or mounting locations, or projects that add a networked lighting control system.
We recommend that you complete a feasibility study for the project before engaging with a contractor.
Once you've hired your contractor and you have the required documents ready, apply for your custom project online.
You'll be prompted to log in to CEM Hub first.
To apply, have the following documents complete and ready to upload.
- Custom project workbook (required) – Completed by your contractor, includes your project's measures, costs, energy savings, and more. Download the custom project workbook template [XLSX, 237 KB]
- Product specification sheets (required) – A copy of the manufacturer's specification sheet(s) for the equipment you plan to install.
- Energy calculation (required) – The custom energy and/or lighting calculations to determine the energy savings for your project. For lighting projects, provide a lighting calculator per site. For mechanical projects, provide a custom calculation per site. Download the lighting calculator template [XLSX, 2.8 MB]
- Study report (optional) – The final feasibility study report from your consultant outlining the options and costs for the specific system you’re planning to upgrade.
- Project scope (optional) – For lighting projects, a summary of the proposed project including the technical details of its measures.
Once all equipment has been installed, return to your online application. Declare that it's complete and provide your final documents. You'll be prompted to log in to CEM Hub first.
You'll need to have the following documents ready to upload.
- Invoices (required) – Copies of all paid, itemized invoices for your project including equipment purchase and installation and other associated costs.
- Schedule B (required) – A summary of your project and the applicant's project declaration. This form will have been provided with your agreement.
- Schedule C (required) – A reconciliation of actual project costs compared to expected. This form will have been provided with your agreement.
- Revised workbook (optional) – If your project changed since your initial application, upload the revised version.
- Product specification sheets (optional) – A copy of the manufacturer's specification sheet(s) for the equipment you had installed.
Related offers
Opportunity assessments
If you're not sure where to invest in your multi-unit residential building, start with an opportunity assessment. Get funding for a professional, high-level assessment that will identify where you’ll get the most value.
Feasibility studies
Available to multi-unit residential buildings, a study is a great way to proceed after completing an opportunity assessment. Get funding for an in-depth analysis of a specific system at your building.