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Whole building design

High-rise construction Vancouver

Funding and technical assistance to design energy-efficient buildings

The whole building design offer helps ensure that new developments and major building retrofits are designed to be high-performing and energy-efficient, right from the early stages of the design process.

The offer

Get funding for your new commercial building or major building retrofit. Start with a feasibility study to determine the best options for increasing energy efficiency in your project. We offer up to 100% funding for a feasibility study to create energy modelling of the most cost-effective energy conservation measures for your building.

Once your study is complete and reviewed, you may be eligible for a custom incentive for your capital project. Your incentive will be calculated based on the incremental project costs of improving the efficiency of your building. Depending on your payback period, incentives could range from 2 to 5 cents per kWh/year of energy savings.

How it works

Here are the steps involved in the whole building design offer:

  1. Select your team: Select a lead consultant and an energy modeler. The lead consultant must be a member of the Alliance of Energy Professionals and is responsible for coordinating the project’s deliverables.
  2. Pre-proposal meeting: Connect with your Key Account Manager (KAM) to arrange a pre-proposal meeting, including BC Hydro and your consultants, to discuss your project’s scope and technical requirements before submitting a proposal for a feasibility study.
  3. Submit application: To submit the application, your KAM will require a complete Study Proposal tab in the New Construction Workbook.
  4. Application approval: Once your application is approved with a signed agreement, your design team can begin the energy modelling as per the study scope and BC Hydro New Construction Consultant Guidelines.
  5. Submit study: Complete the Study Report tab in the New Construction Workbook and submit to BC Hydro. It will be reviewed and additional information may be requested. Upon review of the study, your KAM will organize a meeting to determine which measures may proceed to a custom incentive application.
  6. Submit incentive application: Your KAM will submit a new application for your custom incentive project. You’ll receive a new agreement outlining your incentive for your capital project.
  7. Project completion: Once your project is complete, send us all completion documents listed in your agreement package. We’ll review your documents and process the incentive payment. Your documents must be received within 48 months of your signed agreement.

Eligibility

Your new commercial or multi-unit residential building project must:

  • Be a new construction or major building retrofit.
  • Be a building that is not subject to step code such as a school, hospital or some municipal buildings.
  • Be located in BC Hydro’s service area, including New Westminster.
  • Have potential electricity savings of at least 25,000 kWh per year.
  • Be early in the design process.

In addition, final documents for the incentive project must be received within 48 months of a signed agreement.

How to apply

Applications are submitted by your Key Account Manager. Contact them to apply. If you’re not sure who to talk to, contact our business help desk at 1 866 522 4713.