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Multi-unit residential building retrofit program is here

Apartment building exterior
Funding for opportunity assessments and feasibility studies, along with rebates for equipment upgrades, are now available for whole-building retrofit projects in multi-unit residential buildings.

New incentives for whole-building retrofits in multi-unit residential buildings

Developers of new housing developments got their good news earlier this summer as we announced investment and policy changes to streamline infrastructure upgrades and reduce the cost of new customer connections to our electricity grid. Now comes help for those considering retrofits to existing multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs).

A new program targets retrofits in low- and high-rise buildings, and stacked townhomes, and targets three ownership types: stratas, market rentals, and equity co-ops. It doesn't cover upgrades to individual suites, but focuses on the following in whole-building retrofits:

  • Heat pumps
  • Heat pump water heaters
  • Lighting
  • Windows
  • Electrical capacity upgrades and more

"It's an entirely new program for MURBs, which had previously been an under-served sector of the market," says Tanya Perewernycky, program delivery specialist with the BC Hydro Alliance of Energy Professionals. "It targets building retrofits, but ties into our efforts around housing affordability and a holistic approach to energy efficiency and decarbonization. It's no longer just about lighting – it now includes a variety of mechanical and envelope upgrades."

You can get the full details on offers on a. And watch for invitations to upcoming deep dive webinars into the new program.

Funding for assessments, feasibility studies, and equipment upgrades

The program is split into three main offers, which present a variety of opportunities for Alliance members.

  • Opportunity assessments: Funding for a consultant to complete a high-level assessment of a building to identify opportunities. These could be ways to improve energy efficiency and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, integrating solar panels and battery energy storage, electric vehicle (EV) charging readiness, and more.
  • Feasibility studies: Funding for a consultant to conduct an in-depth analysis of a specific system in your building to prepare for a retrofit project.
  • Rebates for equipment upgrades: Rebates for upgrading equipment include savings for heating, lighting, window, capacity upgrades and more, with rebate amounts depending on the project type and complexity. More complex upgrades fall under custom projects and include upgrades to electrical infrastructure and to the building envelope other than windows, central hydronic heat pumps, central heat recovery, heat pumps other than air-to-air, and lighting redesign projects.

"For industry, consulting engineers will be engaged with the opportunity assessments and feasibility studies, as well as with some of the mechanical rebates," says Perewernycky. "Contractors will be involved in the rebate offers."

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