BC New Home & Renovation Grants 2023

In our continually changing world, two things seem to at the front of everyone’s minds. We all want (and need) to save money, and we all want (and need) to do our part to help the environment. It’s why we encourage our clients to explore home building cost savings techniques, and why we build net-zero and passive income homes. Thankfully, we’re located in beautiful British Columbia, where there are many energy rebates that new and existing home owners can take advantage of, too. 

BC home energy grants are designed to encourage home owners to make their homes more energy-efficient, or to encourage energy efficiency in new home builds. These changes make your home more comfortable and environmentally friendly, while also helping you save money now and in the long run. 

As such, we highly recommend that our clients take advantage of any current BC home energy grants. They’re good for you, good for your home, and good for the planet! Here’s what you need to know. 

Green Home Renovation Rebates in BC

If you’re looking to renovate your home to make it more ‘green,’ great! First, ensure you’re working with a high quality, eco-focused contractor. And second, make sure you check out the current home renovation rebates from BC Hydro, in partnership with the CleanBC Better Homes Program. 

With these BC home energy grants, you can qualify for up to $6,000 in rebates (as of August 2023). 

According to the BC Hydro website, you must meet the following criteria to be qualified for these rebates:

  • Your home must be primarily heated by electricity

  • You must be a current residential account holder with BC Hydro or FortisBC. Electrically-heated homes served by local municipal utilities are also eligible.

  • Customers with electrically-heated homes by BC Hydro must meet the minimum electricity consumption requirements; use our electricity consumption check to determine your eligibility.

  • The residence must be a single-family home, duplex, row home, townhouse (with its own utility meter), or a mobile home on a permanent foundation. Condos and apartments aren’t eligible for this offer.

  • The upgrades must be made at a year-round primary residence

  • The residence must be twelve (12) months or older.

  • All upgrades must be installed by a licensed contractor with a GST number and a valid B.C. business license for the trade applicable to the upgrade being installed (e.g. Heat pumps must be installed by a licensed residential heating and cooling contractor). Source for criteria list

To see the complete details about rebate eligibility, please see here. 

Rebate-Eligible Upgrades

Currently, there are four main renovation areas where you can qualify for BC home energy grants:

  • Windows and doors: renovate your windows and exterior doors to be more efficient, and you’ll save energy and also be eligible for up to $2000 in rebates. Learn more here. 

  • Insulation: this can save you up to 10% in energy costs, with up to $1,200 in rebates available or new insulation in attics, exterior walls, and more. Learn more here. 

  • Space heating: installing a heat pump can make your home much more energy efficient and much more comfortable, and it can also make you eligible for a rebate of up to $7,000. Learn more here. 

  • New Electric Heat Pump Water Heating: Another relatively simple way to dramatically decrease your carbon footprint, upgrading your water heater to an electric heat pump water heater can also qualify you for up to $1,000 in rebates. Learn more here. 

To learn more about BC home energy grants, please see here. 

Free Energy Efficiency Programs Based on Income

You may also qualify for programs based on your household income. Programs include a free energy saving kit, free products, installation and energy coaching, or other upgrades. Find out more about the programs and income levels that qualify on the BC Hydro website or on the CleanBC Better Homes website.

New Home Energy Grants

As we’ve covered, environmentally friendly home renovations are great all around. But what about if you’re building your home from scratch? 

Thankfully, there are two great rebate programs available to British Colombians who are building a new home. We’ve helped clients take advantage of both programs, and we recommend them highly. 

1- Clean BC Better Homes New Construction Program

Update: August 2023 - This program is now fully subscribed.

First is the CleanBC Better Homes New Construction Program. This program provides up to $15,000 in rebates for the construction of what they call ‘new, high-performance electric homes.’ There are two main pathways to this rebate – either building a new home which meets a minimum BC Energy Step code level (we’ve got lots of experience here – just ask!), or installing a heat pump. There are also some add-on rebates. 

Single-family homes, laneway homes, duplexes and row/townhomes all qualify for these rebates, and you must receive a building permit on or after April 1, 2020. 

To learn more, see all eligibility requirements and/or apply, please visit the CleanBC website here. 

2- Fortis BC New Home Program

The second rebate option for building new homes in BC is the Fortis BC New Home Program. This program offers qualifying new homes rebates ranging from $,3000 - $10,000. Note that they have increased the size of their rebates until December 31, 2023, in an effort to keep energy efficiency top of mind as we also face the pandemic. 

To see all the details, including eligibility requirements and how to apply, here or on the CleanBC Better Homes Website.

Or simply contact us, and we can help you figure out the best options for your budget, goals and situation. We incorporate sustainable measures to lower your home’s carbon footprint into everything we do, like using Insulated Concrete Foams (ICFs) and focusing on thermal comfort, and we’re passionate about helping homeowners make their homes as environmentally friendly as possible. 


 And of course, if you’re building your home, working with an eco-friendly contractor will ensure your home is energy efficient from day one. If you have any questions about how to make your home more energy efficient, please reach out and start the conversation!

Updated: August 2023

Tedi Bezna