Energy resources, programs, and requirements for existing detached homes

If you live in a single family home, duplex, or townhome, rebates and services are available to help you reduce emissions and make your house healthier and more comfortable.

Resources

How do I reduce emissions in my home?
In Vancouver, nearly 60% of our carbon pollution comes from buildings. This is mainly from burning natural gas (which is methane, a fossil fuel), for heating our homes and our hot water.

To do our part to fight climate change, we need to reduce emissions from buildings by 50% by 2030. That means ambitious and necessary actions to shift away from the use of fossil fuels in favour of equipment that uses clean and renewable energy.

Step 1: Reduce your energy use

Heating your home consumes over half of your total household energy.

You can save big, while reducing your footprint by:
- Lowering your thermostat
- Draft proofing your home
- Adding insulation and/or replacing your windows
- Ensuring your heating system is working efficiently
Get help with your renovation

Step 2: Switch to renewable energy

Most homes in Vancouver burn natural gas for a variety of functions, such as space heating and hot water for cooking and decorative purposes. Switching to electric appliances, like heat pumps or induction stovetops, can significantly reduce your home’s carbon footprint.

Considering rooftop solar? Learn more about applying for a residential solar PV permit
Available rebates
Provincial Better Homes programs
- Learn about Better Homes programs – Refreshed website showcasing a range of CleanBC home energy rebate programs and program-registered contractors.
- Better Homes Rebate Questionnaire – A new tool to provide personalized rebate information based on a user's home details. Complete a brief questionnaire to find out the home energy efficiency rebates you may be eligible to receive.
Income qualified energy saving programs
- The Clean BC Energy Conservation Assistance Program provides in-home visits and free energy-saving products and services, including insulation and air source heat pumps, to income-qualifying detached homes, townhomes, row homes, duplexes, manufactured homes, or mobile homes.
- CleanBC's Energy Savings Program offers up to $44,000 in rebates for income-qualifying townhomes, duplexes, multiplexes, detached homes, suites within detached homes, and mobile homes. Each unit must have its own natural gas or electricity meter, and the utility account must be in the name of the resident or homeowner.
Utility-based rebates

BC Hydro and Fortis-BC offer a range of additional residential rebates and loans for energy-efficient products, appliances, solar panels, battery storage, and peak energy saving.
Get help with your renovation
Free digital energy planner

Your home can be energy efficient, resilient, and comfortable in all weather. The BC Home Energy Planner can help. Learn more about how your home uses and loses energy.

Get an energy evaluation

Working with an Energy Advisor, you’ll gain a better understanding of your home’s energy use with a custom report and EnerGuide rating that helps you make home improvement decisions that fit your needs.

Schedule a visit with an Energy Advisor

Are you starting a renovation? See what energy requirements may apply

Talk to a CleanBC Energy Coach

The CleanBC Energy Coach service is a free, unbiased, expert advisory service for all stages of your energy-saving home improvement project. It explains draft-proofing, insulation, ventilation, heating and cooling systems, water-heating systems, windows and doors, and appliances and lighting.
- Phone (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm): 1-844-881-9790
- Online: Better Homes BC
Hire the right contractor

Hiring the right contractor will help you turn your energy assessment into energy upgrades and savings.
- Find helpful information and tips on hiring the right contractor
- Search the list of CleanBC program registered contractors
Hot water at home
Council updates as of May 21, 2026

On May 21, 2026, Council approved Motion 8 - Eliminating Regulatory Barriers to Housing Affordability Through Alignment with the Provincial Building Code (125 KB) which directs us to bring back a bylaw repeal report for By-Law No. 14578.

This by-law, set to take effect on January 1, 2027, was intended to update energy efficiency requirements for the replacement of domestic hot water equipment in detached homes and duplexes. We're currently working on this direction.

Background

The City of Vancouver regularly updates its building rules as technology improves and high-efficiency equipment becomes more widely available. In 2026, the Vancouver Building By-law (VBBL) was updated so that, starting January 1, 2027, homeowners must replace old water heaters with the highest-efficiency models in existing 1 to 3 storey homes.

Water heating makes up about 25% of a household’s energy use in BC. It is also one of the largest sources of carbon pollution in homes, second only to space heating. Switching to a more efficient water heater during replacement or renovation is usually straightforward and costs about the same as lower-efficiency models.

In winter 2023 and spring 2024, we consulted residents and industry about these requirements. Feedback showed strong support for requiring highest-efficiency water heaters at the time of replacement.

We're currently working towards direction from Council to repeal this change to the VBBL.

Requirements as of January 1, 2027

When a water heater reaches the end of its life or needs to be replaced, it must be replaced with a model that is at least 100% efficient.

Since 2025, large home renovations costing more than $153,000 must also upgrade water heaters to meet the highest-efficiency standards.

Acceptable replacement options that meet the highest-efficiency standards include:
- Electric heat pumps
- Electric resistance water heaters
- Gas heat pumps
- Hybrid (dual-fuel) heat pumps
Exceptions

These requirements do not apply if:
- The existing electrical panel does not have enough capacity and would need to be replaced
- There is not enough space in the mechanical room, storage, or service areas for a high-efficiency water heater
- The building uses a combined heating and hot water system (common in homes with radiant floor heating)
- The replacement is in a residential building with more than 2 principal dwelling units
Supporting information
- Frequently asked questions (127 KB)
- Case study: Electrifying domestic hot water
- June 11, 2024 Council report and supporting amendments
- Learn more about compliant hot water equipment and related standards:
  - How heat pump water heaters work
  - BC highest-efficiency equipment standards consultation (473 KB)
- Learn more about available incentives:
Heat pumps
A heat pump is an efficient home heating and cooling appliance that moves heat in and out of your home using electricity. A single system can both heat and cool your house year-round, and there is a wide range of systems to supplement or fully replace your existing heating or hot water systems.

Learn more about heat pumps, their benefits, and available rebates at CleanBC Better Homes .

How much do heat pumps cost?
- Compare costs of your current heating systems to a heat pump using the home energy calculator
- A case study of heat pump costs across the United States: Heat Pumps Costs — Here’s How Much Homeowners Are Paying in 2022
Regulation updates 2022, 2024, and 2026
In 2023 and 2024, City staff consulted residents and industry about new time-of-replacement requirements for home water heaters. The Vancouver Building By-law was updated in 2026 as a result.

In May 2026, Council directed staff to bring back a repeal report for By-Law No. 14578 regarding water heater replacements.
From 2021 to early 2022, City staff engaged the public and industry professionals on proposed new requirements for existing homes.

Following this engagement, Council subsequently approved staff reports for initial requirements for electric system replacements and heat pumps.
- Review the Council report and supporting amendments – May 17, 2022
Case studies and additional resources

Building to Electrification Coalition

The Building to Electrification Coalition (B2E) offers numerous resources for home energy upgrades, including information for homeowners wanting to buy a heat pump for electric space and water heating.

Zebx

Zebx is a central industry hub and first point of contact for building decarbonization in Vancouver and British Columbia, convening green building articles, videos, case studies and events related to home energy efficiency, resiliency, high-performance design, and more.