Energy resources and programs for existing detached homes

Home energy navigator

Need help navigating a home upgrade or renovation? Use our Home Energy Navigator to get free climate-friendly home improvement supports like rebates, advice, and more.

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

What's happeningHelp shape hot water equipment replacement requirements

Share your feedback on proposed changes to the Vancouver Building By-law (VBBL) that would require higher efficiency domestic hot water equipment in existing detached homes.

Get involved

Complete the survey by Thursday, December 7
Attend an online information session
- Tuesday, November 21 from 6pm to 7pm
- Tuesday, December 5 from noon to 1pm
Ask our team a question or contact green.buildings@vancouver.ca

Learn more on
Shape Your City

Your feedback will inform regulatory changes expected to begin in 2024. Results will be available in a report to Council in early 2024.

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.
Available rebates
Provincial and federal rebate programs

Visit BetterHomesBC to find heat pumps rebates. There are over $12,000 available rebates when you switch off a fossil fuel based appliance.

Access up to an additional $5,000 in federal grants from Canada Greener Homes when you install an eligible system.

Income qualified energy saving programs
- The CleanBC Income Qualified Program offers financial assistance for income-qualifying townhomes, detached homes, and mobile homes where each unit has its own natural gas or electricity meter, and the utility account is in the name of the resident or homeowner.
- Free Energy Saving Kits for BC Hydro customers in income-qualifying households (including multi-family buildings), and include a water-efficient showerhead, faucet aerators, weather stripping, and other energy saving products.
Get help with your renovation
Free home energy check-ups

The Home Energy Navigator program offers free support navigating home energy upgrades, including virtual home energy check-ups, expert local advice, and more.

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
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
- Watch our webinar to learn more about installing a heat pump
Access heat pump rebates
- Visit BetterHomesBC to find heat pumps rebates. There is over $12,000 available rebates when you switch off a fossil fuel based appliance
- Access up to an additional $5,000 in federal grants from Canada Greener Homes when you install an eligible system
How much do heat pumps cost?
- Compare costs of your current heating and hot water systems to a heat pump 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
Regulations update 2022
From 2021 to early 2022, City staff engaged the public and industry professionals on proposed new requirements for existing homes.

Visit the engagement page for details

Following this engagement, Council approved a staff report for initial requirements for electric system replacements and heat pumps.
- Read the Council report and supporting amendments
Case studies and additional resources