Accessing Grants: Steps to Apply
Thank you for your interest in the Solar Colwood incentive program! We look forward to working with you to make your home – and the Colwood community as a whole - more energy efficient. Follow the steps below to get started and be sure to send any questions or concerns you might have to the Solar Colwood Program Coordinator. Talk to you soon!
Homeowner Kim Eden is proud to tell her kids
their hot water is heated by the sun.
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Steps to Apply for $1000+ for Ductless Split Heat Pumps and $2500+ for Solar Hot Water
Print this checklist to help you track your progress |
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Steps to Accessing Grants
- Sign Up Today to Access the Highest Solar Colwood Discounts
Become part of Solar Colwood today by contacting our Program Coordinator, J. Scott in one of the following ways:
- Join our Mailing List
- Submit the Online Registration Form
- Fax the Printable Registration Form to 250-478-7516
- Phone or email her at 250-884-0784 or manager@solarcolwood.ca
Ask about our no-money-down, low-interest financing options! J. will give you an important overview of available you system types, grant program details, financing options and more. Visit her showroom for hands-on interaction with solar hot water and ductless split heat pump technologies.
- Get Your Place In Line For Federal Grants Before They Run Out
Register for the federal ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program before the program ends and you may become eligible to receive an additional $1250 for solar hot water and $500 for ductless air source heat pumps.
- Book an Energy Assessment
For homes and home-based businesses:
Book a Home Energy Assessment with a Certified Energy Advisor to find out the best retrofit options for your home and to confirm your Eligibility for the LiveSmart BC and ecoENERGY grant programs. Be sure to call your Advisor BEFORE you renovate since retrofits started before the first assessment will NOT be eligible for ecoENERGY or LiveSmart grants. If you have already had a home energy assessment, please let the Solar Colwood Program Coordinator know.
Cost: $118 (HST on full $150 cost less the $50 Solar Colwood discount)Certified Energy Advisors Amerispec, Colwood 250-590-6912 victoria@amerispec.ca Building Insight, Victoria 250-812-9965
250-508-6661ecoenergy@mcampbell.ca
energydoug@gmail.comCity Green, Victoria 250-381-9995 savings@citygreen.ca Hometech Energy Solutions Inc., Nanaimo 1 866-561-0708 hometech@telus.net
For other small businesses, book a FREE LiveSmart BC Small Business Energy Assessment by contacting:
250-478-1130
chamber@westshore.bc.ca
westshore.bc.ca/livesmartbc/
- Choose your energy efficient installations
Request free quotes from several Registered Installer(s) and then choose which system is best for you. Sign your Installation Contracts with the Registered Installer(s) for Eligible systems and immediately receive:
- Your confirmed place in the queue for the grants ranging from higher to lower amounts
- Solar Colwood discounts of $1000+ for Ductless Split Heat Pumps
- Solar Colwood discounts of $2500+ for Solar Hot Water
- Access to other rebates from LiveSmart BC and ecoENERGY.
Administration Fees:- $95 for Solar Hot Water
- $55 for a standard ‘hydronic heating system’ plumbing permit that your installer will request of the City on your behalf (discounted down from $110)
- $30 IF a cross-connection is required (discounted down from $55)
- $75 for Ductless Split Heat Pumps
If you are getting both solar hot water and a ductless split heat pump installed, you only pay the one $95 fee.
Administrative fees help to cover a small portion of the program costs, and part goes into a fund that will be used to support a future community energy reduction project.
Secondary Suites and Solar Hot Water
During the Solar Hot Water installation and plumbing permit process, the Building Inspector will enter the home or business to inspect the hot water tank. Due to liability issues, if the Building Inspector enters a secondary suite that is not deemed up to code, he must report it and require that the suite be brought up to current building code standards.
There are three classifications of Secondary Suites in Colwood:
- Class I: If your secondary suite is registered with the City of Colwood as a Class I, this means the suite is up to the current building code standards and the Building Inspector may enter the suite to inspect the hot water tank.
- Class II: If your secondary suite is registered with the City of Colwood as a Class II, the suite may not be up to current building code standards. However, if the hot water tank is in the MAIN part of the home and not the suite, this will not be an issue. Please register the part of your home that holds the hot water tank as your MAIN dwelling and the other area as the secondary suite.
- Unregistered: If your secondary suite is not registered with the City of Colwood and is not up to current building code standards, please be warned that if the Building Inspector enters the suite to review the hot water tank, you may be required to bring that suite up to code.
For further clarification of this issue, please contact Alan Haldenby, City of Colwood.
- Book A Follow Up Assessment
Homeowners: During this follow up visit, your Certified Energy Advisors will confirm the upgrades that you completed and complete the grant paper work to the provincial and federal grant programs on your behalf.
Cost: $168 ($150 plus HST)
Businesses: Follow up assessments not required
- Celebrate Your Energy Savings and Cash Your Rebate Cheques!
- Receive up to $5,000 in product rebates from LiveSmart BC.
- Receive up to $5,000 in product rebates from ecoENERGY.
- Enjoy a warmer, quieter home that uses less energy.
- Reduce your energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Share your knowledge and success with your curious neighbors.
- Support your local economy, save money and protect the environment.
