Whereas climate change is worsening conditions and increasing vulnerabilities in the built environment, and existing multi-unit residential buildings MURBs are some of the most vulnerable and housing the most vulnerable populations; And whereas the CleanBC Better Homes program provides incentives and rebates for some, but not all, dwelling types, excluding MURBs such as high-rises and apartment buildings yet over 30 of British Columbians reside in these dwellings: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the Province make the necessary changes to the CleanBC Better Homes program to ensure that all dwelling types are eligible for incentives and rebates for retrofits to ensure the health and safety of all British Columbians, particularly the most vulnerable, while working towards the Provinces GHG reduction targets.
Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation The Province remains committed to advancing key CleanBC policies and programs for energy efficiency in all dwelling types including multi-unit residential buildings MURBs. CleanBC offers a growing suite of supportive measures including CleanBC Better Homes and Better Buildings, CleanBC Social Housing Incentive, and the CleanBC Custom Program, and a Low-Interest Financing Program, along with often-stackable utility and federal energy retrofit programs, such as the Canada Greener Homes Loan that incentivize comprehensive building energy retrofits in the residential and commercial sectors. There are currently provincial, utility, and federal offers available to MURBs. To meet our ambitious emission reduction targets, Government also currently offers several incentive programs supporting electrification and the installation of heat pumps in MURBs through the CleanBC Better Buildings program. Due to BCs clean electricity system, CleanBC Better Buildings incentives are primarily focused on fuel-switching from natural gas, propane, or oil to electric heat pumps, and envelope energy efficiency measures in fossil fuel-heated buildings. Capital incentives to encourage fuel-switching i.e. electrification retrofits in medium to large buildings and funding for energy studies are provided through the Custom Program, Custom-Lite Program, Commercial Express Program and Social Housing Incentives Program. These programs focus on upgrades made to the entire building rather than to individual units. Rebates for buildings heated by electricity e.g., baseboards, which is the most common heating fuel source in apartments and condos, are provided by BC Hydro. Rebate values are based on the amount of energy saved from an energy efficiency upgrade and must be cost-effective, as determined by the BC Utilities Commission. BC Hydro has not historically offered rebates for individual condo units heated by electricity because total energy reductions are significantly less than other types of homes with higher energy consumption. However, a recent amendment to the Demand-Side Measures Regulation is expected to enable utilities to increase investment in energy efficiency and electrification programs for MURBs. To make retrofit opportunities more accessible to participants, the Province is exploring the possibility of offering specialized energy coaching services, such as strata energy coaching advisors, to help stratas navigate programs and better understand available retrofit opportunities. In 2023, the Province and BC Hydro expanded access to cooling through BC Hydros air conditioning retail rebate offer and through the expansion of the Energy Conservation Assistance Program, which provides free portable air conditioning installations for income-qualified and medically vulnerable individuals. This program will help meet the immediate need for cooling and is available to residents of apartment and condo buildings. In alignment with the CleanBC Roadmap to 2030, and to further increase access to cooling, the Province and BC Hydro are also exploring expanded program options for heat pumps in individual apartments and condo units. The Province is also actively seeking ways to improve its commercial portfolio to provide better support for electrifying and completing retrofits in commercial, institutional, social housing, and MURBs and is open to receiving feedback on this matter. In addition to provincial and utility rebates, the federal Canada Greener Homes Grant incentivizes energy efficiency upgrades and certain climate resiliency measures e.g., moisture proofing, backup battery power for solar photovoltaic systems, etc.. Low-rise MURBs less than three stories in height and less than 600 m2 in building footprint are eligible for federal rebates for insulation, air sealing, windows and doors, renewable energy, and resiliency measures, but are not eligible for heat pumps. More information on the Canada Greener Homes Grant is available at: https:natural-resources.canada.caenergy-efficiencyhomescanada-greener-h…. URL CleanBC Better Buildings incentives https:www.betterbuildingsbc.caincentive-search-tool