LiveSmart BC - Programming News http://www.livesmartbc.ca/rss/livesmartbc.xml http://www.livesmartbccommunity.ca/.feed/blogs/livesmart-bc-public-blog.rss]]> http://www.gov.bc.ca/shared/images/right_nav_library/livesmartbc.jpg LiveSmart BC http://www.livesmartbc.ca/ 5 On-Bill Financing Pilot to be expanded next year VICTORIA - Through a regulation, the Province is expanding the on bill financing pilots to Vancouver Island and Kelowna, beginning in January 2014.
This program helps families finance energy efficiency improvements to their homes through a loan from their utility company, BC Hydro or FortisBC... Read More

]]> http://www.livesmartbc.ca/incentives/OBF/ Thu, 11 Apr 2013 16:00:00 GMT LiveSmart BC Efficiency Incentive Program (EIP) extended for one year In partnership with BC Hydro and FortisBC, the Province of British Columbia is extending the popular LiveSmart BC: Efficiency Incentive Program, which gives homeowners up to $3,500 in rebates for energy saving improvements to their homes.
Since 2008, the LiveSmart BC Program has helped more than 100,000 homeowners in communities throughout B.C. improve the energy efficiency of their home in ways like increased insulation and/or draft proofing.
The program is extended for one year, until March 31, 2014 and BC Hydro and FortisBC will fund the rebates for their customers. The provincial government will continue to reduce the cost of the initial home energy assessment... Read More

]]> http://www.livesmartbc.ca/rebates/ Thu, 11 Apr 2013 12:00:00 GMT On-Bill Financing Pilot Program The Province, in partnership with BC Hydro and FortisBC, has recently launched two energy efficiency financing pilot projects in Colwood on Vancouver Island and in the South Okanagan. These projects offer low cost financing for participants who wish to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. There is an option for financing program participants to transfer the outstanding loan obligation to the new buyer when the house is sold, if the buyer and seller consent to the transfer.

Additional information on the two pilot programs is available at www.bchydro.com/homeloan and www.fortisbc.com/efficiencyloan.

]]> http://www.livesmartbc.ca/homes/ Wed, 27 Mar 2013 12:00:00 GMT Clean Energy Vehicle Program extensions announced The B.C. government will carry over $2.5 million from the original $14.3 million Clean Energy Vehicle Program to extend the CEVforBC Point-of-sale incentive program through the 2013-14 fiscal year.
The LiveSmart BC Residential Charging Point Rebate Program – which provides rebates of up to $500 per unit for residential electric charging stations that meet identified eligibility requirements – will carry through the 2013-14 fiscal year.

To learn more about LiveSmart BC Transportation Incentives, visit LiveSmartBC.ca/incentives/transportation.

]]> http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/ministries/environment-1/ Tue, 26 Mar 2013 12:00:00 GMT Updates to LiveSmart EIP contractor-documents The following documents have been updated today.

]]> http://www.livesmartbc.ca/contractors Thu, 07 Mar 2013 12:00:00 GMT $1.6M for LiveSmart BC Small Business program extension into 2014 VICTORIA - The $1.6-million LiveSmart BC: Small Business program will be extended another year, until March 31, 2014 announced Rich Coleman, Minster of Energy, Mines and Natural Gas and Naomi Yamamoto, Minister of State for Small Business. This successful program, launched in January 2011, will continue to help British Columbia small businesses save energy and money by making energy efficient improvements such as replacing incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs.

The program has served over 10,000 British Columbia businesses, helping them save 150 gigawatt-hours of electricity or enough to power 13,500 homes for one year. It has also saved over 1,620 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions...

]]> http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2013/03/16-m-for-livesmart-bc-small-business-program.html Fri, 01 Mar 2013 12:00:00 GMT Updated List of eligible VSM furnaces for LiveSmart BC Home Energy Efficiency Incentive Program The LiveSmart BC EIP contractors' list of eligible VSM furnace products has been updated with approximately 30 additional models.

]]> http://www.livesmartbc.ca/contractors Tue, 19 Feb 2013 12:00:00 GMT BC Interior Retailer Bridges Gap and Sheds New Light on Energy Efficiency Investment This is the story of Ken and Karin Bridge, small business owners in Cranbrook, who took climate action by upgrading the lighting in their interior furnishings store via provincial rebate incentives coordinated by local Business Energy Advisor Marilyn Christensen. Now they are saving money and the environment.

Bridge Interiors in Cranbrook recently went through a massive renovation which included upgrading their lighting. The 44,000 sq.ft building used inefficient fluorescent fixtures mounted in high ceilings, incandescent exit signs and incandescent outdoor lighting. Overhead costs associated with inefficient lighting were significant.

...A Cranbrook electrical wholesale outlet had initially talked to owner Ken Bridge about the recent advances in lighting efficiency and how Ken could save energy and money by installing more energy efficient lighting...

...Small Business Energy Advisor Marilyn Christensen provided details about how the LiveSmart BC: Small Business Program, funded by the provincial government, could help reduce the cost of Ken's new lighting (and reduce Bridge Interior's energy use), and also reduce his energy bills...

]]> http://www.livesmartbccommunity.ca/blogs/livesmart-bc-public-blog/bcinteriorretailerbridgesgapandshedsnewlightonenergyefficiencyinvest Fri, 15 Feb 2013 12:00:00 GMT Incentives for Installing Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Multi-Unit Residential Buildings (MURB) Effective February 8th, 2013, Property Owners of Multi Unit Residential Buildings (and Mixed Use Residential Buildings) can apply for incentives through LiveSmart BC for the installation of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations. Incentives covering 80% of eligible procurement and installation costs incurred prior to March 31st, 2013 (up to $4,500 max per station) are available. Stations must be installed by August 15th, 2013. Click here to learn more!

]]> http://www.livesmartbc.ca/incentives/transportation Fri, 08 Feb 2013 12:00:00 GMT ENERGY STAR requirements for furnaces are changing February 1st, 2013 ENERGY STAR requirements for furnaces are changing February 1st, 2013. LiveSmart has updated the list of eligible furnaces to align with these changes. If you are in involved in recommending, selling, installing or purchasing residential furnaces and are applying for incentives through LiveSmart BC, please ensure that you choose products that appear on this updated list.

]]> http://www.livesmartbc.ca/contractors Fri, 01 Feb 2013 12:00:00 GMT Province seeking proposals from BC Universities and Colleges for CEV research The Province is seeking proposals from BC Universities and Colleges for research related to Clean Energy Vehicles which includes electric vehicles (EVs), natural gas vehicles, and hydrogen vehicles. The RFP is targeted for project funding in the $5,000-$20,000 range.

The RFP, Research Agreement and a template for the proposal scope of work are enclosed below.

The first call for applications will run from January 30 - February 15, 2013. Project funding must be expended by March 31, 2013.

Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to contact:
Dian Ross
Clean Transportation Engineer (E.I.T.)
Ministry of Energy and Mines and Natural Gas
Dian.Ross@gov.bc.ca
Tel: (250) 387-5092

]]> http://www.livesmartbc.ca/incentives Wed, 30 Jan 2013 12:00:00 GMT Continuing incentives for BC Hydro commercial customers BC Hydro’s Product Incentive Program will continue, with LiveSmart BC adding an additional 10% on all eligible products until March 31, 2013. Rebates are for eligible energy efficient electric products including but not limited to lighting, refrigeration, commercial kitchen equipment. Click here for more information.

Please note that where LiveSmart BC is topping up incentives for existing FortisBC and BC Hydro Programs, only the LiveSmart BC portion will end March 31, 2013. The FortisBC and BC Hydro Programs have no current end date

For more information on the LiveSmart BC: Small Business Program, call 1 (866) 430-8765.

]]> http://www.livesmartbc.ca/rebates Fri, 04 Jan 2013 12:00:00 GMT New incentives for FortisBC electric customers FortisBC launched their Product Rebate Program (PRP) which includes incentives for efficient lighting, refrigeration, heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) systems and commercial food service equipment. LiveSmart BC will add 10% to all eligible electric products and natural gas commercial food service equipment through the PRP until March 31, 2013. Customers are also able to apply for the FortisBC Efficient Boiler and Commercial Water Heater Programs mentioned above through one application to the PRP. Click here for more information.

Please note that where LiveSmart BC is topping up incentives for existing FortisBC and BC Hydro Programs, only the LiveSmart BC portion will end March 31, 2013. The FortisBC and BC Hydro Programs have no current end date

For more information on the LiveSmart BC: Small Business Program, call 1 (866) 430-8765.

]]> http://www.livesmartbc.ca/incentives Thu, 03 Jan 2013 12:00:00 GMT Boiler and water heater incentives available for non-FortisBC commercial customers LiveSmart BC launched its own Boiler and Commercial Water Heater Replacement Program* to ensure BC small businesses that are not FortisBC customers have access to gas and propane incentives. Applications for this program must be submitted by March 15, 2013.

*Contact your LiveSmart BC Business Energy Advisor (BEA) for more information; click here to find a BEA near you.

For more information on the LiveSmart BC: Small Business Program, call 1 (866) 430-8765.

]]> http://www.livesmartbc.ca/incentives Wed, 02 Jan 2013 12:00:00 GMT Big incentives for efficient boilers and commercial hot water heaters LiveSmart BC will top up incentives for eligible small businesses under FortisBC’s Efficient Boiler Program (up to a maximum of $35,000 for eligible condensing boilers, and up to $10,000 for mid-efficiency boilers), and will match FortisBC’s incentives for their Efficient Commercial Water Heater Program (up to a maximum of $15,000.) The LiveSmart BC tops ups are effective until March 31, 2013. Click the title of each program for more information.

For more information on the LiveSmart BC: Small Business Program, call 1 (866) 430-8765.

]]> http://www.livesmartbc.ca/incentives Mon, 31 Dec 2012 12:00:00 GMT New incentives for cooking equipment LiveSmart BC announced in November that it will add 10% to FortisBC’s Efficiency a la Carte Program incentives*. This top up is effective until March 31, 2013. Through this program, an eligible business can get rebates up to $3,500 per appliance when installing high-efficiency cooking equipment.

*Though the Efficiency a la Carte Program applies to both new construction and retrofits, the LiveSmart BC 10% top up only applies to retrofits. Click here for more information.

For more information on the LiveSmart BC: Small Business Program, call 1 (866) 430-8765.

]]> http://www.livesmartbc.ca/incentives Fri, 30 Nov 2012 12:00:00 GMT