Energy upgrades and support for Indigenous Communities

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Energy upgrades for Indigenous communities

Resources and support for Indigenous communities

Offers for households

Applied for the Indigenous Community Energy Coach Program and Heat Pump Incentive?
It’s now part of the Partners in Indigenous Energy Efficiency and Resilience (PIEER) program.
Connect with a PIEER Energy Coach to learn your next steps

Energy upgrades for Indigenous communities

CleanBC, BC Hydro and FortisBC are working together to support Indigenous communities through the Partners in Indigenous Energy Efficiency and Resilience (PIEER) program.

The PIEER program provides support for Indigenous Governing Bodies (First Nations or Indigenous housing organizations) to plan and manage energy upgrades for multiple homes in their communities. This includes:

  • Home energy efficiency assessments and upgrades
  • Heating system maintenance
  • Energy efficiency retrofits

Talk to your community or nation’s administration to ask if they can deliver these programs in your community and your household.

Energy assessment funding

Energy assessments look at how a home uses energy. They offer recommendations to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs. This offer is ideal for communities that are both:

  • Starting their journey to become more energy efficient
  • Wanting to learn more about the homes in their communities

Indigenous Governing Bodies can get $500 per eligible home for:

  • Energy assessments
  • Building condition assessments that have an energy efficiency component

Funding is also available for project management resources. You can use this funding to hire extra staff or external consultants.

The funding is calculated at 10 percent of the project’s energy assessment funding scope.

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Review the program details and connect with an Energy Coach to apply for funding.

For full program details, visit Energy assessments for homes in Indigenous communities

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Heating system maintenance rebates

Heating system maintenance rebates keep space and water heating systems in top condition. This helps prevent energy loss. The available rebates are for:

  • Servicing new space and water heating systems
  • Buying filters for heating equipment like heat pumps and furnaces

Annual funding up to $100 per unit, per eligible home is available.

This supports operating and maintaining new space and water heating equipment and controls.

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Review the program details and connect with an energy coach to apply for funding.

For full program details, visit Heating system maintenance rebates

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Energy efficiency retrofit incentives

This offer provides financial incentives to support the costs of energy efficiency upgrades and retrofits. There is also funding to support project management.

Eligible Indigenous Governing Bodies can get incentives for many types of energy-efficient upgrades for existing homes. Some upgrades available are:

  • Insulation, windows and doors
  • Space heating systems
  • Water heating systems
  • Combined space and water heating systems
  • Appliances (fridge and freezer replacement)
  • Community building heat pumps (fuel switching)
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Review the program details and connect with an Energy Coach to apply for funding.

For full program details, visit Incentives for energy efficiency upgrades

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Basic energy saving measures

Indigenous Governing Bodies can access free energy-saving products. There is also salary funding and training to complete basic energy efficient upgrades in eligible community homes.

Free energy saving products that are available include:

  • LED lighting
  • Water saving products
  • Weather proofing

This funding includes salary support to hire community members to install the products. It also includes training for community members and staff to install energy-saving products.

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Review the program details and connect with an Energy Coach to apply for funding.

For full program details, visit Free energy-saving products and support

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Resources and support for Indigenous communities

These programs offer tools and support to make homes safer, warmer, and more affordable. Whether you’re planning a new build or want to improve existing homes, there’s support available every step of the way.

FortisBC Indigenous Community New Home program

FortisBC’s Indigenous Community New Home program:

  • Supports the adoption of the BC Energy Step Code
  • Promotes higher efficiency new construction
  • Enables communities to enjoy more efficient, healthier homes

First Nations Home EnergySave

Through First Nations Home EnergySave, the Fraser Basin Council works with First Nations communities and support organizations.

The goal is to reduce home energy use in new and existing houses and build local skills through free training workshops.

To learn more about hosting a workshop or sharing a story, contact echia​@fraserbasin​.bc​.ca

Indigenous Clean Energy Network

The Indigenous Clean Energy Network is for people working on Indigenous clean energy projects to learn and collaborate. Get the most out of your initiative:

Houses are nestled along a hilly suburb. In the foreground, a child is riding a bike along a pedestrian footpath.

Funding opportunities for clean energy projects

The BC Community Climate Funding Guide lists funding opportunities for Indigenous Nations and local governments in B.C. to support:

  • Energy planning
  • Energy efficiency
  • Clean energy generation projects

Offers for households

Individual Indigenous households who want support with home energy upgrades can use the rebate search tool and explore the following offers.

CleanBC Better Homes Energy Savings Program

Available to income-qualified applicants, this program provides enhanced rebates for home upgrades. The rebates cover up to 100 percent of project costs to support making energy-saving upgrades more affordable.

Explore the Energy Savings Program

CleanBC Northern Heat Pump Rebate offer

Northern B.C. residents living in an eligible home could get up to $8,000 for switching to a heat pump. You must have a residential utility account with BC Hydro to apply.

Review the Northern Heat Pump Rebate offer

Home renovation rebates

Get up to $14,000 in rebates to make your home more energy efficient, regardless of your income level. Upgrade your home’s:

  • Heating system
  • Insulation
  • Windows and more

Check out the home renovation rebates

Energy Conservation Assistance Program

Free energy evaluations and free installation of energy-saving products for income-qualified community members. Some homes may also qualify for energy-efficient upgrades like insulation, a new fridge, or a new natural gas furnace.

Learn more about energy conservation assistance