Heat Pump Program
The Heat Pump program on Cortes is brought to you by the Support Our Seniors Society in collaboration with CCHA Family Support, Cortes Climate Action Network (CCAN), Cortes Island Community Foundation (CICF), Cortes Community Forest Coop (CCFC), SRD, Cortes Housing Society (CHS) and Ecotrust Canada.
At the moment there are great incentives to support people on Cortes to install heat pumps and undertake sustainable energy efficiency measures. For individuals and families on a low income, heat pump installation, insulation & other weatherization measures can be 100% free through the BC Hydro ECAP Program. This lowers monthly energy costs, improve year-round comfort (heat in winter/cool in summer), reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and healthier indoor air quality. Wood stoves can still be used when there are power outages.
Rebate programs have a variety of eligibility requirements that change all the time and require online applications and documentation. As a pilot project last year, the Better at Home Program on Cortes successfully applied for free heat pumps for many low income senior households in collaboration with Ecotrust Canada and installation has been completed for most seniors who participated in the first round. We also applied for some Clean BC subsidies for those that were not eligible for the free install but could still receive some subsidy.
More seniors and other people in the community inquired for support with the application and in collaboration with other organizations we are continuing this program and application support for individuals and families of all ages for all eligible (low income) residents on Cortes Island.
We have a trained individual on Cortes Island – Bruce Taylor – that has helped the BAH clients with their application and knows the process well. The BC Hydro ECAP program is first come first serve.
Watch this video to learn more:
https://youtu.be/DbWeavUCpVw?si=8w28Qk_MhtPqIF_1
Contact Info
Please contact Bruce at any time for an in home visit/help with the application/information about the program. Email him at energyretrofitcortes@gmail.com or call 778.879.8701
A huge thank you to our partners: CCHA Family Support, Cortes Climate Action Network (CCAN), Cortes Island Community Foundation (CICF), Cortes Community Forest Coop (CCFC), SRD, Cortes Housing Society (CHS) and Ecotrust.
I am grateful for the ease with which I now have a heat pump in my home keeping me warm. I felt supported and comfortable during the whole process, the timing was perfect and the result is excellent. Thank you so much. I feel so lucky to be part of this Cortes community and so grateful for your kindness and commitment to helping seniors live “better at home”!
