To show our love and support of the sportsmanship of countries from all over the world, we are joining the spirit of one of the biggest event this year. Which country are you rooting for?
Enter Valid Zip.
To show our love and support of the sportsmanship of countries from all over the world, we are joining the spirit of one of the biggest event this year. Which country are you rooting for?
One of the easiest ways to reduce our energy consumption in Canada, is to increase our efficiency. More efficient structures and systems allow us to reduce our impact on the environment without changing our habits. In recognition of this, British Columbia is offering rebates for qualified upgrades that improve a home's efficiency.
Live Smart BC is offering up to $7,000 in rebate to those who buy and install qualified, energy-saving upgrades for their property. Row homes, mobile homes and single family dwellings all qualify. Those who have participated in the ecoENERGY program may not use the same property to receive Live Smart BC rebates.
Though similar in nature, the Live Smart BC and the previous ecoENERGY program have some key differences; qualification for ecoENERGY's rebates does not necessarily translate to qualification for Live Smart BC. Please ensure that your upgrades meet Live Smart BC's requirements.
The first step to receive your rebate is to hire a Certified Energy Advisor. Your advisor will perform a "pre-retrofit" analysis of your property and hot water heater. After learning about the upgrades you plan to undertake, your advisor will document and photograph your existing equipment. Advisors must be able to access all rooms in your house. This first visit is sometimes referred to as the "D-Visit."
Next, perform the upgrades you have decided on. Qualified upgrades include insulation in the attic and basement, window and door upgrades, space heating equipment upgrades and water heating equipment upgrades. Upgraded equipment must have a better energy rating than the previously installed equipment; for example, an upgrade to a tankless water heater or a gas water heater would be eligible, but an upgrade to a conventional water heater might not.
Used equipment, even it has a higher energy rating than your old equipment, does not qualify for this program. All installations and upgrades must meet local by-laws and codes. Additionally, participants may only apply for one space heater upgrade. Those who perform two space heater upgrades or installations will be given a rebate for the more expensive one.
After you have performed your installations and upgrades, contact your Certified Energy Advisor to conduct your "post-retrofit" energy assessment. By examining your equipment, ensuring that it is in use, documenting your equipment and photographing it, the advisor will verify that your upgrades and installations have been performed in a manner compliant with Live Smart BC's requirements. Your advisor will verify that attic insulation upgrades provide 100% insulation, verify that your heat source is functioning and inspect your tankless water heater or gas water heater. Also called an "E-Visit," this assessment must be performed within eighteen months of your D-Visit or by March 31, 2013, whichever comes first. Your advisor will submit your application.
We are all looking to take steps to reduce our energy consumption to improve British Columbia, and there has never been a better time to make upgrades. Be sure to take advantage of Live Smart BC to reduce the cost of upgrading old equipment or installing new equipment.
Hot water heaters are important investments for households, as the quality purchased will influence utility bills for years to come. It makes sense, therefore, that homeowners want to investigate the most cost efficient, quality heaters available. Many are discovering in their investigation the benefits of purchasing a natural gas water heater.
Natural gas water heaters offer many benefits over electric heaters. To begin, the initial cost of installation is often offset through rebates issued by electric companies. Once the equipment is installed, the monthly utility costs tend to be much lower. Even customers in areas of the country, like the Pacific Northwest, where the average cost of electricity is lower than other areas, notice a significant difference in their utility bills over the course of the year. Natural gas heaters are also more reliable in the event of power outages. Even if the power shuts off, you can still shower. They also last considerably longer, up to twenty years versus six to twelve with a conventional heater. This means less maintenance and less replacement.
Those who are interested in helping conserve the environment would also be happy to learn that natural gas is much more efficient than electricity, reducing the carbon produced in the powering of the heater. Those who live in areas where the electricity is generated by coal will drastically reduce their carbon footprint, as coal produces twice as much greenhouse gas than natural gas.
Natural gas water heaters also offer a variety of practical benefits. The heaters do not store hot water in a tank, but heat water as needed. This eliminates the need of waiting for the water to heat up before being able to shower and the problem of running out of hot water before the entire family is able to clean up in the morning. Since they are tankless, the water heaters also take up considerably less space than a traditional, electric water heater. The water is also being heated properly before being passed along to you for use, meaning the water is considerably cleaner. In a tank, water often has time to sit in a rusted tank, and can be passed through the pipes before being heated so you receive water filled with debris.
On many fronts, natural gas water heaters show their superiority to older electric heaters. Any homeowner interested in replacing their water heater should carefully investigate this option before making a purchase.