The future of energy efficiency. Let’s go!
We need you to help us pilot new innovative technologies to further reduce the amount of energy a home or business needs for space and water heating.
Why we pilot new energy-efficiency technologies
We’re always looking for opportunities to help our customers save energy and money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while supporting the province’s climate action goals. With the involvement of pilot participants, our Innovative Technologies team runs pilot programs to test new technologies for saving energy in homes and businesses across BC.
Pilot program success
Many of our past pilot programs have been very successful and turned into rebate programs made available to all customers.
Learn more about our current pilot programs below:
Check back soon for new pilot programs!
Residential Electric Heat Pump Evaluation Pilot
Summary: For residential customers currently using an electric heat pump
Program details: We’re seeking up to 15 participants who are currently using an electric heat pump for space heating to enroll in the Residential Electric Heat Pump Evaluation pilot. If you’re using an electric heat pump to heat and cool your home, you could earn up to $1,000 in incentives by signing up for this pilot. The pilot aims to evaluate the energy savings, customer acceptance and value proposition of electric heat pump technology installed across FortisBC’s service territories. These findings could help fill the information gaps related to the field performance of electric heat pumps and develop informed demand side management opportunities to reduce energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions.
Participant requirements: All participants will be required to respond to a survey about their electricity consumption for the last three years and allow the installation of additional sensors to measure the performance of their electric heat pump for one year.
Results: Expected in December 2023
Residential Hybrid Heating
Summary: For residential customers currently using a duel-fuel hybrid heating system
Program details: We’re seeking up to 100 participants who are currently using a dual-fuel hybrid heating system (such as an electric heat pump for primary heating/cooling and a natural gas furnace for supplemental heating) to enroll in the Residential Hybrid Heating pilot. If you’re using a combination like this to heat and cool your home, you could earn up to $1,000 in incentives by signing up for the Residential Hybrid Heating pilot. The pilot aims to evaluate the energy savings, customer acceptance and value proposition of hybrid heating technologies currently installed across FortisBC’s service territories. These findings could help fill the information gaps related to the field performance of hybrid heating systems and develop informed demand side management opportunities to reduce energy usage and utility costs.
Participant requirements: All participants will be required to respond to a survey about their gas and electricity consumption for the last three years. Some participants will have to allow equipment installation to measure the performance of their hybrid heating system for one year.
Results: Expected in December 2023
Stone Mountain Technologies gas absorption heat pumps
Summary: For residential customers testing a new gas absorption heat pump
Program details: Ten residential natural gas customers are testing a new gas absorption heat pump for space and water heating that reportedly offers efficiencies of more than 100 per cent. As with all natural gas equipment, these systems can operate on Renewable Natural Gas (RNG).1 Pilot participants are in the Lower Mainland and in the Interior so we can compare system efficiencies and reliability across the various climate zones, as well as overall customer acceptance. The results from this pilot program might lead to a gas absorption heat pump rebate program for residential FortisBC customers in the future.
Results: Expected in early 2024
Deep Energy Retrofit
Summary: For both single-family houses and multi-unit residential buildings that are significantly upgrading building envelopes and heating systems
Program details: A deep energy retrofit is a comprehensive approach to significantly enhancing the energy efficiency of a building, while also improving comfort and reducing emissions. The Deep Energy Retrofit pilot will include a group of both selected multi-unit residential buildings (e.g., rental apartments) and single-family homes to showcase different approaches and technologies.
The work will include improvements to the building envelope and heating systems. Building envelope includes all the components that separate the indoors from the outdoors, such as the exterior walls, foundation, roof, windows and doors. Building envelope improvements may include new high-efficiency windows, insulation upgrades and air sealing. Existing space heating systems will be replaced with high-efficiency technologies, such as gas absorption heat pumps.
The pilot will aim to verify energy savings and greenhouse gas emissions reduction potential, as well as gauge customer acceptance and the implementation process. The results of the pilot program will help us determine the feasibility of offering a full-scale rebate program to all customers in the future.
Results: Expected in 2024
Sign up to find out about future pilot programs
We need customers to help us pilot new innovative technologies. If you’d like to hear about opportunities to participate, sign up to be notified about upcoming pilot programs. If chosen to participate, you could be eligible for incentives, be among the first to test a new product and help influence the future of energy efficiency in BC. Let’s go!
We’re here to help
For more information about our pilot programs, email [email protected] or call 604-240-8396.
1Renewable Natural Gas is produced in a different manner than conventional natural gas. It is derived from biogas, which is produced from decomposing organic waste from landfills, agricultural waste and waste water from treatment facilities. The biogas is captured and cleaned to create low-carbon Renewable Natural Gas (also called biomethane).