Social Housing

Applications from social housing providers will be solicited through a request for proposals and projects selected based on greenhouse gas savings and geographic distribution.

BC public housing complex

Through the provincial Energy Savings Plan (2005 – 2007), Affordable Warmth BC (ongoing) and BC Housing, a number of affordable housing units were or are being audited and upgraded to reduce energy demand. Solar hot water has great potential to reduce energy demand and operational costs, which can make a significant contribution towards the affordability of housing.

The SolarBC Social Housing project will target affordable and social housing owners and operators in B.C. including not-for-profit social housing entities and, depending on the region, could be combined with low-interest loans available for residential energy-efficiency upgrades from credit unions such as Van City and Northern Savings Credit Union. The project will offer rebates towards the solar thermal system capital and installation costs per unit connected.

This project will compliment Natural Resources Canada’s ecoEnergy for Renewable Heat program that offers incentives towards solar hot water installations in the industrial, commercial and public institution building sectors. More information about this program is available at the ecoEnergy website.

Further details on how to apply for the SolarBC Social Housing project will be available soon. If you would like to express initial interest in this project, please send an email to us at info@solarbc.ca and we will contact you directly as information becomes available.