Renovating your kitchen or installing new hardwood flooring will definitely make your home look nicer, but if you91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™re planning on staying in your home long term, a dollar return on the investment is unlikely. But that91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s not the case with energy-efficiency upgrades and improvements!

Investing in a or increasing your are major upgrades, but not only will they reduce your home91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s energy costs year-after-year, you may also be eligible for rebates through FortisBC91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s Home Renovation Rebate Program* and CleanBC Home Efficiency Rebates. And if you make two or more eligible energy-efficiency upgrades within 18 months of each other, you91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™ll also be eligible for their $300 two-upgrade bonus. That91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s on top of your rebates!

Here91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s how it works. Let91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s say this Christmas you replace your old furnace with a rebate-eligible new high-efficiency ENERGY STAR® model and FortisBC gives you a $1,000 rebate. Then next spring you have your attic insulated and get a $500 rebate from FortisBC. Because you91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™ve made two eligible upgrades within 18 months of each other, you91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™re eligible for the . All you have to do is check the bonus check box when you apply for your second rebate. So not only are you getting $1,500 in rebates and ongoing savings on your home91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s heating (and possibly cooling with improved insulation) bills for years to come, you91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™re also getting an extra $300 just doing two upgrades.

Another option is to replace both your space and water-heating systems at the same time with a . Even though it91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s one system, it counts as two upgrades so you91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™d still be eligible for the $300 bonus91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ”and you don91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™t have to wait until you make your next upgrade to receive the bonus.

FortisBC is committed to helping customers reduce their energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions and improve the comfort of their homes. That91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s why they only provide rebates on the most efficient products and equipment and also require them to be installed to quality standards. A furnace may claim it91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s 99 per cent efficient, but if it91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s not installed properly, it may not work as efficiently as it was designed to. The same goes for insulation. If it91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s installed improperly, your home won91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™t hold in the heat as well, and poorly installed insulation could also create mold and safety hazards.

To support a quality installation, FortisBC requires that furnaces be installed with a two-pipe direct vent system by a licensed gas contractor91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ”you can find one through their 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ“ and that insulation be installed by a licensed contractor. They even have a list of you can use.

Now, that91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s energy at work.

*Conditions apply. Not all upgrades are eligible for the $300 two-upgrade bonus. Full program terms and conditions are available at fortisbc.com/homerebates. This program may be changed or cancelled at any time.