Builders and Developers

Incentives for New Builds Now $2000, Available Until the End of March

House under construction

The SolarBC new homes program will provide $2,000 incentive for installing solar hot water during February and March, 2010, and demonstrate to builders and developers how they can simply and effectively include solar hot water systems in new home projects and developments.

For builders and developers in the City of Vancouver, a total of $3,500 is available through SolarBC for the first 50 homes. The incentives are funded by City of Vancouver, SolarBC, Terasen Gas and Offsetters. You can find out more about this new pilot program on City of Vancouver’s Solar Community page along with details of their Solar Homes Strategy.

Easy 2-Step Installation Process

Step 1: Do a Self-Assessment

To be suitable for solar hot water, the following new homes will qualify and should incorporate the design criteria listed:

  1. Single-family residences or small multi-unit residences without a common entrance and comprising less than 600 square meters of building area; or 3 or fewer stories of building height
  2. Have at least 6 square meters of south-facing roof space.
  3. Ensure no shade or limited shade from 10am – 4pm on the south-facing part of the roof.
  4. May need additional space may next to the conventional hot water tank for an additional solar storage tank.
  5. Understand what permits you need.

Step 2: Choose a SolarBC Registered Installer

The SolarBC Residential Project offers incentives only for systems installed by registered installers. The installer will walk you through the final steps of the installation and will work with SolarBC to provide you a $2000 discount on your installation.

Click here to find a SolarBC Registered Installer in your area.

  • Sign your acknowledgement that the new solar hot water system has been installed to your satisfaction.
  • All SolarBC solar hot water systems are backed with leading industry warranties that will be provided by your registered installer.
  • Use our online rating system to provide feedback on your registered installer (simply click on the installer to get to their information page, and fill out the rating system below. See Terratek for an example), and/or fill out our customer survey
  • If selected, please allow access for a technical quality-control inspection.

Advantages of SHW On New Homes

Solar hot water will help to differentiate proactive builders in a crowded market. Some advantages of solar hot water in new homes are:

  • Unique ‘green’ marketing opportunity and selling feature
  • Greatly reduced monthly operating costs for homeowner
  • Extended life on traditional water heaters
  • Increased re-sale value now and into the future
  • Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and reduced carbon footprint
  • Protection from rising energy prices and security from power outages

SolarBC is collaborating with the Canadian Home Builders Association BC and their Built Green BC program. The Built Green Checklist awards the following points:

* Ready homes (2 points). This involves a small additional cost of about $300, and the solar hot water collectors can be installed at a later date. This is considerably cheaper than installing solar hot water once a home has been built. For more information you can read NRCan's Solar Ready Building Specifics. You can also read here about the proposed solar hot water requirements on single family homes, put forth by the province of BC.

* A fully commissioned solar water heating system, sized for 30% of DHW load (4 points) 50% (6 Points) or 80% (8 points)

Find out more about Built Green BC at www.builtgreencanada.ca

For More Information

For further details on how to apply or to express initial interest in SolarBC, or in the City of Vancouver Pilot Project, please send us an email at info@solarbc.ca or call us at 1-866-650-6527.