ecoENERGY Grants Available Now!

Save NOW with a home retrofit grant – Save later on your energy bills.

The Government of Canada has renewed the ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program from June 6, 2011, to March 31, 2012, to help homeowners make their homes more energy-efficient and reduce the burden of high energy costs.

 

Please note that the ecoENERGY grants are separate from the LiveSmart BC grants offered by the provincial government, and you need to register to access these grants.

 

When selecting a new ENERGY STAR qualified air-source heat pump (ASHP) or central A/C, the complete system must meet the requirements listed below. The system is composed of a matched outdoor unit (condenser coil), indoor unit (evaporator coil or head in the case of ductless mini-splits) and sometimes a specific furnace. The installer must supply an invoice with all makes and model numbers including the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) reference number. When the AHRI reference number includes a furnace model, that furnace must be present at the time of the post-retrofit evaluation or otherwise the ASHP or A/C will not qualify for a grant. For ductless mini-split AHSP, at least one outdoor unit combined with one or more heads must meet the 12,000 BTU/hr requirements.

 

Minimum requirements for air-source heat pumps and air conditioners
Air-Source Heat Pumps:

Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) 14.5
Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) 12.0
Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) for Region V (Canada) 7.1
Heating capacity (BTU/hr) 12,000

Air Conditioners:

Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) 14.5
Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) 12.0

 

Install one of the following ENERGY STAR qualified air-source heat pumps (ASHP) that provide space heating and optional cooling. The ASHP must have an AHRI number meeting the minimum requirements.

• central split-system ASHP that is a complete new system or replacement including the matched indoor coil and outdoor unit, as well as a furnace if required to meet ENERGY STAR

• single package ASHP

• ductless mini-split ASHP with at least one indoor head per floor (excluding the basement) that is a complete new system or replacement including indoor head and outdoor unit.

• $500

Replace your central air-conditioning system with one of the following ENERGY STAR qualified A/C systems:

• central split-system A/C that has an AHRI number meeting the minimum requirements

• ductless mini-split that has an AHRI number meeting the minimum requirements with at least one indoor head per floor excluding the basement

• an ASHP that meets the minimum requirements that also provides cooling (such a system would be eligible for both a space heating and cooling grant).

• $250 

 Install an HRV or ERV that is certified by the Home Ventilating Institute (HVI) and listed in Section 3 of their product directory. Go to hvi.org, click “Consumers” and “Certified Products Directory.” Systems listed in other sections of the HVI directory are not eligible. $375

Heat Pumps Incentives

Here are the new grants available from LiveSmart BC for heat pump installations and other residential HVAC improvements. Check out the LiveSmart BC website for information on how to access these grants.

Air Source Heat Pump

• ENERGY STAR central heat pump system verified with an AHRI number, with either a new DC variable speed air handler or a new ENERGY STAR furnace with DC variable speed motor ~ $1500
• Ductless mini-split heat pump: one head in main occupied area plus one additional head on a different floor, ENERGY STAR or non-ENERGY STAR inverter-based system ~ $1500
• ENERGY STAR central heat pump system added to an existing furnace or added to an existing indoor air handling unit ~ $1000
• Ductless mini-split heat pump: Single head in main occupied area, ENERGY STAR or non-ENERGY STAR inverter-based ~ $1000

Ground or Water Source Heat Pump

•  CAN /CSA C448 compliant, new ground source heat pump installation that is certified by the Canadian GeoExchange Coalition ~ $2500
• CAN /CSA C448 compliant, ground source heat pump replacement that is certified by the Canadian GeoExchange Coalition ~ $1000
• CAN /CSA C448 compliant, new shared ground source heat pump serving three or more homes that is certified by the Canadian Geo Exchange Coalition: One incentive per shared loop ~ $1500, One for each distribution system in the shared loop ~ $1000

Water Heating

•  Electric heat pump water heater with an Energy Factor of 2.0 or greater. Must be installed in an unconditioned space or have ducting of the exhaust and supply air to the outdoors. Integrated system ~ $400, Add-on system ~ $200
•  Drain water heat recovery installation with efficiency greater than 42% ~ $150

 Other Home Heat Incentives

• ENERGY STAR gas furnace 95% AFUE or better with DC variable speed motor ~ $500
• Install an HVI certified ENERGY STAR Heat Recovery Ventilator and a house air tightness of 4.5 ach @50Pa in South Coastal ~ $800
• Replace a minimum of five thermostats for electric baseboards with electronic thermostats ~ $50

Retrofits Incentives

Through a grant from Natural Resources Canada’s Clean Energy Fund and other funding partners such as BC Hydro, the City of Colwood will be providing incentives towards solar thermal hot water heating systems, ductless split heat pumps, home energy monitoring systems and more. Details of the program are being finalized, and the City hopes to launch the program and begin retrofits in May 2011. The goal is to retrofit 1,000 homes over the three year program.

The incentives will be greatest for those who join the program early. The first ten homes will receive a $3,800 incentive towards the cost of solar hot water heating; the next 200 homes will receive $3,000 each. An energy assessment will help you to identify other energy- and cost-saving retrofits, and the program coordinator will be working to make this process easy for homeowners to take part. http://www.solarcolwood.ca/home-business.php

Ductless Split Heat Pumps

Air source heat pumps are an increasingly common option for homeowners looking to reduce energy costs for heating and cooling their homes. These work well for homes with a ducting system (forced air system). For homes with no ducting system—for example, those with electric baseboard heaters—a ductless heat pump may be a great option. As the name implies, it is a heat pump without ducts. Instead warm (or cool) air is blown into the room where the indoor unit is located. Such a system is ideal for retrofits where installation results in minimal changes to the home. http://www.solarcolwood.ca/clean-energy.php

Ozone

Ozone is produced by ultraviolet light from the Sun hitting the Earth's atmosphere (especially in the ozone layer), lightning, certain electric devices (such as air ionisers), and as a byproduct of other types of pollution.

Ozone exists in greater concentrations at altitudes commonly flown by passenger jets. Reactions between ozone and onboard substances, including skin oils and cosmetics, can produce toxic chemicals as byproducts. Ozone itself is also irritating to lung tissue and harmful to human health. Larger jets have ozone filters to reduce the cabin concentration to safer and more comfortable levels.
Outdoor air used for ventilation may have sufficient ozone to react with common indoor pollutants as well as skin oils and other common indoor air chemicals or surfaces. Particular concern is warranted when using "green" cleaning products based on citrus or terpene extracts as these chemicals react very quickly with ozone to form toxic and irritating chemicals as well as fine and ultrafine particles. Ventilation with outdoor air containing elevated ozone concentrations may complicate remediation attempts.^[

Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a surrogate for indoor pollutants emitted by humans and correlates with human metabolic activity. Carbon dioxide at levels that are unusually high indoors may cause occupants to grow drowsy, get headaches, or function at lower activity levels. Humans are the main indoor source of carbon dioxide. Indoor levels are an indicator of the adequacy of outdoor air ventilation relative to indoor occupant density and metabolic activity. To eliminate most Indoor Air Quality complaints, total indoor carbon dioxide should be reduced a difference of less than 600 ppm above outdoor levels.

Carbon dioxide levels not exceed 700 ppm above outdoor ambient levels. Exhaust gas leakages can occur from furnace metal exhaust pipes that lead to the chimney when there are leaks in the pipe and the pipe gas flow area diameter has been reduced.

Asbestos fibers

Governments  have set standards for acceptable levels of asbestos fibers in indoor air. Many common building materials used before 1975 contain asbestos, such as some floor tiles, ceiling tiles, taping muds, pipe wrap, mastics and other insulation materials. Normally significant releases of asbestos fiber do not occur unless the building materials are disturbed, such as by cutting, sanding, drilling or building remodelling. There are particularly stringent regulations applicable to schools.  Inhalation of asbestos fibers over long exposure times is associated with increased incidence of lung cancer.

Asbestos is found in older homes and buildings, but it is most dangerous in schools and industrial settings. It was once widely used in shingles, fireproofing, heating systems and floor and ceiling, tiles in older buildings. When asbestos-containing material is damaged or disintegrates, microscopic fibers are dispersed into the air. The risk of lung cancer from inhaling asbestos fibers is also greater to smokers. The symptoms of the disease do not usually appear until about 20 to 30 years after the first exposure to asbestos. Removal of asbestos-containing materials is not always optimal because the fibers can be spread into the air during the removal process.  A management program for intact asbestos-containing materials is often recommended instead.

Legionella

Legionellosis or Legionnaire's Disease is caused by a waterborne bacterium Legionella that grows best in slow-moving or still, warm water. The primary route of exposure is aerosolization, most commonly from evaporative cooling towers or showerheads. A common source of Legionella in commercial buildings is from poorly placed or maintained evaporative cooling towers, which often release aerosolized water that may enter nearby ventilation intakes. Outbreaks in medical facilities and nursing homes, where patients are immuno-suppressed and immuno-weak, are the most commonly reported cases of Legionellosis. More than one case has involved outdoor fountains in public attractions. The presence of Legionella in commercial building water supplies is highly under-reported, as healthy people require heavy exposure to acquire infection.

Legionella testing typically involves collecting water samples and surface swabs from evaporative cooling basins, shower heads, faucets, and other locations where warm water collects. The samples are then cultured and colony forming units (cfu) of Legionella are quantified as cfu/Liter.
Legionella is a parasite of protazoans such as amoeba, and thus requires conditions suitable for both organisms. The bacterium forms a biofilm which is resistant to chemical and antimicrobial treatments, including chlorine. Remediation for Legionella outbreaks in commercial buildings vary, but often include very hot water flushes (160 °F; 70 °C), sterilization of standing water in evaporative cooling basins, replacement of shower heads, and in some cases flushes of heavy metal salts. Preventative measures include adjusting normal hot water levels to allow for 120°F at the tap, evaluating facility design layout, removing faucet aerators, and periodic testing in suspect areas.

VOC

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids.  VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects.

Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors than outdoors. VOCs are emitted by a wide array of products numbering in the thousands. Examples include: paints and lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials and furnishings, office equipment such as copiers and printers, correction fluids and carbonless copy paper, graphics and craft materials including glues and adhesives, permanent markers, and photographic solutions.

Organic chemicals are widely used as ingredients in household products. Paints, varnishes, and wax all contain organic solvents, as do many cleaning, disinfecting, cosmetic, degreasing, and hobby products. Fuels are made up of organic chemicals. All of these products can release organic compounds during usage, and, to some degree, when they are stored.

Testing emissions from building materials used indoors has become increasingly common for floor coverings, paints, and many other important indoor building materials and finishes.

Carbon Monoxide

One of the most acutely toxic indoor air contaminants is carbon monoxide (CO), a colorless, odorless gas that is a byproduct of incomplete combustion of fossil fuels.  Common sources of carbon monoxide are tobacco smoke, space heaters using fossil fuels, defective central heating furnaces and automobile exhaust.  Improvements in indoor levels of CO are systematically improving from increasing numbers of smoke-free restaurants and other legislated non-smoking buildings. By depriving the brain of oxygen, high levels of carbon monoxide can lead to nausea, unconsciousness and death.

Molds and Other Allergens

These biological chemicals can arise from a host of means, but there are two common classes:

• Moisture induced growth of mold colonies
• Natural substances released into the air such as animal dander and plant pollen. 

Moisture buildup inside buildings caused by water penetrating the building envelope or skin, from plumbing leaks, from condensation due to improper ventilation, or from ground moisture entering a building part will result in mold. When materials such as paper, wood or drywall become moist and fail to dry within 48 hours, mold mildew can propagate and release allergenic spores into the air.

In many cases, if materials have failed to dry out several days after the suspected water event, mold growth is suspected within wall cavities even if it is not immediately visible. Through a mold investigation, which may include destructive inspection, one should be able to determine the presence or absence of mold. In a situation where there is visible mold and the indoor air quality may have been compromised, mold remediation may be needed. Mold testing and inspections should be done by an independent investigator to avoid any conflict of interest and to insure accurate results; free mold testing offered by remediation companies is not recommended.

There are some varieties of mold that contain toxic compounds (mycotoxins). However, exposure to hazardous levels of mycotoxin via inhalation is not possible in most cases, as toxins are produced by the fungal body and are not at significant levels in the released spores. The primary hazard of mold growth, as it relates to indoor air quality, comes from the allergenic properties of the spore cell wall. More serious than most allergenic properties is the ability of mold to trigger episodes in persons that already have asthma, a serious respiratory disease.

Mold is always associated with moisture, and its growth can be inhibited by keeping humidity levels below 50%. Moisture problems causing mold growth can be direct such as a water leaks and/or indirect such as condensation due to humidity levels.

Radon

Radon is an invisible, radioactive atomic gas that results from the radioactive decay of radium, which may be found in rock formations beneath buildings or in certain building materials. Radon is one of the most pervasive serious hazard for indoor air, probably responsible for tens of thousands of deaths from lung cancer each year.  There are relatively simple tests for radon gas, but these tests are not commonly done.

Radon is a heavy gas and will accumulate at the floor level. Building materials can actually be a significant source of radon, but little testing is done for stone, rock or tile products brought into building sites.  Radon accumulation is greatest problem for well insulated homes. The half life for radon is 3.8 days, indicating that once the source is removed, the hazard will be greatly reduced within a few weeks.

Radon levels can be reduced by sealing concrete slab floors, basement foundations, water drainage systems, or by increasing ventilation. They are usually cost effective and can greatly reduce or even eliminate the contamination and the associated health risks.

Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air quality is a term referring to the air quality within and around buildings, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of the people inside the building.  Indoor Air Quality can be affected by:

• Microorganism contaminants such as mold and bacteria
• Gases; including, carbon monoxide, radon, volatile organic compounds
• Particulates that can causes adverse health conditions

Indoor air is more of a health hazard than outdoor air. The primary methods for improving indoor air quality are:

• Proper ventilation to dilute contaminants
• Filtration 
• Air source control 

Indoor Air Quality is determined and controlled by collecting and analyzing air samples, monitoring human exposure to pollutants, collection of samples on building surfaces and computer modelling of air flow inside buildings.