- Case Studies
- Progress Reports
- Tools & Resources
- Rebates & Incentives
Tools & Resources
*NEW* R2A Pilot – Reporting to Action
Buildings covered by the new benchmarking and reporting bylaw in Victoria or Saanich are eligible to participate in a limited BC Hydro-funded implementation pilot delivered through the Greater Victoria 2030 District. The pilot will help commercial property owners and managers turn benchmarking data into practical action — reducing energy use, carbon pollution, and operating costs. There is no cost to participate and participation is limited to 5–8 buildings.
Building Benchmark BC
A requirement for our Leader-tier members, this free partner program helps you monitor the energy and GHG data from your buildings (using Energy Star Portfolio Manager) and enables you to compare performance year-over-year and against similar properties, with the option to publish your annual score card alongside hundreds of peers across the province on their online disclosure map powered by OPEN Tech GRID.
ROAR Resiliency Tool
Coming Soon.
With support from the Real Estate Foundation of BC, the University of Victoria and MITACS Canada.
CRD Building Benchmarking Program
The CRD, in collaboration with the District of Saanich and the City of Victoria, is launching the regional CRD Building Benchmarking Program to help local governments track, manage and reduce energy use and carbon emissions from large buildings. This supports bylaws approved in Saanich and Victoria in 2025.
Zero Emission Innovation Centre (ZEIC)
Our colleagues at ZEIC have many resources on their website (linked to in foregoing heading) including programs like “B2E” & “zebx”. ZEIC is an independent non-profit and charitable organization established by an endowment from the Government of Canada, with support from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), with a mission to advance urban climate solutions and scale climate action innovation within BC in the green building, transportation, and renewable energy sectors.
We recommend taking a look at their recent BC Retrofit Accelerator program publication, Retrofit Financing: A Guide for Commercial Building Owners.
Toronto’s Net-Zero Carbon Tool
Our colleagues at the Toronto 2030 District have developed a Net-Zero Buildings Pathways Tool for building owners, building portfolio managers, policy-makers, and building-sector stakeholders. It is a free, easy-to-use, well designed, colour-coded workbook tool.
Rebate & Incentive Programs
We recommend searching for rebate and incentive programs using dedicated online portals like Clean BC Better Buildings’ Incentive Search Tool for renovating commercial buildings.
CleanBC Better Buildings
Better Buildings provides funding and capital incentives to encourage energy efficient design, construction and renovation of commercial buildings. Click here for more information.
BC Hydro
BC Hydro incentive and rebate programs vary by building type, energy consumption and region. Get started by plugging your account number into the eligibility search tool to find programs that you’re eligible for. You can also visit their Programs & Incentives web page for programs like their Energy Storage Offer and MURB Retrofit Program, and also their Technologies & Tips page.
Fortis
You can visit their Rebates & Offers web page for offers like their Continuous Optimization and Commercial Energy Assessment Programs.
Saanich’s CATE program
For buildings located in the District of Saanich, consider their Climate Action Tax Exemption (CATE) initiative. This program provides a tax holiday for projects that replace a fossil fuel mechanical system with an electric mechanical system for the building’s space heating and/or domestic hot water. For commercial buildings, the base incentive is calculated as 50% of Project Costs (after accounting other rebates) with a maximum exemption lasting three years. Residential buildings can get up to 100% of eligible project expenses and a 10 year exemption.
BC Retrofit Accelerator (including the Strata Energy Advisor Program)
The BC Retrofit Accelerator is a coaching and advisory initiative that helps building owners and strata councils plan and implement deep retrofits
(Also see “ZEIC” above)
Vancity’s Commercial Retrofit Financing Program
Vancity can offer preferred pricing and terms for financing of building upgrades that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and are on a pathway to net-zero building. In addition to financing, there are limited spots available for Vancity members to receive retrofit development support that can include: initial assessment of building and capital plan, procuring energy studies in line with project objectives, developing a business case, supporting with project implementation, consultant management. Contact greenbusiness@vancity.com
BOMA BC
The Building Owners & Managers Association of British Columbia supports its members in reducing carbon and energy.
BOMA BC’s Decarbonization Accelerator Program
Buildings, anywhere in BC, can receive one on one guidance – at ZERO cost to assess and identify opportunities to lower their building’s energy and carbon emissions.But that’s not all, each building will receive a decarbonization plan, a guided roadmap, free education and training sessions for building personnel, energy consumption tracking and benchmarking on ESPM.
BOMA BC’s Deep Energy Retrofit Procurement Guide
Buildings, anywhere in BC, can receive one on one guidance – at ZERO cost to assess and identify opportunities to lower their building’s energy and carbon emissions.
But that’s not all, each building will receive a decarbonization plan, a guided roadmap, free education and training sessions for building personnel, energy consumption tracking and benchmarking on ESPM.
Canadian Federal Government
Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure program
Percentage of project costs for installing charging infrastructure up to set amounts.Up to $5,000 per L2 charger
Up to $75,000 per DC fast charger.
Canadian Federal Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit
A new refundable clean technology investment tax credit has been introduced. The credit is equal to 30% of the capital cost of eligible clean technology property that is acquired and that becomes available for use after March 27, 2023, and before 2034.