The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary is helping homeowners navigate the world of energy retrofits and grants.
It’s launched the RDKB HomeSmart guidance service.
Speaking with Vista Radio, Senior Energy Specialist Freya Phillips says energy grants and rebates can be overwhelming for homeowners.
“So our team is really there to break it down, make it simpler, more understandable at each step of the way and we help people access rebates, incentives. There’s also some great loans out there as well,” Phillips said.
She says their two-person team (Raven Atherton is the program coordinator) is trying ti simplify the process for Boundary residents.
“There’s a lot of information around energy efficiency and also resiliency but there’s not a place where you can access that information that’s brought together. We can talk about both of those aspects to help you build them into your upgrade,” Phillips adds.
She says the process involves a sit-down meeting to go over the retrofit, what grants or loans may be available and whether a homeowner has a quick project or one that will take several years. The team may recommend some assessments be completed before moving ahead.
The team also provides homeowners with references to qualified contractors under the Home Performance Stakeholder Council because some grants, like ones for heat pumps and insulation, required recognized contractors.
Phillips notes Rossland already has a similar program but it wasn’t open to all residents in the RDKB area.
The Columbia Basin Trust, FortisBC and the regional district have put a combined $200,000 toward the project for the next two years.
You can find out more about the HomeSmart program by visiting their website or calling 250-368-0284.