Residential & Commercial Natural Gas Equipment Rebate Program 2010-2011
The Natural Gas Equipment Rebate Program is industry funded under the provincial Gas Market Development Fund through the Nova Scotia Department of Energy. The program was designed with advice from the Nova Scotia Natural Gas Association and is administered by Heritage Gas. The purpose of this program is to encourage residents and businesses in Nova Scotia to convert to natural gas using the highest efficiency equipment available.
This program is in effect from April 1, 2010 and will expire on March 31, 2011 and is available to residential and commercial businesses with consumptions less than 25,000 gigajoules (GJ) of natural gas annually. The program applies to oil, propane and electricity conversions to natural gas.
Program Goal:
Through this incentive program, we hope to have 631 residential and small commercial customers across Nova Scotia benefit from the rebates for converting to natural gas.
The program also aims to :
- Encourage conversions to natural gas
- Encourage the installation of ENERGY STAR qualified natural gas boilers and furnaces (ENERGY STAR will be required for all residential conversions)
- Encourage the installation of energy efficient natural gas fireplaces (inserts and freestanding) and water heaters
- Reduce the amount of energy consumed through expanded use of high efficiency equipment
- Increase public awareness of energy use, energy efficiency and energy options
- Increase the visibility of ENERGY STAR to help make customers, retailers, contractors and customers more aware of high efficiency products including energy savings and reductions in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions
- Reduce GHG emissions through both reduced fuel use and lower carbon intensity in the fuel used (for every customer that converts from fuel oil to natural gas and improves their efficiency from NRCan’s published boiler efficiency of an older system to an ENERGY STAR qualified boiler, the projected GHG reduction is 5.6 tonnes per year)
- Reduce reliance on imported energy products
Program Conditions & Qualifying Criteria:
- Residences and commercial businesses will consume less than 25,000 gigajoules of natural gas on an annual basis.Purchased or lease to own equipment will qualify.
- Maximum overall incentive per household/business is indicated in the chart below and cannot exceed 50% of the total installation cost.
- An efficiency rebate is included if equipment meets the criteria listed below.*
- All residential single family dwellings, duplex and townhouses as individual addresses must include an EnergyStar rated central heating system.
- Commercial businesses are defined as those who own, manage or lease buildings in sectors such as retail, hospitality, office and multi-unit residential. Public institutions such as educational, health care, non-profit, municipal and provincial government buildings are also included as commercial businesses.
- Each commercial business, operating in an independent civic address that meets all of the criteria, qualifies for a rebate.
- Program recipients must divulge all sources of government funding for their conversion projects. The maximum level of all government assistance cannot exceed 75% of a proposal’s eligible expense.
- New residential and commercial construction where natural gas is available does not qualify.
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Notes: Customers with usage over 25,000 GJ must apply to the Nova Scotia Department of Energy. All applications will be reviewed on a case by case basis to determine if assistance from the Natural Gas Conversion Rebate Program is warranted. Speak to your Heritage Gas account manager for details required with application.
*Efficiency Component:
The efficiency component will be added to all equipment upgrades with the following exceptions:
- Burner conversions of existing equipment (i.e. boilers, furnaces, radiant, HVACs, kitchens).
- Replacement of boilers and furnaces:
- 300,000 Btu's and less: Non-EnergyStar rated replacement equipment
- 300,000 Btu’s and more: Equipment less than 85% AFUE
- Replacement of unit heaters and water heaters: - Equipment less than 85% AFUE.
Residential customers must install an Energy Star rated heating system to receive the Base rebate and domestic hot water system to receive the efficiency component of the rebate. These appliances must be connected at the same time.
How to Apply:
- Together with your contractor fill out the rebate application and send it to Heritage Gas Limited along with a copy of the invoice(s) for all of the work completed.
- Please complete the form in full. Forms can be faxed to (902) 466-2140 or mailed to: Heritage Gas Limited, PO Box 1020, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 4W3
- Heritage Gas will confirm the installation of the qualifying equipment, and send you the rebate.
- For more information, call 1-877-836-7427 (toll free) or 466-2003 (HRM local).
Additional Rebates / Grants Available:
- EnerGuide Programs can help you achieve permanent energy savings in new and existing houses and multi-residential buildings. These programs offer rebates too! Please view the following link or call for more information. View www.itstartswithme.ca or call 1-800-670-4636
- Natural Resource Canada’s ecoENERGY Retrofit Program provides financial support to business owners implementing energy savings projects in their:
- Commercial / Institutional Buildings
- Industrial Facilities
Visit www.ecoaction.gc.ca or call 1-800-O-CANADA (1-800-622-6232) to learn your eligibility.