Medium Commercial Natural Gas Equipment Rebate Program

The Nova Scotia Department of Energy is providing incentives to Nova Scotia homeowners and businesses for conversion to natural gas. This program is in effect from April 1, 2007 and will expire on March 31, 2009. It was designed with advice from the Nova Scotia Natural Gas Association (NSNGA) and will be administered by Heritage Gas Limited.

This rebate is available to commercial businesses with consumptions between 15,000 and 50,000 gigajoules (GJ) of natural gas annually.

Program Goal:

The program goal, through financial incentives, encourages 12 medium energy consumers (between 15,000 and 50,000 Gj) to convert their existing space and water heating equipment as well as laundry, cooking and processing equipment, from any other fuel source to natural gas. Additionally:

• reduce the total amount of energy consumed through increased use of higher efficiency (best in class) space and water heating equipment (especially condensing boilers reaching their level of efficiency)

• by introducing high efficiency equipment in Nova Scotia, make it the preferred equipment to be installed by the customer and the industry

• through alliances with commercial heating contractors, facilitate the introduction of higher efficiency equipment and programs in Nova Scotia

• increase consumer awareness about energy use, energy efficiency, and energy options

• reduce greenhouse gas emissions through reduced fuel use and the use of lower carbon intensity fuel

• encourage conversion to natural gas

• reduce reliance on imported energy products

Program Conditions:

1. Commercial businesses and institutions who own, manage or lease buildings and who (using estimates based on present fuel consumption) will consume less than 50,000 Gj of natural gas annually per civic address qualify to receive incentives from the Program.

2. Conversion factors are:
   

   Source	Conversion Factor	Carbon Dioxide
   Light Oil #2	Litres x 0.03868	73.164 kg/GJ
   Heavy Oil #6	Litres x 0.0401	77.057 kg/GJ
   Natural Gas	GJ	50.792 kg/GJ

3. Program recipients will be encouraged to install the most energy efficient equipment available- especially condensing boilers. Customers upgrading existing gas equipment to more efficient gas equipment are not eligible for this incentive.

4. Each commercial building/civic address will be eligible for no more than 50% of the total installation costs.

5. Program recipients must divulge all sources of government funding for their conversion project. The maximum level of all government assistance for projects cannot exceed 75% of a proposals eligible expense.

6. New commercial businesses being build where natural gas is available do not qualify.

• Burner conversions of existing equipment (i.e. Boilers, furnaces, radiant, HVAC=s, kitchens).

• Replacement of Boilers and Furnaces (300,000 Btu=s and less: non-ENERGY STAR 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).

This program is funded by the Province of Nova Scotia through the Natural Gas Market Development Fund and administered by Heritage Gas Limited, the local natural gas distribution company. The program is designed to encourage Nova Scotians to convert to natural gas using the highest efficiency equipment available.

How to Apply

• Together with your contractor fill out the rebate application and send to Heritage Gas along with a copy of all invoices for the work completed.  

• Heritage Gas will confirm the installation and the equipment qualifies.

• Heritage Gas will send you a cheque.

For more information, call 1-877-836-7427 (toll free) or 466-2003 (HRM local).