Residential & Small 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 residential and small commercial businesses with consumptions less than 15,000 gigajoules (GJ) of natural gas annually.

Program Goal:

The program goal, through incentives, encourages 450 residential and small commercial customers to participate. Additionally:

• 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 about 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 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)

• encourage conversion to natural gas

• reduce reliance on imported energy products

Program Conditions:

1. Purchased or lease to own equipment will qualify.

2. Maximum overall incentive per household/business is indicated in the chart below, and cannot exceed 50% of the total installation cost.

3. Residential conversions must include an ENERGY STAR rated boiler or furnace to apply for the conversion rebate.

4. Each commercial business operating in an independent civic address that meets all of the criteria, qualifies for a rebate.

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

Notes:
*Commercial 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, 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).

• All residential conversions must utilize ENERGY STAR rated equipment.

• Residential conversions to space heating equipment will be eligible for the base rebate of $1,500 only.

• Residential conversions to space heating and water heating equipment will be eligible for the base rebate of $1,500 plus the efficiency bonus of $500.

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).