We have recently completed a number of energy upgrades to our home, and have received invaluable assistance from the Home Energy Navigator team along the way. As the next generation of climate champions, our children have been a big part of our retrofit journey, and seeing their excitement as the upgrades were completed has been a joy to watch.

The installation of a legal basement suite was also critical for our redevelopment objectives, both as a source of revenue as well as adding modest density to the neighbourhood so that more people can live in urban areas without the need to drive or commute from further afield.

In 2021 with the heat dome, we were cooked out of our house and of course we had some concern for our environment too. So we did some research to see what’s out there and heat pumps seemed to make the most sense for what we wanted for our goals.

The oil furnace used to make a big whoop when it started up, and the air coming through the vents was aggressive. Now, with the heat pump, we don’t hear it at all, it’s a gentler heat. We were going through about 2000L of heating oil a year, so we’re not doing that anymore and quite happy about it.

I am very pleased with the help received from Home Energy Navigator. I was walked through the whole process and now enjoy a much more energy efficient home, at a surprisingly low end-cost to me. My heating bills for this winter are a fraction of what they were last year; and it is lovely to wake up in the morning to a warm house. This coming summer I will find the air cooling a great benefit too. Overall a very worthwhile experience. Many thanks!

I had just moved to Central Saanich and was reviewing the community newsletter when I saw a notice regarding switching from oil furnaces to a heat pump.  I’ve had my heat pump for a year now and I have noticed a real drop in my energy consumption and really appreciate the climate friendliness of the heat pump

In 2021 we decided to install solar panels… Since the install, we only pay B.C. Hydro’s $13 bi-monthly administration fee, instead of $150–$200 per month. That’s a pretty good return on $25K, plus we expect to recover that amount upon the eventual sale of our home. Then the summer heat waves came & we were miserable without air conditioning. So we decided to install a heat pump and take advantage of the federal & provincial grants and zero-interest loan, which our Hydro savings pay. Set it & forget it…..we love it! Our house is a cool haven in the summer & a cozy nest in the winter, even in -10C weather. We couldn’t be happier.

We consider ourselves pretty tech savvy, but we ran into a few snags in the Greener Homes Grant process and the Energy Concierge came to the rescue. We are very grateful for their help and support to get through it successfully.