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Energy Efficient Upgrades
This page provides information, resources, and incentives to help you build, retrofit, and operate energy-efficient buildings across our community.
Why Energy Efficiency Matters
Increasing energy efficiency:
- Reduces energy costs for owners, landlords, and tenants.
- Improves comfort and indoor air quality, particularly in extreme weather.
- Cuts greenhouse gas emissions by lowering demand for fossil fuels.
- Supports Coquitlam’s climate goalsaligned with BC’s and international greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.
- Coquitlam approved its Climate Action Plan in 2026 - view the full plan here: coquitlam.ca/ClimatePlan
Coquitlam is committed to creating a vibrant, resilient, and sustainable community. Buildings, including our homes and businesses, account for over 40% of Coquitlam’s community greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. More than 95% of those emissions come from the natural gas used for space heating and hot water. Improving the energy efficiency of buildings is one of the most effective ways we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with the additional benefits we mentioned: lower utility costs, and enhanced comfort in homes and businesses.
You can undertake some quick and easy energy efficiency measures on your own, for bigger changes or new construction, consulting with a free energy coach or hiring a certified energy advisor can help you understand where to start because they assess your building as a system and not just its individual components. Energy coaches and certified energy advisors will also help you navigate incentives and rebates available for energy improvement projects. Certified energy advisors will conduct a site visit to develop an energy evaluation, a comprehensive service designed to help you improve the comfort and energy efficiency of your home.
For the most up to date information on available rebates and programs in BC, visit CleanBC’s website. Additional rebates and incentives programs can be found at BC Hydro and Fortis BC websites, make sure to check your eligibility for each program.
Examples of energy efficiency upgrades include:
- Switching from natural gas, propane, or oil heating systems (e.g. furnaces or boilers) to electricity (e.g. heat pumps)
- Upgrading your windows and doors
- Adding or improving insulation
- Upgrading refrigerators, washers, and dryers and other electrical equipment to ENERGY STAR® rated appliances
- Replacing old (incandescent or fluorescent) lights with LEDs
- Installing “smart” or programmable thermostats
Energy coaches and certified energy advisors will help you figure out which upgrades you could prioritize based on your specific situation and available incentives and rebates.
The following sections provide details relevant to different Coquitlam residents and businesses, click to find more information for each:
Your home is a system where passive design and active mechanical features interact with each other. For example, a home with better insulation, passive design, will require less energy for heating with active mechanical equipment such as heat pump or furnace.
Consulting with a free energy coach or hiring a certified energy advisor can help you identify the best starting point and avoid investing in upgrades that may be less effective if other parts of your home need attention first. Single detached homeowners can also use the BC Home Energy Planner to learn how their home compares to others and how to make it better.
For the most up to date information on available rebates and programs in BC, visit CleanBC’s website.
Canada Greener Homes Initiative
As of January 2026 Canada Greener Homes Initiative programs relevant to Coquitlam residents are fully subscribed. Check the Canada Greener Homes Initiative website for details if your house is still in-stream or updates on new programs.
Individual homes or entire buildings work as a system, where passive design and active mechanical features interact with each other. For example, a home or building with better insulation (passive design) will require less energy for heating (with active mechanical equipment such as heat pump or furnace).
Consulting with a free energy coach or hiring a certified energy advisor can help you identify the best starting point and avoid investing in upgrades that may be less effective if other parts of your home or building need attention first.
Multi-Unit Residential Buildings (MURBs)
Strata Councils, or building and property managers, may be interested in the Zero Emissions Innovation Centre’s Strata Energy Advisor program. The program supports strata-owned, multi-unit residential buildings (condos) across British Columbia to reduce carbon emissions and improve efficiency through energy upgrades timed with necessary replacement projects.
If your building is planning a retrofit and you're considering—or simply curious about—switching from natural gas, adding cooling, or improving overall building performance, this program could be a great fit for you.
An expert advisor will guide your strata in planning major upgrades, enhancing comfort, finding financial incentives, and cutting carbon pollution.
Did we mention it’s free? Please visit their website for all the details.
For all types of MURBs the BC government in partnership with BC Hydro runs the Multi-Unit Residential Building (MURB) Retrofit Program. Learn more about currently available programs at CleanBC Better Homes programs and rebates.
Your building works as a system where passive design and active mechanical features interact with each other. For example, a building with better insulation (passive design) will require less energy for heating (with active mechanical equipment such as heat pump or furnace).
Consulting with a free energy coach or hiring a certified energy advisor can help you identify the best starting point and avoid investing in upgrades that may be less effective if other parts of your building need attention first.
Rental apartment building owners and managers may be interested in the Zero Emissions Innovation Centre’s Rental Apartment Retrofit Accelerator (RARA). The program provides expert guidance from professional engineers throughout every stage of the retrofit process and support accessing applicable financial incentives.
For all types of MURBs the BC government in partnership with BC Hydro runs the Multi-Unit Residential Building (MURB) Retrofit Program. Learn more about currently available programs at CleanBC Better Homes programs and rebates.
Your building or facility work as a system, where passive design and active mechanical features interact with each other. For example, a building with better insulation (passive design) will require less energy for heating (with active mechanical equipment such as heat pump or furnace).
Consulting with a free energy coach or hiring a certified energy advisor can help you identify the best starting point and avoid investing in upgrades that may be less effective if other parts of your building or facility need attention first.
BC Hydro and FortisBC offer Business Programs that provide financial incentives and technical assistance to commercial, industrial, and public sector customers who are building new facilities or undergoing major renovations. Visit BC Hydro and FortisBC’s websites to learn more or visit CleanBC Better Buildings website.
For a more comprehensive support service, Building Owners and Managers Association of BC (BOMA BC) Decarb Accelerator Program offers a dedicated Decarb Program Manager/Engineer that will work one on one with your team to assess and determine what unique support or resources your property and team might need to assist in reducing your energy and carbon emissions.
At a minimum, every building will receive:
- A decarbonization plan detailing their building-specific retrofit opportunities along with suitable replacement equipment alternatives.
- Buildings who are deemed ‘retrofit ready’, whereby systems or equipment has been identified as at, or near, its end of life will also receive a full ASHRAE L2 energy audit. A pre-qualified engineering consulting firm will perform the energy audit. They will provide suitable retrofit options showcasing modelled energy data that will lower your building’s carbon footprint, thus reducing your carbon tax burden and assurance that it remains compliant with GHG emissions limits and avoidance of potential fines.
Find out more about eligibility, intake and commitment at BOMA’s website. For all types of MURBs the BC government in partnership with BC Hydro runs the Multi-Unit Residential Building (MURB) Retrofit Program. Learn more about currently available programs at CleanBC Better Homes programs and rebates.
Building your next home or commercial building? Building a high efficiency home or building with low or zero carbon appliances is cheaper than retrofitting further down the line.
Other Ways to Save Energy
Upgrades to your home are not the only way to reduce your home’s energy use. Here are some examples that can save you money on your next energy bill:
- Lowering the temperature on thermostats
- Turning off appliances and unplug electronic devices when not in use
- Turning off lights when you leave the room
- Hanging clothes to dry
For income-qualified households, BC Hydro offers free energy saving kits, which includes a water-efficient showerhead, faucet aerators, weather stripping and other energy saving products.