ESP for Small ICIs = Big Energy Savings

Please Note: Due to popular demand the existing ICI program has been fully subscribed. We apologize for any disappoinment, but are pleased to announce that we accepted many more applications than planned. We WILL be recommending a successor program at the end of this pilot so if you would like to put your name on a list to be notified about a new program please send your contact details to: gordon@saveenergynow.ca.

The Energy Savings Plan (ESP) and the Light House Sustainable Building Centre are seeking owners of existing small, non-residential buildings that are interested in participating in ESP’s pilot program, designed to reduce energy bills by up to 35%.

Under the Existing Small Institutional / Commercial / Industrial Program (ICI), ESP will conduct a walk-through energy assessment of your building. This assessment will provide energy efficiency retrofit recommendations, cost estimates and projected payback periods as well as identify the kind of provincial incentives you can expect by going through with your upgrades. ESP financial incentives, up to $8,000 per building, are available for eligible buildings that will be upgrading domestic and process hot water systems, space and process heating systems, ventilation, insulation, lighting, controls and more.

Eligibility requirements to receive ESP financial incentives include:

• Building must be located in the ESP communities of: Abbotsford, Bowen Island, Burnaby, Dawson Creek, District of Central Saanich and Saanich, Fort St. John, Merritt, North Vancouver, Oliver, Salt Spring Island, Surrey, Vancouver and Victoria.


• Buildings must have a total conditioned floor area of 50,000 square feet or less.


• Owner pays a discounted upfront cost of $500 for the energy assessment which will be refunded in full providing at least one major energy upgrade is undertaken.


• Owner must contribute $1.50 for each $1.00 ESP contributes in incentives to pay for the cost of the upgrades as selected by the owner up to a maximum contribution of $12,000 by the owner. The program is designed to incent upgrades which will deliver a financial payback in five years or less with ESP paying for 40% of the upgrades and the owner paying for 60% before applicable utility incentives are paid out to the owner.


• Owner must commit to implement selected energy efficiency improvements by February 16, 2007.


• Owner must agree to authorize BC Hydro and Terasen Gas to make the building’s electrical and gas consumption data available to ESP in strict confidence for review by ESP. ESP requires data for the three-year period prior to the start of the upgrades and the first-year period after completion of the upgrades.


• Limited funding is available for incentives, which are only available on a first-come, first serve-basis until the funds are depleted or the program expires. ESP reserves the right to limit the number of incentive payments it provides under the program.

Examples of eligible institutional / commercial / industrial buildings include the following:
A. Institutional:

1. Public Service – government buildings including municipal (city hall), provincial, regional or federal.
2. Public safety including fire, ambulance or jail.
3. Education – primary, secondary, college or university.
4. Health Care – clinic or hospital.
5. Assembly – art gallery, museum, theatre, church, synagogue or mosque.

B. Commercial:

1. Office
2. Lodging – hotel or motel.
3. Food Service – take out, fast food, full service restaurant or caterer.
4. Retail – services, general merchandiser, supermarket or shopping mall with and without tenant utility loads.
5. Recreation Centres – private or public.

C. Industrial:

1. Works yard or transport terminal.
2. Warehouse with or without refrigeration
3. Processing including lumber, oil and gas, animal feed, beverages, meats and food.
4. Manufacturing.

For more information please contact Gordon Monk, Director, Energy Services, Light House Sustainable Building Centre at 604.682.5960.