Summer 2020 Update
Central Saanich increases incentives for heat pumps!
Heat pumps provide a clean alternative to natural gas, oil or wood heating that can reduce your space heating carbon footprint by over 90%. As of January 2020, Central Saanich is offering an additional $350 rebate for Central Saanich residents who switch from a fossil fuel-powered (oil, natural gas, or propane) heating system to an electric air-source heat pump. That brings the total rebates available to Central Saanich residents to up to $4,200! Incentives will be approved on a first come first serve basis, while quantities last. Learn more about rebates for home efficiency at CSaanich.ca/HomeRebates.
BC Hydro Rebates for electric vehicle chargers
If you are installing electric vehicle chargers at your condo, apartment or business you can apply for a rebate of up to $2000 per charging station. If you are installing a charger at your home (single-family, townhouse, or duplex) you can apply for a rebate of $350 to purchase and install. Once preapproved, all work must be completed, and applications submitted within 90 days after the installation of the charging station, or by February 28, 2021, whichever comes first.
Central Saanich Electric Vehicle and Electric Bike Strategy
The District is half way through a committee consultation process for the development of the District’s Electric Vehicle (EV) and Electric-Bike Strategy. The Strategy will recommend action items to help achieve the Districts Climate Leadership goals of seeing more low-emission transportation within the District.
Meet an EV Committee Member:
After purchasing an Electric Vehicle in January ’20 and installing a Level 2 charger, I began looking for ways to reduce my overall electrical consumption. My first thought was to install solar panels on my roof, then discussion with some members of the Victoria EV Club got me considering instead the value of a heat pump. I eventually opted for the heat pump because it provided more benefits and would be a more acceptable addition for potential buyers for when, in the future, I decide to sell this house.
- Mike Baker, Brentwood Bay, EV Committee Member
Transitioning to an Electric Light-Duty Fleet and Equipment
The District is committed to leading by example to reduce emissions generated by its own transportation and maintenance operations.
In the last year, the District conducted a review of the municipal fleet and right-sized the light-duty vehicles so that they are appropriately sized to the jobs they are used for. Since conducting the review, the District introduced three new fully electric Kia Souls to the fleet and retired the fossil fuel vehicles they replaced. This summer, the District purchased an electric bicycle for Public Works staff to use as a healthy and environmentally-friendly transportation method for road and sidewalk inspections as well as for water metering. The District has also investigated a number of low carbon maintenance technologies and has purchased an electric chainsaw, hedge trimmer, and leaf blower after a successful trial of this equipment last summer.
Did you know? The new electric vehicles have already mitigated over three tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions (over 1250 litres of gasoline fuel) since they hit the road last November!
One Year Anniversary of Solar Install on Fire Station 1
We are celebrating the one year anniversary of installing 360 solar panels on the roof of Central Saanich’s Fire Station 1! The station is now a shining example of cost-effective renewable energy and has generated enough electricity in its one year of operation to power 12 households! Check out our project video!
