Solar Thermal Incentives, Grants and Rebates

The Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) is a free, comprehensive, user-friendly source of information on state, local, utility and selected federal incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. With a single click of the mouse, DSIRE provides users with a list of renewable-energy incentives and energy-efficiency incentives available in any U.S. state. The incentives are divided into two categories:

• Financial Incentives - including tax credits, deductions and exemptions; grants, rebates, loans, etc.
• Rules, Regulations & Policies - including net metering and interconnection standards, public benefits funds, renewables portfolio standards, fuel mix generation disclosure, solar access laws, solar contractor licensing, green power purchases, building energy codes, appliance and equipment efficiency standards, etc.

DSIRE also offers color-coded summary maps that provide a geographical view of the availability of a specific incentive across the United States. In addition, the site includes an FAQ section, a glossary, a search function and a list of relevant links. On average, more than 60,000 people use DSIRE every month.

Established in 1995, DSIRE is an ongoing project of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and managed by the North Carolina Solar Center.

For complete, up to date information, please visit the DSIRE website

The ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat program runs from April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2011. Incentives are offered to the industrial/commercial/institutional sector to install active energy-efficient solar air and/or water heating systems. The incentive will be based on a rate per square metre of collector area multiplied by a collector-specific Performance Factor and an Incentive Rate. Eligible projects must be completed and commissioned within nine (9) months of the signing of a contribution agreement with NRCan. Preliminary estimates suggest that, by 2011, the program will have supported installations in about 700 buildings. As well, pilot projects will be conducted to increase the use of residential solar water heating systems (please note that this program does not offer incentives directly to homeowners).

For complete, up to date information, please visit the EcoENERGY website

LiveSmart BC incentives of $125 in both South Coastal BC and Interior & Rural BC, for total rebates of $625 for a new solar hot water system. The BC governments new LiveSmart BC: Efficiency Incentive Program provides rebates in addition to the $5,000 in available federal ecoENERGY grants - for a total of more than $10,000.

For complete, up to date information, please visit the BC LiveSMART website

An incentive package of $1625 is available for the installation of residential solar hot water systems. We make it easy to have a solar hot water installed.

SolarBC contractors will provide you with a $1,000 discount at the point of sale of your solar hot water system and we'll also help you take advantage of a further $625 in incentives available from the Federal ecoEnergy Retrofit and the Provincial LiveSmart BC programs.

For complete, up to date information, please visit the SolarBC website

To help homeowners save energy, save money and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Ontario government has created the Ontario Home Energy Savings Program .

This program provides homeowners with up to $150 towards the cost of a home energy audit and rebates of up to $10,000 (50 per cent paid by the province and 50 per cent paid by the federal government ecoENERGY Retrofit Homes Program) for retrofits that address the energy issues identified in the audit.

For complete, up to date information, please visit the Ontario Home Energy website