About
Sîpihkisôwin, MNBC’s Low Carbon Energy Program, supports MNBC Citizen homeowners in implementing low-carbon energy technologies and energy-efficiency measures for their homes. By increasing the adoption of these technologies across the Métis community in British Columbia, Sîpihkisôwin seeks to improve affordability and health outcomes for Citizens while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption.
Coverage Amount(s)
Sîpihkisôwin offers:
- Up to $20,000 in funding for eligible households with a before-tax annual income of less than $150,000.
- Up to $15,000 in funding for eligible households with a before-tax annual income between $150,000 and $200,000.
Eligibility
Applicant eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be over 18.
- Be an MNBC Citizen and provide a copy of their MNBC Citizenship card.
- Have a before-tax annual household income of no more than $200,000.
- Be willing to receive basic training or information on how to operate and maintain any new upgrades installed in their home.
- Consent to a pre-retrofit home energy evaluation.
- Consent to share energy-use data for at least one year before and one year after their retrofits. Two years before and five years after is preferred.
Home eligibility
Eligible homes must:
- Be the applicant’s primary residence.
- Be situated on titled land in the MNBC Citizen’s name.
- Be habitable year-round.
- Be suitable for the installation work, as determined by licensed contractors.
- Be a supported housing type: a single-family home; semi-detached home, townhouse or row house; mobile home; or a unit in a multi-unit residential building in which the applicant resides, provided it meets all other criteria and is suitable for upgrades.
- For a multi-unit home, be eligible for the proposed upgrade and have any required permission or permits in place before work begins. Multi-unit homes are not eligible for every type of upgrade.
MNBC reserves the right to deny applicants whose principal residence has substantial liens or other owed interests, including a reverse mortgage.
Home energy evaluation
Participating homeowners must complete a pre-retrofit home energy evaluation with a qualified Energy Advisor. The evaluation identifies priority upgrades and provides a baseline energy score that MNBC can use to assess the potential impact of the retrofits.
Covered and Excluded Costs
Eligible low-carbon energy and energy-efficiency installations and retrofits include:
- Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels.
- Space heating and cooling.
- Water heating.
- Air-to-water heat pump systems.
- Building-envelope upgrades, such as insulation, windows and doors.
- Other MNBC-approved energy-efficient and low-carbon upgrades.
Availability and Deadline
Registration is currently closed because MNBC has reached its current funding capacity. Waitlist applications remain open, and applicants will be contacted directly when funding becomes available.
Because funding is limited, priority will be given to high-need applications. Follow MNBC on Facebook and Instagram for updates on future openings, and explore our other programs and resources.
How to Apply
- Check that you and your home meet the eligibility requirements.
- Gather the required documents and submit an application or, while registration is closed, join the waitlist.
- If you meet the initial requirements and are approved to continue, MNBC will notify you and provide instructions for booking a home energy evaluation.
- Book and complete the required pre-retrofit home energy evaluation.
- Receive a funding decision from MNBC.
- Share the requested energy and utility data.
For more details on program eligibility, requirements and procedures, view the Sîpihkisôwin Low Carbon Energy Program Handbook.
Required Documents
Have the following documents ready:
- The front and back of your MNBC Citizenship card.
- Government-issued photo identification showing your primary address, such as a driver’s licence or BCID.
- Your most recent Notice of Assessment showing line 15000.
- One proof-of-home-ownership document: a Title Search, land title certificate or property tax notice.
The application form requests the Notice of Assessment and proof of home ownership as PDF files. Scan paper copies of those documents before you begin. If more than one adult aged 18 or older lives in your home, the form will ask for Notices of Assessment for the additional adults.
Contact
- Phone Number: 604-557-5851 (ext. 7112)
- Email: energy@mnbc.ca