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Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen offers energy pilot service

Service will provide information on improving energy efficiency for homeowners
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The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen is working with Properate.io to offer a new pilot service on energy efficiency. (Black Press file photo)

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen is partnering with Properate.io to offer a new pilot energy efficiency service to all residents beginning this month.

The free online service offers a custom home report in less than five minutes. A customized analysis calculates a home’s energy efficiency and provides a report of all energy upgrades and rebate opportunities when homeowners complete a short survey form.

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The reports provide potential upgrade opportunities with estimated costs and incentives directly related to the house. This allows owners of single-family homes to develop energy efficiency strategies based on their needs and budgets.

BC Assessment data and artificial intelligence are used in creating the analysis used to generate the custom home report. This information creates scenarios optimizing your home for cost savings, rebates, or greenhouse gas reductions and allows users to compare different options, such as new windows or installing heat pumps, or improving insulation.

Reports include up-to-date incentives and give results depending on a home’s age, materials, and location.

The regional district’s electoral area and member municipality residents may wish to have conversations with neighbours about energy upgrade opportunities to pursue together.

The regional district will host a forum for these conversations on the regional district’s Regional Connections page at rdosregionalconnections.ca/properate.

Often, homes in a sub-division face similar energy upgrade opportunities around the same time. If homeowners identify similar projects for their neighbourhood, there may be potential to increase savings as a group. If three or more neighbouring homes are interested in a joint project, they are asked to contact Jeremy Dresner to discuss supporting their efficiency goals.

“This service is a powerful tool for residents to help achieve their home energy goals,” said Mark Pendergraft, chair of the regional district board. “It can help them reduce their bills and aligns with the RDOS mission of enhancing quality of life in an environmentally and fiscally responsible manner.”

This pilot will run into 2023. At present, the pilot cannot provide mapping services for strata buildings, apartments, and mobile homes.

Those who would like to see the pilot extended or have additional comments are asked to share them on the dedicated Regional Connections webpage.

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John Arendt

About the Author: John Arendt

John Arendt has worked as a journalist for more than 30 years. He has a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Journalism degree from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute.
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