Sustainable Rebates and Programs Islanders Must Take Advantage of in Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a province that takes its sustainable future seriously. There is a multitude of established home and vehicle programs to maximize your savings while making eco-friendly purchases, upgrades, or swaps.
Listed below are all of the green rebates and incentives available for Islanders to take advantage of alphabetically. I’ve included federal and provincial-wide incentives as well as links to where you can find more detailed information about each program.
Charlottetown Low-Income Financial and Technical (LIFT) Assistance Program
As part of a partnership with town officials, the Efficiency PEI is offering free low-flow showerheads, bathroom aerators, and toilets to Charlottetown residents who earn $50,000 or less per year. To qualify, you must be the owner and resident of the residence or have a water and sewer utility account in good standing in your name.
Electric Vehicle Incentive
PEI Government is offering the most generous Provincial electric vehicle incentive in the country, amounting to $5000 for new or used electric vehicles. As of April 1, 2021, the government has also been providing $2,500 to those who purchase plug-in hybrids. On top of this, those who take advantage will be eligible to receive a free Level 2 charger (one per household) An Islander who buys a new, fully electric vehicle on Prince Edward Island may qualify for up to $10,000 off the purchase price of the vehicle with the Federal Government incentive and PEI Universal Electric Vehicle Incentive program combined.
Energy Efficient Equipment Rebate
Energy Efficiency PEI offers rebates for the installation of home energy efficiency products such as Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnership's Cold Climate Air-Source Heat Pump Specification air source heat pumps, ENERGY STAR® certified heating equipment including geothermal heat pumps, water-saving devices, biomass heating devices, and other energy-saving products. It is worth noting that new construction is not eligible for this rebate. The building must be inhabited for more than six months to be eligible.
Federal: Canada Greener Homes Grant
This grant offers up to $600 for the cost of pre-and post-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation and up to $5000 total for the implementation of eligible retrofits. You can get up to 5600 dollars to make your home more sustainable. I already applied and I am waiting for an energy advisor to contact me and come over to evaluate our home.
Federal: Zero-Emission Vehicles Program (iZEV)
The Government of Canada launched iZEV in 2019 with the hope of encouraging the purchase of more zero-emission vehicles throughout the country. There is a goal in place for the country to have 100% of new light-duty vehicle sales be zero-emission by 2035. This incentive can be combined with provincial programs respectively. Check out the list of eligible vehicles to learn which can qualify you for up to a $5000 incentive.
Home Insulation Rebate
EfficiencyPEI offers grants for the insulation, air sealing upgrades and ENERGY STAR® windows and doors. Adding new insulation to the structure of a house will protect the structure from the elements and can reduce the energy bill significantly. In addition to improving the comfort and efficiency of your home, you will significantly reduce your environmental impact as well. Every Islander is eligible for insulation rebates, but those with lower incomes can receive more. Low income is defined as an income of less than $35,000 in the household annually.
New Home Construction Incentives
For new build homes, PEI offers assistance in reducing your environmental impact. Before you build, the province’s energy partners will arrange for a certified energy advisor to evaluate your building plans. You can then optimize the energy efficiency of your design using the recommendations that your energy advisor provides. The evaluation and follow-up assessment is subsidized by EfficiencyPEI at more than 80%, so it is only $99 + HST. Once construction is complete on your new home, it is possible to receive up to $5,000 in rebates.
Solar Electric Rebate Program from Efficiency PEI
The Efficiency PEI’s solar incentive provides a rebate of up to 40 percent of the cost of installing solar panels – up to $10,000 for homes. They also have an option available specific to farms and business land. There is a number of eligibility factors to consider when looking into this grant. For example, a residential property can be no more than three stories high, and the home must have a permanent electrical utility connection.
Switch Program in PEI
The “Switch” Program, which is a zero-interest loan program that is intended to support the switch from almost any project that will save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This includes air-source heat pumps, solar, and windows. The program also gives you access to the assistance of an energy advisor and access to all rebates available. I wrote an entire blog post filling you in from the Q&A I attended a few months back. Check it out here if you are interested in learning more.
Winter-Warming Rebate
In order to help lower-income PEI residents save energy and money, EfficiencyPEI is offering free home air sealing, installation of a programmable thermostat, a low-flow showerhead, LED light bulbs, and more to anyone whose total annual household income equals $50,000 or less.
Hey, Claudia here
I am a senior graphic designer, a dog mom, an advocate for a zero-waste lifestyle, climate change, and sustainability. My articles are based on personal experience and well researched to give you the best source of information for all things zero-waste.