"We are truly satisfied customers. We would welcome any of your potential customers to contact us regarding your windows, service and ethics. The intelligent shopper will clearly choose your products and service." Grants & Rebates
It’s a great time to replace those old energy wasting windows. Our Centra professional home energy consultants will discuss any current grant or rebate offers that apply to your home.
Harmonized Sales Tax (HST)
Effective July 1st, 2010
Prior to July 1st, 2010, energy star windows and doors were PST exempt and consumers only paid 5% GST on these products. Moving forward for any products and or services received on or after July 1st, 2010 the HST taxes of 12% will apply, resulting in the consumer paying an additional 7% in taxes. Centra Windows Inc. is required to be charge HST based on a ruling of the Province of British Columbia. HST information and rulings can be found at http://www.gov.bc.ca/hst/.
BC Government LiveSmart Efficiency Incentive Program
The BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources announced that within B.C.'s 2010 budget there is a $35 million in new funding over three years for the LiveSmart BC: Efficiency Incentive Program. The Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources is currently working with its utility partners to finalize the structure of the new program.
Details on the program are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Further details will be posted on their website.
There is no change for homeowners currently in the existing LiveSmart Program. All homeowners who entered the LiveSmart program by having their pre-retrofit home energy assessment performed prior to end of business on August 15, 2009, and who complete their post-retrofit home energy assessment within 18 months after they had their first home energy assessment, will be eligible for rebates and incentives outlined on their website. For more details visit http://www.gov.bc.ca/empr/popt/livesmartbc/index.html
EcoENERGY RETROFIT INITIATIVE
March 30, 2009 – EcoEnergy Retrofit grants
Program expired as of April 1st, 2010 for all new participants. Those that have already undergone their first energy assessment prior to March 31st, 2010 will be eligible for rebates and incentives.
As part of the Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program has been expanded to help 200,000 more homeowners cover the cost of making energy-efficiency retrofits to their homes. The expanded time-limited program includes a $300-million increase in funding over two years. With the 25 percent increase in grants, the program will cover a larger share of the cost incurred by homeowners who carry out retrofits that improve energy efficiency including window replacements. Funds are available for a limited time (to March 31, 2011) and are subject to availability. Homeowners are encouraged to apply early. For more details visit http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/residential/personal/home-improvement.cfm?attr=0
Since April 1, 2007, Canadian homeowners could receive rebates as high as $5,000 under a new federal plan to make homes and businesses more energy efficient. It is expected that the average grant for a single property will be more than $1,000 depending on the individual upgrades performed. The average grant is expected to yield reductions in energy use and costs of approximately 30% and greenhouse gas emission reductions of approximately 4 tonnes per house. By implementing the energy retrofit recommendations, a typical homeowner could save $600 a year on a $2,000 annual heating bill. Under this new plan, home assessment checklists will be required by Certified Energy Advisors who will provide a list of upgrades and the grant amount for each as well as the relative impact of the upgrade on the home’s energy efficiency. Windows replaced under this program are now eligible for a rebate of $40.00 each. For more details on this program, please visit http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/corporate/retrofit-summary.cfm