The government of New Brunswick offers energy efficiency programs and incentives targeting industrial, business, and individual customers. A number of programs are available, including the Business Rebate, Industrial Energy Efficiency, Commercial Building Retrofit, and Total Home Energy Savings Program.
Industrial Energy Efficiency Program
This program aims to help industries to improve energy efficiency, save on maintenance and costs, and minimize environmental pollution. Incentives are available for projects in areas such as fuel switching, energy intensity reduction, compressed air, refrigeration, and process improvements. Incentives are offered to both large and small industries, covering 50 percent of the eligible costs.
Business Rebate Program
Another initiative to improve energy efficiency and minimize greenhouse gas emissions, the Business Rebate Program offers incentives to assist companies with upgrading and updating lighting, refrigeration, and other equipment. Eligible candidates include small industrial General Service 2 or 1 rate schedule, including places of worship and agricultural sites. Only businesses that are found in New Brunswick are eligible provided that the project they seek to implement aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and lowers energy use by replacing current equipment. For dairy and agricultural farm projects, examples of equipment upgrades include dual and natural ventilation, agriculture heat pads, heat reclaimer units, and circulation fans. Water heating rebate measures cover upgrades such as natural gas water heaters and high efficiency circulation pumps. Rebates are also offered for refrigeration equipment, motors, LED lighting controls, LED lighting, kitchen equipment, HVAC, and compressed air upgrades.
Commercial Building Retrofit Program
This program aims to assist businesses to improve safety and comfort, save on maintenance and energy, and minimize pollution. Building types that are eligible under the program include mixed-use residential and commercial, municipality owned, institutional and commercial buildings, added capacities, and occupancy changes. Ineligible projects are federally owned sites, manufacturing facilities, and residential buildings such as townhouses, duplexes, and houses.
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Measures that are eligible include such that have been approved and tested by bodies such as the American Society of Heating or the Canadian Standards Association. The list of saving measures includes replacement equipment, water heating, energy management controls systems, and exterior and interior lighting. There are also measures that are considered ineligible, including electronic and portable equipment, household appliances, and unproven and new technologies. All buildings are subject to a comprehensive audit to assess whether they can meet the energy reduction requirements.
Total Home Energy Savings Program
Targeting households, the Total Home Energy Savings Program provides incentives for improvements such as central heating systems, air-sealing, and upgrades. Homeowners are asked to submit an application form and provide information such as location, service organization, and electric utility. Properties that are eligible under the program include row, side-by-side, detached, and single family homes provided that they are up to three stories high. To qualify, all properties must have a bathroom, kitchen, automated heating system, and exterior and interior finishes.
Certain properties are not eligible, such being commercial buildings, multi-unit condominiums, and camps and cottages not lived in. This also holds for properties for which evaluation cannot be made, including construction in progress, major renovation, and uninhabitable.
Primary upgrades that qualify for incentives include water and space heating equipment, main wall and basement insulation, and ceiling and attic insulation. There are also qualifying add-ons such as basement slab, exposed floor, and basement header insulation and drain water heat recovery. Solar PV may also qualify provided that applicants include details such as the wattage of each panel, total number of panels, model number, and manufacturer.