From calculator to finished upgrade
Heat pumps, insulation, FireSmart hardening, radon mitigation — the path is the same. Here’s every step, every realistic timeline, no homeowner-paid fees, no portal logins on your end.
The path
Calculator or topic guide. Then a vetted specialist. Then done.
You start with the calculator (heat pumps) or a topic guide (insulation, FireSmart, radon). We figure out which programs stack on your home and match you with a Kootenay specialist whose credentials we’ve checked. Here’s every step in order, with realistic timelines.
Diagram: calculator and topic pages
Start with the calculator or a topic guide
For heat pumps, the calculator answers “which program, which tier, how much” in two minutes. For insulation, FireSmart, or radon, start at the topic guide — we walk you through what applies to your home and which programs stack.
Diagram: calculator and topic pages
Diagram: rebate breakdown summary
See your personalized rebate breakdown
You see exactly what you qualify for — ESP, HRR, HomeSave Central Kootenays, RDCK FireSmart, the federal radon work — with a realistic post-rebate cost range. No login, no sales pitch, just the numbers that apply to your home.
Diagram: rebate breakdown summary
Diagram: pre-retrofit prep
Optional: pre-retrofit steps
Some programs require a baseline before work starts. HomeSave Central Kootenays needs a pre-retrofit EnerGuide. RDCK FireSmart needs a Wildfire Mitigation Program assessment. Radon mitigation needs a long-term test result. We point you to the right starting line and the order of operations.
Diagram: pre-retrofit prep
Diagram: contractor introduction
Get matched with a vetted local specialist
We connect you with the right kind of specialist for your project — HPCN-registered HVAC for heat pumps, HPCN-registered insulation crews, FireSmart-trained landscapers and roofers, C-NRPP-certified radon mitigators. We’ve checked credentials and rebate-paperwork track records. They quote with the rebate already factored in.
Diagram: contractor introduction
Diagram: installation in progress
Your specialist handles install and rebate paperwork
Your contractor pre-registers the project where required, completes the work, validates the invoice against program requirements, and submits the rebate paperwork. For ESP, the rebate comes off your invoice directly. For HRR or HomeSave, you receive a cheque after the work is verified.
Diagram: installation in progress
Diagram: follow-up checkpoint
We stay in the loop
After the work is done, we check in to make sure the system runs well, the insurance discount actually applies, the radon levels actually dropped, the rebate landed where it should. If something gets stuck — a missing invoice field, a slow portal, a question about stacking — we know the contractors and the program rules and we help unstick it.
Diagram: follow-up checkpoint
Diagram: results
You save money or sleep better
A heat pump replacing baseboards saves $1,000–$2,800 a year. Insulation cuts heating load by 20–40%. FireSmart hardening can shave 10–20% off the wildfire premium on your home insurance. A radon mitigation fan drops indoor levels below the action threshold. Different upgrades, different wins — same path to get there.
Diagram: results
Weeks, not months
Heat pump and insulation projects run 6–8 weeks from calculator to finished install. FireSmart and radon work can be faster. The main wait is program pre-registration and contractor scheduling — not paperwork on your end.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does this cost me?
Nothing. The calculator is free, the topic guides are free, and the contractor matching is free. The rebate goes straight to you (or comes off your invoice). We earn referral fees from our installer partners when projects close — you don’t pay us.
Do I have to talk to anyone before seeing my numbers?
No. The calculator runs in your browser — no email gate, no booking required. The topic guides are public reading. You only hear from us if you ask to be matched with a specialist.
Do you only cover heat pumps?
No. Heat pumps are our biggest funnel because the rebate stacks are largest, but we also cover insulation (ESP + HomeSave up to $14,500), FireSmart hardening (RDCK and City of Nelson rebates plus BCAA / Co-operators insurance discounts), and radon testing and mitigation. Different programs, different specialists, same playbook.
What if I don’t qualify for ESP income tiers?
HRR has no income qualification. If you’re switching from electric baseboard to a heat pump, you qualify for $2,000–$4,000 regardless of income. Insulation and FireSmart programs also have non-income-gated paths. The calculator and topic guides show you which path applies to your situation.
What’s the catch with HomeSave?
No catch — HomeSave Central Kootenays is a regional program most homeowners haven’t heard of. You need a pre-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation before any work starts (it sets the baseline), and you need to live in the RDCK. Up to $5,000 stacks on top of provincial rebates and applies across heat pumps, insulation, and envelope work.
How long does the whole process take?
It depends on the upgrade. A heat pump install runs 6–8 weeks from calculator to working system. Insulation is similar. FireSmart hardening can be a single weekend (Zone 0 landscaping) up to several weeks (siding or roof replacement). Radon testing is 91 days passive plus a week for mitigation install if needed. We tell you the realistic timeline up front.