In a typical home, water heating is the second highest energy use, while space heating is the first. Water heating accounts for about 36% of greenhouse gases emitted from a residential home. Learn more in this B2E article.

As of January 1, 2022, the City of Vancouver requires almost all new homes to use low-carbon energy systems for water heating. While this doesn’t apply to existing homes, the Province of BC is currently developing high efficiency standards for replacement space and water heating equipment for 2030. Electric water heaters will comply with these future requirements.

Program goals:

• Understand the homeowner process to replace a gas-fired water heater with an electric water heater.
• Understand the contractor process to replace a gas-fired water heater with an electric water heater.
• Share findings with City of Vancouver to inform future program development or supportive policy changes

In this research program, participants will receive financial support for their project. In return, participants need to provide information about the process they went through to undertake the project, what challenges they met along the way, and which contractors they spoke with during the project.

The City of Vancouver is committed to advancing reconciliation, equity, and anti-racism for all people in Vancouver and to fulfil these commitments, this program will prioritize applications from the following self-reporting groups: black, indigenous or persons of colour, LGBTQ2S+ community, and women.

Translation of documents is available upon request.

This program stream is financially supported by the City of Vancouver, BC Hydro and B2E.