Here's how you could save some money on air conditioning in B.C. this summer
With summer fast approaching and hot days looming, B.C. residents might be able to get a discount on an air conditioning unit this summer.
BC Hydro is offering a couple of programs to make AC units a bit more affordable.
“We know air conditioning use is increasing across the province – especially after the past few summers we’ve had,” said Kevin Aquino, a spokesperson for BC Hydro, in an email to Daily Hive.
“But we know that air conditioning isn’t accessible for everyone, and that’s why [the] government and BC Hydro introduced the free air conditioning program a few years ago for low-income and heat-vulnerable individuals.”
Last year, the electricity utility gave rebates to about 11,000 people through a program that offers rebates on high-efficiency portable ACs.
BC Hydro plans to bring this program back in 2026, offering a $50 rebate on select Energy Star window air conditioners and high-efficiency air conditioners. It has not confirmed the date this program will start.
However, even with the discount, you will still be forking out hundreds of dollars if you decide to purchase an AC unit. On RONA, a number of Energy Star air conditioning window units are currently listed between $400 and $500.
BC Hydro also offers a free portable air conditioner program for people who are clients of their regional health authority’s Home Care Program or Mental Health and Substance Use Program. They must receive a recommendation letter from their clinician before they can apply.
If they’re a renter, they need to get your landlord’s consent through the landlord consent form, which they will submit with their application.
BC Hydro told Daily Hive last year that the program ensures that “medically heat-vulnerable individuals have access to safety cooling during extreme heat events.”
While BC Hydro paused AC installations over the winter, they will resume on April 15.
Other ways to keep cool during heat waves
According to Vancouver Coastal Health, the most dangerous part of heat waves for most people is how hot it gets indoors. To prevent heat-related illness, the best things to do are to spend time in a cool space and drink lots of water.
If you don’t have AC in your apartment, the City of Vancouver has a map with all its places to keep cool, from libraries to community centres to misting stations.
Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) has several tips for keeping your home cool if you don’t have AC, including closing windows and shades/blinds in the day to block out the sun, opening windows and doors at night when it is cooler outside, and using fans to bring cool air into your home at night. It also recommends considering getting an AC unit.
During heat events, VCH also advises people to cool off with a shower, bath, or soaking a part of their body in water; wear a wet shirt or damp towels; wear loose, light-coloured, breathable clothing; and limit activity, especially in the hottest hours of the day.
It is also important that people watch for signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Heat exhaustion symptoms include heavy sweating, skin rash, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, rapid breathing and heartbeat, headache, difficulty concentrating, muscle cramps, extreme thirst, dark urine and decreased urination.
Symptoms of heat stroke include a body temperature of 39°C or higher, fainting or drowsiness, confusion, lack of coordination, and very hot and red skin. Heat stroke is a medical emergency, and people should get medical help immediately at an emergency room or urgent care centre. They should call 911 if needed, and try to move the person to a cool place and cool them with ice packs, wet towels, or sponges.