Retrofit Network Blog
Practical guides for Canadian homeowners comparing retrofit quotes and planning home energy upgrades.
Rebates & Incentives
CleanBC and Federal Heat Pump Rebates in 2026: What You Can Actually Stack
BC has one of the most generous heat pump incentive landscapes in Canada — if you apply to the right programs, in the right order, with the right paperwork.
Updated 2026-07-15
Costs & Planning
What a Heat Pump Costs to Install in BC (By Home Type)
Heat pump quotes in BC range from about $4,500 to well over $25,000 installed. Here's what drives the spread — and how to tell a fair quote from a padded one.
Updated 2026-07-15
Costs & Planning
Heat Pump vs Natural Gas Furnace in BC: Real Operating Cost Math
The honest answer: in BC the operating cost race is close and depends on your electricity rate, gas rate, and the heat pump's real-world efficiency. Here's the actual math.
Updated 2026-07-15
Heat Pumps
Do Heat Pumps Work in BC Cold Snaps? Cold-Climate Performance Explained
Yes — with the right equipment and design. What actually happens inside a heat pump at -20°C, and the questions that separate a cold-ready install from a cold-weather complaint.
Updated 2026-07-15
Heat Pumps
7 Questions to Ask a Heat Pump Installer Before You Sign
A heat pump is a five-figure decision installed once every 15-20 years. These seven questions take ten minutes and reliably separate strong installers from the rest.
Updated 2026-07-15
Buying Guides
AC and Heat Pumps in Alberta and BC: One System for Hot Summers and Real Winters
A heat pump is an air conditioner that also heats. With hotter summers on both sides of the Rockies, here's how the AC-versus-heat-pump decision plays out differently in Alberta and BC.
Updated 2026-07-16
Rebates & Incentives
BC Heat Pump Rebates: What Homeowners Should Know Before Requesting Quotes
How to prepare documents, questions, and contractor conversations around changing BC heat pump incentive programs.
Updated 2026-05-31
Heat Pumps
Heat Pump vs Air Conditioner: What Canadian Homeowners Should Know
Heat pumps and AC systems can both cool a home, but they solve different project goals.
Updated 2026-05-31
Ductless Mini-Splits
Ductless Mini-Split Heat Pumps: A Homeowner's Guide
Ductless systems can be useful for homes without ductwork, additions, suites, and targeted comfort upgrades.
Updated 2026-05-31
EV Chargers
Do You Need a Panel Upgrade for an EV Charger?
Panel capacity, existing loads, charger size, and load management all affect EV charger planning.
Updated 2026-05-31
AC & Cooling
Calgary AC Installation: What to Know Before Getting Quotes
What Calgary homeowners should ask before comparing AC installation and startup quotes.
Updated 2026-05-31
Latest Technology
Latest Heat Pump Technology: Cold Climate Systems, Inverters, and Smart Controls
Modern heat pump performance depends on equipment design, installation quality, controls, and home fit.
Updated 2026-05-31
Industry Updates
R-410A Refrigerant Changes: What Homeowners Should Ask Before Replacing AC or Heat Pumps
R-410A is being phased down in new equipment markets as manufacturers move toward lower-GWP refrigerants. Here's what to ask before repairing or replacing an AC or heat pump.
Updated 2026-06-30