Updated: August 1, 2023

Perhaps the last thing you might expect to get at a food bank is a kit to help save energy. But as a vital resource for people who are struggling to make ends meet, a food bank is an ideal place to share energy-saving products that can help people lower their household expenses.

Helping more people save more energy

We team up with anywhere from 20 to 45 food banks a year to give out free Energy Saving Kits. Our street team members have visited food banks across the province—from the Lower Mainland to the West Kootenays and from Osoyoos to Prince George—giving Energy Saving Kits to more than 680 households in 2022. In addition to food bank recipients, more than 9,000 B.C. households received a kit in 2022.

The Energy Saving Kit is just one of the programs we offer to help make energy efficiency improvements accessible for all customers—including free help for lower income households. If you or someone you know might qualify, please share this information with them.

Having FortisBC involved is a natural fit. If we can help Mom make her home more comfortable and save money, then maybe those savings can help toward a new pair of shoes for her child.

Charles Griffith, operations, Greater Vancouver Food Bank

What do you get in the Energy Saving Kit?

The kit contains a number of energy-saving items like water-saving faucet aerators and showerheads, draftproofing materials, LED light bulbs and more. These items are easy to install (instructions included) and can help reduce energy use for hot water, heating and electricity.

These improvements can make a difference. Installing a water-efficient showerhead, like the one found in the kit, plus shortening showers by two minutes can save about $100 in energy costs a year.¹

People get really excited to see us. A lot of recipients tell us they’re living in older, drafty homes and really appreciate the weatherstripping. They also love the LED light bulbs, as they know these can be expensive to buy.

Erin Scott, member of the FortisBC street team

How to get help with saving energy

If you or someone you know could benefit, we encourage you to let them know about our energy-saving programs. They are free for those who qualify based on household income. For example, a family of four with an annual income of $71,000 or less would qualify.

An easy way to get started is to apply online to have an Energy Saving Kit delivered to your door. You’ll need to have an electricity account with FortisBC, BC Hydro, or the municipal utility of New Westminster, Summerland, Penticton, Grand Forks or Nelson Hydro, and have income information for all members of the household over 18 years.

Further help with making your home more energy efficient is available through the Energy Conservation Assistance Program. If you qualify (proof of income required), an energy coach will visit your home to show you ways to save energy and recommend energy-saving measures to be professionally installed for you.

Income-qualified customers can also apply for larger rebates on equipment and upgrades to help make their homes more comfortable and energy efficient. Terms and conditions apply—see each rebate program page for full details and to apply.

¹Switching from a 9.5 litre per minute (LPM) showerhead to an efficient 6.5 LPM model in a four-person household with a standard-efficiency natural gas storage tank water heater and shortening daily showers by two minutes would save 26,572 L of water and 9.1 GJ of natural gas per year. Savings are based on April 2023 FortisBC natural gas residential rate of $11.266/GJ. Cost does not include basic charge or taxes.