By: Peter Pressacco

You may be surprised to know that there are a number incentive programs for home owners and businesses alike.  These programs help Canadians save money while being environmentally responsible.

If you wish to save money, we encourage you to take a moment to review the following:

• Home Owners
• Business Owners

Home Owners

About the Tax Credit for Public Transit Passes
Find out more about the federal income tax credit for monthly transit passes and how the Government of Canada is encouraging the use of mass transit to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

For more information, visit: www.TransitPass.ca

ecoENERGY Retrofit
Starting April 1, 2007, Canadians homeowners can take advantage of the ecoENERGY Retrofit to help make their homes more energy efficient.

For more information, visit: oee.nrcan.gc.ca

Tax Benefits for Hybrids
Policy makers across Canada have identified hybrid vehicles as a technology that has the potential to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector.  As a result, some provincial governments offer tax incentives for purchasing a hybrid.

For more information, visit: www.HybridExperience.ca

• British Columbia
• Ontario
• Prince Edward Island

Car Heaven
Car Heaven is an initiative of the Clean Air Foundation, designed to reward and enable people to get their older, high-polluting cars permanently off the road.

For more information, visit: www.CarHeaven.ca

• Alberta
• Atlantic Provinces
• British Columbia
• Manitoba
• Ontario
• Québec

CMHC Loan Insurance Refund
Buying an energy-efficient home or making energy-saving renovations can offer big savings. A 10% CMHC mortgage loan insurance premium refund may be available when you use CMHC insured financing to purchase an energy-efficient home or make energy-saving renovations.

For more information, visit: www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca

Kidney Car Program
The Kidney Car Program invites you to help the Kidney Foundation by donating an old or unwanted vehicle. All types of vehicles are accepted for donation including cars, vans, trucks, SUVs, boats, campers/RVs, all-terrain vehicles, luxury vehicles, motorbikes or snowmobiles.

For more information, visit: www.KidneyCar.ca

• British Columbia
• Alberta
• Saskatchewan
• Manitoba
• Ontario
• Québec
• Newfoundland

Environment Canada: Incentives and Rebates
Take advantage of grants, rebates, discounts and other incentives available to help you use less energy, switch to renewable energy and produce less waste at home and on the road.

For additional information, visit: www.IncentivesAndRebates.ca

Business Owners

BC Hydro: Product Incentive Program
It pays to use energy-efficient technologies. The Power Smart Product Incentive Program is dedicated to assist your business with energy efficiency and help you save.

For more information, visit: www.BcHydro.com

Ontario Conservation Bureau
This program encourages Ontario residents to improve the operating efficiency of their air conditioning systems and furnaces by providing maintenance and upgrade rebates.

For more information, visit: www.ConservationBureau.on.ca

Manitoba Hydro: Commercial Rinse and Save Program
If you operate a restaurant or food service company, you probably have one or more pre-rinse spray valves in your kitchen. But did you know that more than half the water used for washing dishes is consumed during the pre-rinse? Let us install an energy efficient pre-rinse valve to reduce your water and energy bills, while still getting dishes as clean as before.

For more information, visit: www.Hydro.mb.ca

EcoAction Community Funding Program
The EcoAction Community Funding Program is an initiative designed to help locally-based, non-profit organizations to undertake environmental projects that lead to measurable results and increased awareness of the role that Canadians can play in addressing environmental issues.

For more information, visit: www.ec.gc.ca

ecoEnergy Retrofit Incentive for Buildings
Natural Resources Canada is offering funding to commercial and institutional buildings with a maximum floor space of 10,000 square metres (107,639 square feet. The building owners will receive $10 per gigajoule of energy saved, up to 25% of eligible project costs. The first call for proposals will start on June 15, 2007 with a deadline of September 15, 2007.

For more information, visit: oee.nrcan.gc.ca

ecoEnergy Retrofit Incentive for Industry
Natural Resources Canada is offering up to 25% of project costs to a maximum of $50,000 per application and $250,000 per corporate entity to help small and medium sized industrial facilities implement energy-saving projects. These facilities must have fewer than 500 employees, not be in a sector that is subject to emissions regulations under the Clean Air Acts, be registered with Natural Resources Canada's (NRCan's) leadership network of Industrial Energy Innovators.

For more information, visit: oee.nrcan.gc.ca

National Green Source Funding Guide
The Green Source is a resource guide prepared by Environment Canada that will help you locate numerous sources of funding for environmental projects. It includes information on public and private sector programs and organizations that provide financial assistance, labour costs or in-kind donations to community groups.

For more information, visit: www.ec.gc.ca

Environment Canada: Incentives and Rebates
Take advantage of grants, rebates, discounts and other incentives available to help you use less energy, switch to renewable energy and produce less waste at home and on the road.

For additional information, visit: www.IncentivesAndRebates.ca