Incentives and Rebates

To combat the problem of over-consumption of our natural resources, the government of Canada has introduced several incentives intended to minimize the unnecessary use of many available commodities. These incentives differ in availability depending on one’s province and city, but can go a long way to provide the necessary motivation to compel Canadians into acting in a very "green" manner.

One of these incentives is the Hawkesbury Hydro ENERGY STAR® rebate. Its intent is to provide a rebate on the purchases of all appliances with the ENERGY STAR trademark, guaranteeing that they are more environmentally-friendly than many of the alternatives. The amount of the rebate and the dollar cap depends on what sort of appliance is being bought, though, fortunately, consumers can gain additional rebates for purchasing multiple products.

I feel that this incentive is particularly effective because one of the most powerful tools in compelling an individual into doing something is money, and this incentive utilizes the power of a dollar in rewarding consumers for purchasing environmentally-friendly appliances. Consumers receive a direct rebate for purchasing the product, and, at the same time, contribute to fighting over-consumption of resources. The value of these rebates is notably high, ensuring that a significant return is ensured to all participating participants.

Another such incentive is the Summer Savings 10/10 program. This program, though difficult for consumers to measure and achieve, provides an additional 10% rebate for consumers willing to cut their energy consumption by 10%. This means that, not only will customers be receiving the deduction on their energy bill for consuming less, but the hydro company will reduce the bill by an additional 10%.

Considering the continually escalating prices of energy bills, especially during months like the summer when the air conditioning in many residences is cranked to ridiculous extremes, many customers stand to receive considerable returns. I feel that this program is effective for the sheer reason that consumers are rewarded for reducing the amount of their energy consumption, not only extending the life expectancy of their appliances, but helping the environment at the same time.

The Retail Sales Tax Rebate for Wind, Micro Hydro-Electric and Geothermal Energy Systems for Residential Premises is an incentive targeted to consumers purchasing or upgrading their energy systems, whether related to wind, hydroelectric, or geothermal power. All customers choosing to align their home with these energy sources stand to receive an 8% PST refund.

I like this program because there is considerable gain to be found in the conversion to more energy-efficient systems. The rebate with this program is not grounded in the price of the product alone, but, rather, the consumer’s general taxes. This way, coming from the consumer’s perspective, the incentive doesn’t just help finance the system itself, but, rather, it helps cover the consumer’s other taxables. This way, it simply seems like there is a greater gain to be found, which is why I believe this program is effective.

Finally, the Hot Savings Rebate grants varying rebates based on the installation of different energy-efficient appliances and systems. One can install a new furnace, programmable thermostat, or an air-conditioning system, and, so long as the product qualifies as energy-efficient based on the incentive’s outlines, one will receive a rebate of either $100, $75, or $500.

This particular program is effective for the reason that it stands to present consumers with money for the installation of appliances that can help the environment. The qualifying products reduce unnecessary energy consumption. Whether or not the consumer is actually interested in helping the environment, he or she can do so in exchange for reduced costs on the appliances themselves.

I like these four programs for the reason that they use the power of the dollar to motivate consumers into battling over-consumption of our natural resources. They provide a direct incentive that would easily motivate Canadians into taking a greater interest in the quality of their environment. So long as these options receive considerable marketing, they will likely succeed in attracting the attention of Canadians eager to save a buck.