4 minute read
Savvy Savings
BY FRANCESCA PACCHIANO
If you’re making home improvements, rebates — ranging from water stewardship to green build incentives — are available to help with your project or even convince you that it’s time to make an energy-conscious change.
Ken Brownlow of Brownlow and Sons has been installing windows since 1978 and has first-hand experience helping people save on renovations. “It’s always worth looking at the energy efficiency programs. Whether you proceed with the work or not, at least you get some education on what’s available.”
As a registered contractor for the CleanBC program, he’s qualified to work on the Greener Homes projects. With the rebate programs and the Greener Homes loan becoming popular, he’s “never been busier.”
People are taking advantage of these programs, Ken said. But they aren’t learning about the programs through advertising. “They discover it through a friend who has it done.” Word of mouth is important, but it’s also valuable to research what is most applicable to your project.
There are a variety of rebates available at all levels of government. The RDN has rebate opportunities for electoral area residences, which are offered on a first-come-first-serve basis. Don’t wait and risk missing out.
The RDN’s Green Build program alone offers rebates and incentives for reducing wood-burning emissions, installing heat pumps, installing renewable energy systems and installing electric vehicle charging stations, which total up to $8,500.
Provincial opportunities through the CleanBC program total up to $754,750.00 worth of funding, eligible for homeowners from Nanaimo to Duncan. Reducing wood smoke pollution is a priority for the various rebate programs, but there is also help for water pumps, electrical service upgrades and ventilation systems.
The CVRD has not updated their rebate program for 2025, but past years also focused on reducing wood smoke pollution. We could not reach them for comment on this year’s rebate opportunities by press time.
Regardless of your project and the place you call home, it’s worth taking a look.
Designing trends
BY AUDREY HASLAM
Well, 2025 is here, and with it, a whole host of predictions and design trends. I’ve read through some of the bigger lists to gather the best home and garden ideas for your spaces this year.
Design trends usually reflect what is in demand, and what seems to be in demand this year is comfort! If you’re looking to change up your living room, for example, take a look at vintage furniture. Not only will it lend a nostalgic feel to your space, but its craftsmanship will rarely disappoint. As far as paint colours go, warm, desaturated browns and deep plums can also cozy up your space while providing an excellent backdrop for wall art. Pair these rich tones with stormy greys for a versatile palette that works in any room you want to revamp. If you want to freshen up your bathroom, consider a new light fixture. Light, when used correctly, can add a calming, meditative feel to your getting-ready space. Light bulbs that emit 2700 K to 3000 K of light work the best for this.
Gardeners have been facing many challenges lately, with droughts and high heat in the summer. A good way to combat these challenges is by using fire- and drought-resistant plants, especially native species or nativars — cultivated varieties of native plants designed to thrive in residential gardens.
Cottage-style gardens are also making a comeback. With their nostalgic feel and practical mix of ornamentals and food production, they’re both esthetically pleasing and satisfying for any level of gardener. If you’re a renter or don’t quite want to commit to a garden in the ground, consider container gardening. It’s an easy way to make your garden portable.
If there’s anything we can take away from this year’s predicted trends, it’s that nostalgia and freshening up a space go hand in hand.
From the furniture to the gardens of yesteryear, the appeal of these past trends keeps bringing them back into the limelight.
