Heat affects everyone, but the risks are greater for: seniors, people who live alone, people with pre-existing health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or respiratory disease, people with mental illness such as schizophrenia, depression, or anxiety, people with substance use disorders, people with limited mobility.

Check on family, friends and neighbours, who are at higher risk, particularly if they live alone, to make sure they have a cool space.

Did you know that by collaborating with a variety of organization we can help you apply for a free* heat pump?

What exactly does a heat pump do?
A heat pump transfers heat rather than generating it. During winter, it extracts heat from the outdoor air and moves it indoors. In summer, it reverses the process to cool your home, providing year-round comfort from a single system.

Collaboration spotlight:
The Cortes Community Forest Cooperative is not only a partner in our heat pump program, but their community firewood day was much appreciated by a lot of community members, many of them Better at Home clients. Thank you for organizing it and to all the volunteers that showed up to help cut, load, transport and unload an incredible amount of wood.
https://cortescommunityforestcoop.org

Interested in a free* or subsidized heat pump? Read more here on how we can help you submit the application: https://www.cortesisland.com/tideline/show19679a46s/Heatpump_Program__Cortes_Island

* see eligibility chart for the free heat pumps

How to protect yourself from the health effects of extreme heat
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/climate-change-health/extreme-heat/how-protect-yourself.html

What is heat-related illness?
https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthlinkbc-files/heat-related-illness