Canada Invests in Energy Efficiency Retrofits in Canadian Municipalities

March 14, 2019                                     Vancouver, British Columbia                  Natural Resources Canada                   

One of the greatest opportunities for Canada is the shift toward clean growth. Energy efficiency boosts competitiveness, lowers costs, maximizes profits and helps protect our environment. Promoting and rewarding energy-efficient practices are key components of Canada’s approach to a clean energy future.

Member of Parliament for South Surrey–White Rock, Gordie Hogg, on behalf of Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, today announced a $600,000 investment for the Pembina Institute to support two energy efficiency retrofit projects. These projects will lower energy costs, reduce pollution and support future energy efficiency retrofits in other Canadian municipalities.

Through the Energy Efficiency Program, our government invested $200,000 to develop a pilot program for energy retrofits of B.C.’s social housing stock. In partnership with the B.C. Non-Profit Housing Association and the City of Vancouver, the Affordable Housing Renewal Pilot Program will retrofit up to five social housing complexes on the Lower Mainland.

Upon completion of the pilot project, the remaining $400,000 will go toward five to eight additional municipalities across Canada that are looking to develop strategies to retrofit their multi-unit residential building stock.

Retrofitting homes and buildings to make them more energy-efficient lowers costs, reduces maintenance requirements, creates a more pleasant living environment and increases the value of the home or building, all while reducing environmental footprints.

Energy-efficient buildings are part of Canada’s Investing in Canadainfrastructure plan, through which our government is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes and Canada’s rural and northern communities.

Through Generation Energy, Canada's national energy dialogue, Canadians expressed that they want to see Canada continuing to be a leader in the transition to a clean growth economy. Canada will continue to support innovative projects that create jobs, improve industry competitiveness, cut pollution and help address climate change.