Canadian communities own and operate a large and diverse portfolio of aging buildings in need of upgrades – including facilities that contribute to strong, vibrant community culture, like arenas, pools and recreation centres.
The Green Municipal Fund’s (GMF) Community Buildings Retrofit (CBR) initiative supports local governments and not-for-profit organizations in retrofitting public buildings to improve energy performance, lower operating and maintenance costs, and transition to cleaner energy solutions over time.
The CBR funding offer supports all stages of project development, helping communities of all sizes to significantly reduce GHG emissions, while extending their asset’s life cycle. CBR can help your municipality achieve the following:
- Improve energy performance and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Create local jobs in your municipality and reduce operating costs
- Better building quality and greater community use
About CBR funding
GMF offers support throughout the life cycle of a community building retrofit project through the following funding options:

Community Building Monitoring and Analysis grant: Collect data on existing buildings to improve energy performance.
Community Building Recommissioning grant: Ensure building systems operate at optimal levels while saving energy and improving occupant comfort.
GHG Reduction Pathway Feasibility Study grant: Determine the best approach to integrating energy and GHG reductions into longer-term management plans.
Capital funding: Retrofit a local facility for higher energy performance and significant GHG emissions reduction.
- GHG impact retrofit capital project: Retrofit a building to achieve a minimum 30% reduction in GHG emissions; ideal for shovel-ready projects.
- GHG reduction pathway retrofit capital project: Retrofit a building using an outcomes-oriented approach to achieving (near) net zero carbon buildings over time.
FCM’s Community Buildings Retrofit initiative is delivered through our Green Municipal Fund and funded by the Government of Canada.
Are you seeking guidance to you get the most of your CBR initiative?
GMF now offers a new CBR Advisory Service and is intended to help municipalities maximize the potential of their CBR project by matching them to industry leaders who understand best practices in energy retrofits of community buildings and who can help municipalities achieve their energy goals.
Webinar recording: Supporting small and medium municipalities through the Community Buildings Retrofit initiative
Watch this webinar recording to learn about successful examples of completed retrofits, how municipalities can choose the right funding options and to answer any questions about the funding process. View moreFeatured resources
See featured resources, news, events and training related to Community Buildings Retrofit initiative.
Community Buildings Retrofit Advisory Service
Free, expert advice to help you upgrade your local facilities
Read moreVideo: Retrofitting community buildings for maximum GHG reduction impact
How your municipality can use a pathway approach to achieve (near) net zero over time
Read moreResource library: Community Buildings Retrofit
Practical knowledge to support your local facility upgrade
Read moreWebinar recording: Recommissioning community buildings
Improving air quality and energy efficiency
Read moreHave questions about Community Buildings Retrofit?
Contact our Outreach team who can answer any questions you have relating to this funding opportunity.
Take me to CBR funding offer
Get funding to retrofit existing community recreation and cultural facilities.

The Green Municipal Fund is a $1 billion program, delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of Canada.