Capital project: Green Buildings Pathway retrofit
Funding for long-term, energy-saving projects that reduce maintenance costs and improve comfort in your community buildings.
MUNICIPAL AND COMMUNITY BUILDINGS
Funding Snapshot
Maximum of $10 million per project. Up to 25% as a grant and the remainder as a loan. Combined loan and grant for up to 80% of eligible project costs.
All Canadian municipal governments (with the exception of Low Carbon Cities Canada (LC3) namesake municipalities; Municipal government project partners.
Applications are accepted year round, though this offer will close when all funding has been allocated.
See the application guide for a list of eligible costs.
Apply for funding for multi-measure, long-term projects that reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions over time—modernizing your community buildings, lowering operating costs and freeing up resources for essential services. These retrofits will contribute to a Green Buildings Pathway while enhancing comfort, resilience and quality of life for your community.
Eligible projects can focus on a single community building or take a portfolio approach—saving staff time and resources by submitting one funding application for multiple buildings. A portfolio can include:
- multiple community buildings within the same municipality
- one or more community buildings combined with other municipal buildings in the same municipality
- similar types of community buildings across multiple municipalities (subject to GMF review)
Please note: The guides for applying to this grant have recently been updated. Ensure you download the latest versions to access the most current information.
Application guideGreen Buildings Pathway guide
What is a Green Buildings Pathway?
A sequence of GHG reduction measures that allow local recreational and cultural facilities to achieve 50% GHG reductions within 10 years and achieve best practice energy targets within 20 years. Green Building Pathway capital projects are conducted in phases towards near-net zero, supported by an ongoing strategy to ensure existing equipment and systems operate optimally. An example of the pathway could include:
- Phase 1: Improvements are made to a community building envelope that also address critical building upgrades (e.g., insulation, energy efficient windows, etc.) in year 1
- Phase 2: Focus on high rate-of-return GHG reduction measures in years 5 – 6, such as the addition of solar PV depending on the province.
- Phase 3: HVAC system is replaced at end-of-life in year 10
This is just one example of a Green Buildings Pathway. Each pathway will reflect unique objectives, constraints and preferred measures. Funding applications must consist of at least one phase in support of a Green Buildings Pathway. Funding recipients may then re-apply in the future for further Green Buildings Pathway retrofit capital project funding for subsequent phases subject to funding availability.
Best practice energy targets
For the retrofit of community buildings, the best practice energy targets are based on the following energy use and fossil-fuel phase-out requirements.
- For office and office-like buildings (including but not limited to libraries), the Energy Use Intensity (EUI) requirement for building energy consumed per year, per unit floor area, must be met and measured in kWh/m2/y. To determine the EUI requirement, see the Green Buildings Pathway Guidance Document.
- Thermal Energy Demand Intensity (TEDI) – calculate and report only. Projects are not required to meet a TEDI target for any building type. However, TEDI must be calculated for all projects by an energy modelling professional.
- Renewable measures (such as installation of solar panels) are permitted, but the project must meet the EUI targets without factoring in any net energy use reductions from renewable systems. However, GHG reductions from renewable energy installations can be counted toward meeting the 50 percent GHG reduction target over 10 years.
- For non-office buildings (including but not limited to recreation centres, pools and arenas), the building must achieve 25% energy savings compared to the National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB) 2020 baseline.
- Other mandatory requirements, as described in the Green Buildings Pathway Guidance Document.
- For all building types in climate zones 4 and 5, a complete fossil-fuel phase-out is required. Backup fossil-fuel use is not permitted.
- For all building types in climate zones 6 and above, a complete fossil-fuel phase-out is required when outdoor temperatures are -15 C and above. Backup fossil-fuel space heating is allowed only when outdoor temperatures are below -15 C.
Please read our technical guide before submitting your application.
Eligible buildings
To be eligible for this combined loan and grant, projects must include at least one community building that is owned by a municipality or not-for-profit organization.
A community building is an enclosed public place or an enclosed workplace that is:
- owned by a municipal government or not-for-profit;
- primarily used for the purposes of providing athletic, recreational, culture and community programs or services to the local community;
- widely accessible to everyone offering services designed to enhance the health and well-being, skills development, and economic development of individuals and communities.
Community buildings include:
- indoor ice rinks, indoor sports arenas, indoor swimming pools,
- community and recreational centres (e.g., community centres, clubhouses, seniors’ centres and clubs, recreation centres, gyms, halls, and curling rinks),
- arts and culture facilities (cultural facilities, performing arts facilities, art galleries, and auditoriums),
- libraries, and
- multi-purpose buildings which include one or more of the above community functions as well as other services/administrative functions.
For full project scope and eligibility, please read our application guide.
Prerequisites
Capital projects must be supported by a Green Buildings Pathway feasibility study or an equivalent feasibility study. Capital projects must consist of GHG and energy reduction measures sequenced in alignment with the Green Buildings Pathway. Read our application guide for full details.
Notes
There is no limit on Green Buildings Pathway capital projects supported per municipality provided they are all part of the same Green Buildings Pathway. Only one type of capital project, Green Buildings Pathway or GHG reduction impact, is eligible per municipality regardless of whether the building or buildings are owned by the municipality or a not-for-profit organization.
Funding is subject to availability. We reserve the right to make changes to eligibility criteria and the types of projects funded through this offer.
How to Apply
- Review the application guide. Make sure to look at the eligibility criteria and required document sections.
- Visit the FCM funding portal to create your profile and request a PIN to access the system. Already have an FCM funding portal profile? Skip to Step 3
- Complete the pre-application form available on the FCM funding portal.
- Submit the form to GMF following the instructions in the application guide. Applicants will receive a response within 15 business days of receipt of the initial proposal.
- Eligible projects will be invited to submit a full application.
If you are not eligible to apply, sign up for our e-newsletter to stay informed about other funding opportunities.
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.
The FCM Funding Portal will be unavailable soon due to a scheduled upgrade.
At this time, applications for this funding offer may not be accepted. Previously submitted applications continue to be processed. If you are considering applying for this funding offer, please contact gmfinfo@fcm.ca
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