Study: Retrofit pathway study for affordable housing
This funding supports housing providers in planning phased, long-term building improvements by assessing multiple retrofit options to reduce energy use and/or GHG emissions over 10- and 20-year timelines.
SUSTAINABLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Funding Snapshot
Grants of up to $65,000 for a single building, or up to $200,000 for a portfolio of buildings, to cover up to 80% of your eligible costs. Eligible Indigenous communities may qualify for a grant of up to 100% of eligible costs.
• Canadian municipal governments (e.g., towns, cities, regions, districts and local boards thereof);
• Municipally owned corporations, such as municipal housing service providers; or
• Non-profit, mission-driven affordable housing providers, including cooperatives.
• An Indigenous community is an eligible lead applicant if they are partnering with a Canadian municipal government on an eligible project, or if they have a shared service agreement with a Canadian municipal government related to municipal infrastructure, climate change or adaptation.
Applications are accepted year-round.
See the eligible costs table for details.
This funding helps housing providers plan retrofit work over time. A pathway study looks at retrofit options over 10 and 20 years. This approach allows organizations to phase work based on budgets, building needs and capacity. It also evaluates different ways to achieve energy or greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions, or both, helping housing providers compare options and choose the approach that best meets their goals while maintaining affordability and building performance.
A retrofit pathway study can support decisions about when and how upgrades can be completed as part of asset management or capital planning. The pathway study can apply to a single building or a portfolio of buildings.
Instead of focusing on a one-time deep energy retrofit, a pathway study looks at different retrofit options and timelines. This approach allows housing providers to compare different combinations of measures, understand costs and energy impacts over time, and coordinate retrofit work with future capital funding opportunities and equipment replacement schedules. It also supports a phased approach, where upgrades are completed over time as building systems reach the end of their useful life.
A retrofit pathway study helps housing providers understand:
- how their buildings perform today
- what repairs or replacements will likely be needed over time
- how energy-efficient upgrades can be integrated into existing asset management or capital plans
At a minimum, a retrofit pathway study is expected to:
- Establish a clear baseline of current energy use and GHG emissions for the building(s) being studied.
- Identify and document building components and systems expected to require repair or replacement over the next 30 years, along with energy-saving upgrades that could be completed at the same time to reduce energy use or GHG emissions.
- Identify appropriate energy conservation measures (ECMs) that align with the energy and GHG reduction targets described in the scenario requirements section.
- Compare different retrofit scenarios that show how and when ECMs could be implemented, considering when systems will need to be replaced, costs, energy savings, GHG reductions and potential efficiencies from completing work at the same time.
- Assess the financial implications of these scenarios, including capital costs, available funding, capital reserves and anticipated savings from reduced energy use.
- Identify factors that may affect retrofit decisions beyond energy, GHG and cost considerations, and support the integration of energy efficiency into existing capital planning processes.
Together, these elements help housing providers include energy efficiency in long-term planning and choose retrofit approaches that support their organizational goals.
Eligible projects
Retrofit pathway studies must include at least three scenarios:
- one “like-for-like” scenario based on standard replacement
- at least two higher-performance scenarios meeting energy or GHG reduction targets
Performance scenarios must achieve:
- 10 years: ≥50% GHG reduction or ≥40% energy reduction
- 20 years: ≥80% GHG reduction or ≥60% energy reduction
See the application guide and the retrofit pathway study guidance document for more details.
Time to complete projects
Projects are typically expected to be completed within two years of FCM approval.
Notes
Funding is stackable with other funding programs.
We reserve the right to make changes to eligibility criteria and the types of projects funded through this offer.
How to Apply
1. Review the application guide. Make sure to look at the eligibility criteria and required document sections.
2. 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.
3. Complete the pre-application form available on the FCM funding portal following the instructions in the application guide.
4. Eligible projects will be invited to submit a full application.
Quebec municipalities
FCM has an agreement with Quebec's Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Habitation (MAMH) that allows the ministry to review applications to GMF before they are submitted to FCM. Quebec municipalities and municipally-owned corporations interested in applying should contact GMF.
Municipally-owned corporations are not included in the agreement with MAMH. They must obtain authorization from the Quebec government to secure an agreement with FCM, in accordance with the Ministère du Conseil exécutif. Private non-profit organizations can submit to GMF directly.
Once you have completed all the steps in the ‘How to apply’ section, submit your application by following the steps below. Note that the content of the links is available in French only.
- Save your application form using the appropriate file name.
- Save the application form to your local device with the following filename: FMV_ "your municipality's name"_ "date" (YYMMDD). For example: FMV_TownofABC_180228.pdf
- Log in to the Portail gouvernemental des affaires municipales et régionales using your username and password.
- To submit your form click on “File Transfer”.
- In the “Recipient” drop-down list, select the applicable program.
- Upload your files and press “Transfer” once your request is complete.
- Receive confirmation from MAMH.
- MAMH assesses the applications to ensure that the projects submitted do not conflict with Quebec's government policies and directives. Once the assessment has been completed, MAMH informs the applicant of their decision and sends compliant applications to GMF for review.
- MAMH requires up to 15 working days to review the application and forward it to GMF.
- Receive approval from GMF.
- GMF will inform the applicant once they receive the application from MAMH and review the submission. If the application is approved for funding, an agreement between FCM and the applicant is prepared.
Need help to see if this is the right funding for you?
Contact our Outreach team who can answer any questions you have relating to this funding opportunity.
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