Launched in 2020 as a six-year, $300 million initiative, GMF’s Community Efficiency Financing (CEF) program has supported more than 40 municipalities to launch and expand innovative home-energy upgrade financing programs.
By empowering homeowners to invest in energy-efficient upgrades, CEF has strengthened local economies, supported climate leadership, and made homes healthier, more affordable and more resilient.
Since its launch, CEF has:
Supported more than 40 municipal programs in eight provinces.
Completed over 4,400 retrofits, with more than 10,000 expected in total. content
Helped households save an average of $1,383 per year in energy costs.
Supported more than 3,000 jobs and contributed $293.8 million to Canada’s GDP.
Reduced over 13,500 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
Leveraged over $70 million in private capital.
These achievements reflect the dedication of municipalities, delivery partners, and sector collaborators in building sustainable, affordable, and resilient communities.
Program update
The capital project funding stream is now closed to new applications.*
The plans, studies and pilots funding streams will remain open until December 31, 2025. Applications received by this date will be reviewed before the program transitions to a lower-allocation phase in March 2026.
If you have any questions about this change, please contact our Outreach team. gmfinfo@fcm.ca
*Quebec municipalities will have an extended deadline to submit due to additional application requirements. To ensure Quebec municipalities have an equal submission window, applications from Quebec will remain open until July 1, 2026.
Continued support for municipalities
Even as funding winds down, municipalities can continue to access:
- CEF-developed tools, case studies and program design resources.
- Peer learning opportunities and sector connections.
- Technical guidance from GMF staff to help move projects forward.
- Opportunities like the resiliency-focused PACE financing through the Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation (LLCA) program, enabling existing CEF recipients to expand programs to include both energy efficiency and climate adaptation measures.
About CEF funding
Through CEF, GMF offers support to municipalities at every stage of delivering a home-energy upgrade financing program. Funding for plans, studies and pilots will remain open until December 31, 2025. Applications received by this date will be reviewed before the program transitions to a lower-allocation phase in March 2026.
- Plans: Develop the foundational elements of your program, such as program design, governance structures, stakeholder engagement strategies, and operational frameworks.
- Studies: Explore your options, build on market research, or assess program performance with feasibility, design, and program evaluation studies.
- Pilot projects: Test a smaller-scale version of your program in real-world settings; reserved for exceptional proposals with strong market transformation potential.
Questions?
Contact our Outreach team who can answer any questions regarding the CEF update.
gmfinfo@fcm.ca
FCM’s Community Efficiency Financing initiative is delivered through our Green Municipal Fund and funded by the Government of Canada.
Case studies
Read about initiatives your peers have run using GMF funding. Their stories are inspiring.
Case Study: An innovative path toward net-zero homes
How Better Homes Ottawa leveraged a private-sector partnership to finance home energy-efficiency retrofits.
Read moreCase Study: Making Alberta homes more energy efficient
How Alberta municipalities teamed up to access Community Efficiency Financing and retrofit homes across multiple communities.
Read moreResidential energy programs overcome barriers to financing retrofits in Toronto
FCM Sustainable Communities Award winner – Energy Program
Read moreCase Study: Helping Maritime homeowners boost energy efficiency
An innovative financing tool makes sustainable retrofits on single-family homes accessible to all
Read moreHave questions about Community Efficiency Financing?
Contact our Outreach team who can answer any questions you have relating to this funding opportunity.
Take me to CEF funding offer
Get funding to deliver home-energy upgrade financing programs for residential energy projects.
Delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, GMF manages approximately $2.4B in programs funded by the Government of Canada.