Innovative financing models – like utility on-bill financing and third-party lending – can help residents afford the high cost of energy upgrades and contribute to local greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions.

Since 2012, the City of Nelson, BC, has been offering an on-bill financing program for home energy upgrades. The Nelson EcoSave program, which expanded into the broader Regional District of Central Kootenay to form the Regional Energy Efficiency Program (REEP) in 2019, helps homeowners access low-interest financing and support to retrofit their homes. Nelson residents can borrow up to $16,000 through the city’s electric utility, Nelson Hydro, and repay it on their electric bills, while other residents can access low-interest loans through local credit unions in the region.

The program also offers a range of other services for homeowners and industry partners, from EnerGuide energy evaluations and customized support, to free training courses and information sessions for residents and contractors. The program has helped more than 1,500 residents improve their homes, including 750 residents in the past three years alone.

In this video, Carmen Proctor, Climate & Energy Manager at the City of Nelson, tells the story of the program’s success to date, shares key lessons learned from running the program, and highlights their next steps to scale up the program.

What you’ll learn from this video:

• Approaches for structuring a program with different financing models, including utility on-bill financing and third-party lending
• Recommendations for designing a program that supports residents and your local context
• Techniques to help you maximize your program’s impact and reach

Transcript

More resources:

• Learn more about funding and training resources from our Community Efficiency Financing initiative
• Watch this introductory video on local home-energy financing programs  
• Nelson EcoSave website and participant testimonials
• Regional Energy Efficiency Program website

In Canada, a significant portion of GHG emissions are produced by buildings. Non-profit housing also typically shows lower energy performance than comparable for-profit housing, particularly as Canada’s aging affordable housing stock’s building components deteriorate over time.

Watch this webinar recording to learn three pathways to use asset management to improve energy performance in affordable housing.

Speaker: Edward Beckett, Asset Management Coordinator with the BC Non-Profit Housing Association and FCM’s Regional Energy Coach for BC

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In this webinar, you will learn:

• How to use asset inventories and maintenance plans to decrease energy use
• Strategies for building check-ups such as walkthrough audits, energy studies, and recommissioning
• How to prioritize energy efficient design and equipment in energy efficient retrofits

Watch this webinar recording to learn how Housing Nova Scotia (HNS) has integrated energy efficiency into their asset management strategy.

Speaker: Ramzi Kawar, Director, Greening and Sustainable Business Practices in the Department of Infrastructure & Housing at Housing Nova Scotia

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This webinar recording includes:

• Information on HNS’s Greening Strategy, Energy Reduction Initiative, and Efficiency Nova Scotia program
• Case study examples featuring Passive House models and a building envelope upgrade
• The HNS Energy Management Strategy for 2021-2026