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As communities grow, local governments are looking for ways to accommodate, service and support new residents and businesses. However, finding space for additional housing, commerce and agriculture while aligning cost and environmental benefits to your community’s needs can be challenging.

To help municipal staff and elected officials overcome these challenges and make explore sustainable land use options, we’ve developed a pair of resources with support from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). This tool explores the financial and climate implications of potential projects and a guide that provides tips, strategies and a high-level understanding of how land use decisions can impact a municipality’s climate and fiscal sustainability.

Tool: Land use impact calculator

A plugin for Microsoft Excel, open to all members of the public, this tool can allow local governments to explore the potential impact of land use projects. Users can explore potential land use scenarios and their impact by imputing data related to buildings, services, infrastructure, transportation and municipal revenue.

Access the tool.

Guide: Climate and financial impacts of land-use decisions

This informational guide can help municipalities better understand the benefits of land use development while highlighting best practices and strategies that lock in positive fiscal and climate effects. It features a case study, links to helpful resources and a detailed comparison of the implications of three types of land use developments:

  • Walkable mixed-use infill (high density)
  • Transit-focused (medium density)
  • Residential-focused (low density)

Through this comparison, readers will form a better understanding of the impacts each project-type has on housing, transportation, energy, municipal finances and more.

Download the guide today.

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Event Details

Location
Online

Energy use in municipal, residential, and commercial buildings contributes significantly to Canada’s GHG emissions. Investing in building energy performance and resilience will not only decrease our buildings’ impact on the climate, but will also reduce maintenance costs, create jobs, and improve our quality of life.

This course series, Tackling energy use in municipal and community buildings, offers four self-paced, free, online courses for you to choose from that covers topics such as municipal leadership, community-scale energy solutions, and policies and programs designed to support community members. Once you have registered, the course you selected will be available to you for three months—although it’s estimated to take less than 10 hours to complete each course. You can take any number of courses and in any order, depending on your municipal priorities and needs.

Each course is divided into five modules. These modules include case studies and interviews with municipal champions across Canada, additional readings to support your learning and opportunities to connect, reflect and plan your next steps. Each module can be completed at your own pace and as your schedule allows, although we recommend that you try to complete one module per week. See more details below about each individual course.

The courses are based on the Municipal Energy Roadmap, which offers guidance in identifying the best solutions for Canadian communities to achieve significant GHG emissions reductions in their municipal and community buildings and meet their long-term sustainability objectives. More information is provided in our Municipal Energy Roadmap factsheets and webinar recording.

Course: Leading the way in municipal buildings

From "What can I do to improve the energy performance of buildings in my community?" to "How can I get it done?", discover how municipalities can model best practices to inspire their residents and businesses to take action.

Learning outcomes:

  • Articulate your top priorities and challenges related to improving the energy performance of your municipal buildings.
  • List examples of municipal champions and resources that can be sources of inspiration and best practices for your next energy initiative.
  • Describe one or more strategies to improve building energy performance that you may be able to implement in your own municipality.
  • Name five key steps to support project implementation and describe (at a high-level) how you can apply each step to your next energy initiative.
  • Identify next steps to continue your learning and build on the ideas covered in this course.

The learnings of this course can be applied to municipal projects that are eligible for support via our Sustainable Municipal Buildings funding offers and Community Buildings Retrofit initiative. Discover how we can support your next steps.

Course: Scaling up solutions for community energy generation

Explore two different approaches for adopting low-carbon energy solutions at a broader scale in your community: district energy systems and renewable energy generation systems, with a focus on wind and solar power.

Learning outcomes:

  • Compare the advantages and challenges of different types of community energy generation projects that municipalities can implement or support.
  • Name examples of different approaches for district energy and renewable energy generation and resources that can support implementation.
  • Describe one or more characteristics that determine if and how community energy generation makes sense for your municipality.
  • Identify four different ways that municipalities can be involved in community energy projects and describe at a high-level what steps each way might involve.
  • Explain how your municipality would be involved in a hypothetical community energy project and what actions you would take.
  • Identify next steps to continue your learning and build on the ideas covered in this course.

The learnings of this course can be applied to municipal projects that are eligible for support via our Community Energy Systems funding offers. Discover how we can support your next steps.

Course: Incentive and financing options for building energy upgrades

Learn how your municipality or organization can support residents and businesses to complete energy upgrades to existing homes and buildings.

Learning outcomes:

  • Explain the value of financing/incentive programs in supporting community members in completing energy upgrades.
  • Identify relevant examples of financing/incentive programs across Canada and draw connections to your local context.
  • Describe what financing/incentive program models might make sense for your municipality and any challenges that might be involved.
  • List key steps or considerations involved in designing and implementing financing/incentive programs.
  • Name common challenges and best practices related to designing programs with an equity lens.
  • Identify next steps to continue your learning and build on the ideas covered in this course.

The learnings of this course can be applied to municipal projects that are eligible for support via our Community Efficiency Financing initiative. Discover how we can support your next steps.

Course: Advancing high-performance buildings in your community

Discover opportunities for municipalities to drive deep GHG reductions in buildings—and in their communities more broadly—through policies and programs that normalize the adoption of climate-friendly choices.

Learning outcomes:

  • Articulate how municipalities can help meet net-zero targets in our communities, with a focus on community buildings.
  • Describe specific policy levers that municipalities can use to contribute to the improved performance of new buildings and neighbourhoods.
  • Explain how municipalities can raise awareness of the benefits of high-performance buildings through energy rating and disclosure programs and other initiatives to engage community and industry members.
  • List key steps and considerations for designing and implementing policies and programs to achieve high-performance buildings and neighbourhoods.
  • Identify next steps to continue your learning and build on the ideas covered in this course.

The learnings of this course can be applied to municipal projects that are eligible for support via our Net-Zero Transformation funding offers. Discover how we can support your next steps.

SELECT A COURSE

Summary

To reduce the amount of bulky waste sent to landfill, the City of Drummondville, Québec, has developed an at-home, appointment-based collection service for divertible items. The pilot project implemented in 2020 included the collection of furniture, mattresses, electronic devices, and construction, renovation and demolition (CRD) waste in order to reuse or properly recycle these items. Based on the project’s positive results, the City permanently implemented the service in 2023.

“The pilot project was such a success, and the response of the population was so positive that we decided to maintain the service. We’re now looking at the possibility of adding new categories of divertible items.”

– Marie-Ève Vadnais, Director, Environmental Department, City of Drummondville.

Context

Located in the Centre-du-Québec region, halfway between Montreal and Québec City, the City of Drummondville has a population of nearly 85,000. After significant efforts in the past few years to raise the awareness of good waste management to its population, the City felt the need to take it a step further to reduce the amount of bulky waste sent to landfill.

Challenge

Noting that 70 percent of the bulky waste put to the curbside during quarterly collection drives had the potential to be repaired, reused, transformed or recycled, the challenge for Drummondville was to divert as much of this waste as possible to improve its waste management performance, extend the lifecycle of landfill sites, and generate economic and environmental benefits.

Approach

Through an easy-to-use electronic reservation platform, citizens can register and make an appointment for the type of waste collection of their choice. Then, the addresses of the registrants are extracted to determine the optimal collection route to pick up this divertible waste. The collected waste is then reused or recycled by local partners.

With this new service, Drummondville aimed to:

  • Reduce the amount of waste by 2.5 percent during the pilot project and by 5 percent after full-scale implementation.
  • Identify and monitor success factors to ensure the cost efficiency of the social economy business and the regional eco-centre.
  • Achieve sufficient savings to be able to end one of the three annual bulky waste collection drives.
Woman on laptop surrounded by moving boxes
This service received a positive response from the residents of the City of Drummondville, who can use it to get rid of bulky or recyclable items for free.

Results

Within the first year of providing an appointment-based collection service to its residents, the City of Drummondville diverted 245 tonnes of waste from landfill, including 23.5 tonnes of bulky items, generating $18,000 in savings based on per-tonne landfill costs in 2021.

Additionally, the service achieved:

  • Nearly 30 tonnes of divertible waste collected in 2022, a 10% increase compared to 2021.
  • The elimination of one of the three annual bulky waste collection drives, representing annual savings of nearly $30,000.
  • A decrease in GHG emissions and fuel savings through the improved design of collection routes.

These positive results led to the permanent implementation of the service in 2023.

Benefits

“Not only are there environmental benefits, but there are also economic benefits to better managing our waste,” said Marie-Ève Vadnais, Director, Environmental Department, City of Drummondville.

The amount of bulky items and CRD waste diverted from landfill will increase the lifecycle of landfills, reducing GHG emissions, contamination and pollution. Additionally, working with two local, social enterprises and a private waste diversion business promotes the development of a circular economy and community support.

As for the residents of Drummondville, they can now divert or recycle their waste more easily.

Lessons learned

Throughout the process of developing and implementing this service, three main lessons emerged.

  1. The need to have recognized partnerships with service agreements, while choosing local organizations that have the capacity to collect and divert waste.
  2. Implementing a communication plan with ongoing promotions is crucial to encourage the population to use the new service.
  3. Choosing an online reservation platform that is user-friendly for both the population and the people in charge of registrations.

Testimonial

“This project has raised the awareness of the population about waste. Not only are there environmental benefits, but there are also economic benefits to better managing our waste,” said Marie-Ève Vadnais. “The population was informed through a large-scale awareness campaign that we carried out, which had impacts on the total number of tonnes of collected waste, and also on the number of users of the eco-centre”

Next steps

Permanently implemented in 2023, the appointment-based collection service for divertible waste will be expanding in the coming months. The City is already looking into new diversion streams and partners who can recycle or reuse other types of items, such as refrigerators and air conditioners, while ensuring the long-term capacity of current partners to provide waste collection and diversion services.

Want to explore all GMF-funded projects? Check out the Projects Database for a complete overview of funded projects and get inspired by municipalities of all sizes, across Canada. 

Visit the projects database

We've developed two tools to help housing providers understand how much energy their buildings use, and the costs savings associated with the projected energy use. The first tool, called Energy benchmarking, lets housing providers see how much energy they use now, set realistic goals for using less energy, and figure out how much money they could save. 

The second tool, the Project cash flow calculator, helps housing providers look at the money side of things. It helps them make smart choices for the long term. These tools work together to help affordable housing providers reach their energy-saving goals and manage financial expectations. This way, they can build strong, lasting communities for the future.   
 

Energy benchmarking

Navigate the complexities of your building's energy consumption patterns with our energy benchmarking tool. This tool will facilitate insightful comparisons between your building's current performance, its historical efficiencies, and benchmarks against similar properties. Use this tool to determine your property's energy intensity and gauge the potential energy savings your project could deliver.

In this section, you can conduct an energy analysis of your project. By determining your building's energy intensity, you'll be well-equipped to compare it with similar structures. Additionally, this allows you to estimate potential energy savings and reductions in GHG emissions within an energy efficiency project. Please note that this section is optional and independent of the cash flow analysis.

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Project cash flow calculator

This robust tool meticulously examines all financial inflows and outflows tied to a project over a defined timeframe. It allows housing providers to anticipate and tactically manage expenditures. The calculator is instrumental in facilitating informed decision-making by providing a comprehensive overview of the financial trajectory of energy-efficient initiatives throughout their entire life cycle. From illustrating the return on investment to offering a nuanced understanding of financial implications, this tool equips housing providers with the insights necessary to determine the viability of a project.

In this section, you can assess your project's profitability using the financial metrics provided in the table below. 

Cash Flow

Net Annual Cash Flow

Calculation Table

Financial Metrics

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Glossary

1. Net cash flow: Net cash flow is the difference between the total cash inflow and the total cash outflow. In this calculator the inflow corresponds to energy savings and the cash flow corresponds to the project cost and the operating and maintenance (O&M) costs.

2. Cumulative cash flow: Cumulative cash flow means, for any calendar year, the sum of the Annual Cash Flow for each calendar year prior to and including such calendar year.

3. Simple payback: Simple payback is defined as the number of years after which an investment will have paid for itself. In energy efficiency projects it can be translated as the number of years it takes for the energy savings to payback the initial cost of the project. The shorter your payback period is, the faster you will recover your initial investment.    

Payback period = Initial investment / Annual pay

4.  Present value: Present value (PV) is the current value of a future sum of money or stream of cash flows given a specific rate of return.

5. Cumulative present value: Cumulative present value means, for any calendar year, the sum of the Annual Present Value for each calendar year prior to and including such calendar year.

6. Net present value: Net present value (NPV) is the difference between the present value of cash inflows and the present value of cash outflows over a period of time. NPV is the result of calculations that find the current value of a future stream of payments, using the proper discount rate. In general, projects with a positive NPV are worth undertaking while those with a negative NPV are not.

NPV = Cash flow / (1 + i)t – initial investment    
* t = year of project
* i = discount rate    
 

7. Savings to investment ratio: the Savings to investment ratio also called benefit-to-cost ratio is the ratio of the net present value to project costs. Ratios greater than 1 are representative of profitable projects. As for NPV, projects with a positive savings to investment ratio are worth undertaking while those with a negative savings to investment ratio are not.

8. Internal rate of return: Internal rate of return (IRR) follows the same reasoning as Net Present Value. But rather than picking a discount rate to find the current value of a future stream of cashflows, this method relies on an iterative solution to determine what discount rate will cause the NPV of the project to equal zero. IRR is calculated by trial and error by varying the discount rate in the NPV formula until the NPV is equal to 0. The IRR assumes the cash flows from a project are reinvested at the IRR itself.

9. Modified internal rate of return: The Modified internal rate of return (MIRR) follows the same reasoning as IRR but assumes that positive cash flows are reinvested at the firm's cost of capital.    

Last updated: June 2024 

Building sustainable and affordable housing can be complex, particularly when it comes to financing. Many projects rely on external funding sources to implement energy-efficient retrofits or new builds. The following funder list is designed to streamline your search for financial sources at both provincial and national levels and serves as a strategic tool to simplify the decision-making process. Whether you’re laying the groundwork for a new build or planning for extensive high-performance, energy efficient retrofits, this list includes additional funding resources that are aligned with GMF's Sustainable Affordable Housing (SAH) initiative. 

Discover funding that not only fuels your project but also contributes to a future where sustainability and affordability coexist. 

Funders list

The information below links to programs external to FCM. While we strive to provide accurate information, FCM cannot ensure the accuracy of content hosted externally. For inquiries related to updates, changes, or relevant questions concerning the programs external to FCM, please reach out to us at gmfcapacity@fcm.ca. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Region 

Organization 

Funding Program 

Alignment with SAH 

Grant/Loan 

AB 

Province of Alberta, 
Province-wide 

Affordable Housing Partnership Program 

Plan 
Capital 
 
Stackable 

Grant 


Land or buildings 


Transfer or long-term lease of a government-owned asset 

AB 

City of Edmonton, 
Municipal Region 

Affordable Housing Investment Program 

Capital 
 
Stackable 

Grant 

AB 

City of Edmonton, 
Municipal Region 

Affordable Housing Tax Grant 

Capital 
 
Stackable 

Grant 

AB 

City of Calgary, 
Municipal Region 

Housing Incentive Program (HIP) 

Plan 
Study 
 
Stackable 
(Co-requirement, groups must apply to CMHC for seed funding first) 

Grant, rebate 

AB 

Alberta Real Estate Foundation 

Development Grants 

Plan 
Capital 
 
Stackable 

Grant 

AB 

Calgary Foundation 

Strategic Opportunity Grants 

Plan 
Study 
Pilot 

Grant 

BC 

BC Hydro & Fortis BC 
Province-wide 

Social housing retrofit support program 

Study 
Capital 
 
Stackable 

Grant, rebate 

BC 

BC Housing 
Province-wide 

Building BC Community Housing Fund Program 

Study 
Capital 
 
Stackable 

Loan 
Grant 

BC 

BC Housing 
Province-wide 

Building BC Women's Transition Housing Fund 

Study 
Capital 
 
Stackable 

Loan 
Grant 

BC 

BC Housing 
Province-wide 

Building BC Supportive Housing Fund Program 

Study 
Capital 
 
Stackable 

Loan 
Grant 

BC 

BC Housing 
Province-wide 

Community Housing Fund 

 
Capital 
 
Stackable 

 
Grant 

BC 

BC Housing 
Province-wide 

Canada - British Columbia Housing Benefit Program (CBCHB) 

Capital 

Grant 
BC BC Non-Profit Housing Association

 		 Pilot Program for Vancouver Non-Profit Housing (bcnpha.ca) Grant

BC 

Vancity cooperative 
Province-wide 

Vancity: Impact Investing 

Plan 
Study 
Capital 
 
Stackable 

Loan, Grant (Grants to help housing providers articulate the positive impact of a project; build capacity to deliver a project; develop a successful business plan; communicate the success and/or lessons learned.) 

BC 

Real Estate Foundation of BC 

REFBC Grants 

Plan 
Capital 
 
Stackable 

Grant 

Canada 

Community Housing Transformation Centre, 
Nation-wide 

Local Projects Grant 

Study 
Capital 
 
Stackable 

Grant 

Canada 

Community Housing Transformation Centre, 
Nation-wide 

Sectoral Impact Projects Grants 

Pilot 
Study 
Capital 
 
Stackable 

Grant 

Canada 

Community Housing Transformation Centre, 
Nation-wide 

Nova Scotia’s Community Housing Growth Fund (CHGF) 

Plan 
Study 
Capital 
Stackable 

Grant 

Canada 

Community Housing Transformation Centre, 
Nation-wide 

The Nunalingni Piruqpaalirut Fund 

Plan 
Study 
Capital 
Stackable 

Grant 

Canada 

Housing Partnership Canada (HPC), 
Nation-wide 

Housing Investment Corporation (Hi-C) 

Plan 
Study 
Capital 
 
Stackable 

Loans 

Canada 

Green Municipal Fund (GMF) of Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), 
Nation-wide 

Sustainable Affordable Housing  

Plan 
Study 
Pilot projects 
Retrofit capital projects 
New-build capital projects 
 
Stackable 

Grants, loans 

Canada 

Cooperative Housing Federation (CHF), 
Nation-wide 

Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada Financing 

Study 
 
Stackable 

Loans provided by credit institutions 

Canada 

CMHC 

National Housing Co-Investment Fund: New Construction 

Plan 
Study 
Capital 
Stackable 

Grant 
Loans 

Canada 

CMHC 

National Housing Co-Investment Fund: Renovation 

Plan 
Study 
Capital 
Stackable 

Grant 
Loans 

Canada 

CMHC 

Rental Construction Financing Initiative 

Capital 
 
Stackable 

Loans 

Canada 

CMHC 

Affordable Housing Innovation Fund 

Plan 
Study 
 
Stackable 

Grant 
Loans 

Canada 

CMHC 

Seed Funding program 

Plan 
 
Stackable 

Loans 

Canada 

CMHC 

Community-Based Tenant Initiative 

Plan 
Study 

Grants 

Canada 

CMHC 

NHS Demonstrations Initiative 

Pilots 

Grant 
Loans 

NB 

NB Ministry of Social Development, 
Province-wide 

Shelter Enhancement Program  

Capital 
 
Stackable 

Forgivable Loan 

NB 

NB Power, 
Province-wide 

Community Outreach Program  

Capital 
 
Stackable 

Energy Efficiency Kits 

NL 

The Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador 
Province-wide 

Provincial Housing and Homelessness Partnership Fund 

Capital 
 
Stackable 

Grant 

NS 

Housing Nova Scotia, 
Province-wide 

Rental Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program 

Capital 
 
Stackable 

Grant 

NS 

Efficiency NS, 
Province-wide 

SolarHomes 

Study 

Rebate 

NS 

Efficiency NS, 
Province-wide 

 
Affordable Multifamily Housing Program 

Study 

Rebates 

NS 

Halifax Foundation 

Grant Programs 

Plan 
Study 
Capital 
 
Stackable 

Grant 

NWT 

Yellowknife Community Foundation 

Community Impact Fund 

Plan 
Study 
Capital 
Stackable 

Grant 

ON 

IESO, 
Province-wide 

Retrofit Program 

Capital 
 
Stackable 

Grant 

ON 

Enbridge 
Province-wide 

Affordable Multi-Family Residential Program 

Capital 
 
Stackable 

Grant 

PEI 

Province of PEI 
Province-wide 

Affordable Housing Development Program 

Capital 
 
Stackable 

Forgivable Loan 

PEI 

PEI, CMHA 
Province-wide 

Community Housing Fund, Canadian Mental Health Association 

Study 
 
Stackable 

Grant 

PE 

Province of PEI 
Province-wide 

Solar Electric Rebate Program 

Capital 
 
Stackable 

Rebate 

QC 

Hydro Quebec & Société d'habitation Quebec 
Province-wide 

Rénovation énergétique pour les ménages à faible revenu  

Capital 
 
Stackable 

Grant/rebate 

QC 

Transition énergétique Quebec 
Province-wide 

Rénoclimat 

Capital 
 
Stackable 

Grant 

QC 

Transition énergétique Quebec (TEQ) 
Province-wide 

Éconologis 

Capital 
 
Stackable 

Grant/Service 

QC 

Energir 
Province-wide 

Energy efficiency grants 

Capital 
 
Stackable 

Grant 

QC 

Victoriaville 
Municipal-wide 

Victoriaville Habitation Durable 

Plan 
Study 
Capital 
 
Stackable 

Grant 
 
Subsidies 

QC 

Victoriaville 
Municipal-wide 

Programme de subventions rénovation écogestes 

Capital 
 
Stackable 

Grant 

QC 

Ville de Saguenay 

Home renovation program 

Capital 

Rebates 

QC 

Societe d'habitation Quebec 

Quebec Renovation Program 

Capital 
 
Stackable 

Grant 

QC 

Ville de Riviere du Loup 

Heritage Restoration Program 

Study 
Capital 

Grants 

QC 

Ville de Montreal 

Reno Affordable Housing 

Study 
Capital 
 
Stackable 

Grant 
 
Subsidies 

QC 

Ville de Laval 
Municipal Region 

Heritage Building Revitalization Program 

Study 
Capital 

Grants 

QC 

Ville de Laval 
Municipal Region 

Oil Heating System Replacement  

Capital 
 
Stackable 

Grant 

SK 

City of Saskatoon 
Municipal Region 

Affordable Housing Reserve 

Study 
 
Capital 

Grant 
Tax Abatements 

SK 

City of Regina 
Municipal Region 

Housing Incentive Policy 

Capital 
 
Stackable 

Grant 

YT 

Yukon Territory  
Territory-wide 

Good Energy rebates 

Capital 
 
Stackable 

Rebate 

YT 

Yukon Territory  
Territory-wide 

Developer Build Loan Program 

Capital 
 
Stackable 

Loan 

QC 

Socitété d'habitation du Québec 
Province-wide 

Home Ownership Program for Residents of the Kativik Region 

Capital 
 
Stackable 

Grant 

PEI 

Energy Efficiency Equipement Rebates 

efficiencyPEI 

capital 

Rebate 

NS 

Government of Nova Scotia 
Province-wide 

Nova Scotia - Your Energy Rebate 

capital 
 
Stackable 

Rebate 

QC 

Hydro-Québec 
Province-wide 

LogisVert 

capital 
Study 
Stackable 

Grant 

QC 

Énergir 
Province-wide 

Supplement for low-income households 

Capital 

Grant 

ON 

City of Toronto 
City-wide 

Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) 

capital 
 
Stackable 

Loan 

ON 

Enbridge Gas 
Province-wide 

Savings by Design Affordable Housing 

capital 
study 
Stackable 

Grant 

YT 

Yukon Territory  
Territory-wide 

Solar domestic hot-water heating systems 

Capital 
 
Stackable 

Rebate 

YT 

Yukon Territory  
Territory-wide 

Renewable energy systems 

Capital 

Rebate 

NT 

Arctic Energy Alliance 
Province-wide 

Rebates on Energy-Efficient Home Improvements 

Capital 
 
Stackable 

Rebate 

NT 

Arctic Energy Alliance 
Province-wide 

Rebates on Energy-Efficient Products 

Capital 
 
Stackable 

Rebate 

CA 

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation 

Canada Greener Affordable Housing 

Plan 
Study 
Capital 
 
Stackable 

Loan 

QC 

Société d'habitation du Québec 

Programme de rénovation des habitations à loyer modique 

Capital 

Grant 

BC 

BC Hydro 

BC Hydro's Custom Efficiency Program 

Capital, Stackable 

Grant 

BC 

CleanBC 

Social Housing Incentives Program (SHIP) 

Planning/Sudy, capital, stackable 

Grant 

BC 

CleanBC 

CleanBC Custom Program (retrofits) 

Planning/Sudy, capital, stackable 

Grant 

BC 

CleanBC 

CleanBC Commercial New Construction Program 

Planning/Sudy, capital, stackable 

Grant 

BC 

BC Housing 

Energy Efficiency Retrofit Program (EERP) 

Capital, Stackable 

Grant 

BC 

BC Housing 

Capital Renewel Funding (CRF) 

Capital, Stackable 

Grant 

BC 

CleanBC 

CleanBC Income Qualified Program 

Capital, Stackable 

Grant 

BC 

CleanBC 

CleanBC Custom Lite Program (retrofits) 

Planning/Sudy, capital, stackable 

Grant 

Pine Tree Park Estates: Transforming a brownfield into a net zero energy community

Previously a military radar base, Pine Tree Park Estates is Cape Breton's inaugural net-zero energy community, having transitioned from fossil fuels with renovated systems and solar panels to notably reduce utility expenses.

About Pine Tree Park Estates

Previously a military radar base, Pine Tree Park is Cape Breton's inaugural net zero energy community, having transitioned from fossil fuels with renovated systems and solar panels, setting benchmarks for future projects. Rising energy costs are impacting not only companies' budgets, but the daily lives of tenants living in affordable housing.

An aerial view of Pine Tree Park Estates from the 1970s.

About New Dawn Enterprises

Since 1976, New Dawn, a community-focused social enterprise, has offered affordable housing, home care, and diverse programs including arts and food security. They manage five commercial spaces and 215 residences, with 27 units dedicated to supporting those with mental illness. 

"This is a significant transformation for Cape Breton. We really want to encourage other organizations to know that these types of projects are possible and is not out of their reach, regardless of scale."
– Erika Shea, President and CEO of New Dawn Enterprises.

Project information and background

Project profile

  • A single-storey home painted dark red in Pine Tree Park Estates.
    Name: Pine Tree Park Estates
  • Owner: New Dawn Enterprises
  • Location: Military Road, Sydney, Nova Scotia
  • Total area: 80 acres
  • Area occupied by building: 15 acres
  • Number of homes: 28 homes
  • Number of affordable housing units: 20
  • Former Department of National Defence radar base, decommissioned in the 1990s.
  • Project value: $3.5 M
  • Return on Investment ROI: $30,000 (annual)
  • Duration: 2018-2023
  • Energy savings: 51.5%

Energy conservation measures (ECMs) used

  • A single-storey home painted deep blue in Pine Tree Park Estates.
    High-efficiency heating and cooling systems (all units)
  • High-efficiency hot water systems (all units)
  • Efficient heat recovery ventilation (HRV) systems (all units)
  • High-efficiency windows (where required)
  • Insulation upgrades (all units)
  • Air sealing (all units)
  • Installation of 700 kW solar array (1,800 solar panels) (all units)

Context

Before the project:

Pine Tree Park's 28 residences averaged yearly energy costs of $90,000, about $3,200 each, paid directly by residents.

After the project:

Through energy retrofits and solar systems, the project notably reduces utility expenses. Residents will mainly cover a minor solar maintenance fee for inspections and occasional repairs.

Parties involved in development

  • Developer: New Dawn Enterprises
  • Partners and funders: Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Efficiency Nova Scotia, FCM’s Green Municipal Fund, Nova Scotia Natural Resources and Renewables
  • Engineering and construction companies: Aucoin Renovations (retrofits), ARL Mechanical (retrofits), Lynk Electric (solar)
  • Consultants: Verschuren Centre for Sustainability in Energy and the Environment
  • Project manager: New Dawn Enterprises
  • Energy manager: Verschuren Centre

Funding Sources

Funding source  Description Amount Percentage of total budget 
FCM’s Green Municipal Fund Grant  $500,000 14%
New Dawn Enterprises Limited Cash  $181,534 5%
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Grant  $979,200  28%
Environment and Climate Change Canada: Low Carbon Economy Fund  Grant  $817,753  23%
Efficiency Nova Scotia Grant  $558,713 16% 
Nova Scotia Natural Resources and Renewables Grant  $500,000  14% 
Total $3,537,200 100% 

*The grants and financing leveraged for this project were secured over 24 months.

Showing tangible progress

  1. Building effective partnerships: New Dawn partnered with the Verschuren Centre for sustainable energy research to enhance their building retrofit. This collaboration offered technical insights, examined options, and emphasized the importance of strategic partnerships in energy efficiency projects. “There is nothing like knowing that you’re not alone and you have someone who also has your best interest in mind but also has the ability to answer your technical questions on the spot.” – Erika Shea.
  2. Navigating funding complexities: Securing funds from diverse federal and provincial sources was vital. Yet, managing these varied sources was complex. New Dawn used spreadsheets to effectively track funding, ensuring organization and transparency.
  3. Demonstrating progress: Regular updates to the Board of Directors were critical to highlight progress, discuss funding status, and gather crucial feedback for the project's direction.
  4. Ensuring meaningful stakeholder engagement: Regular community meetings kept residents informed, addressed concerns, and fostered trust and collective ownership in the project. “If we hadn’t done those community meetings, we’d probably have had a lot more individual calls and some concerns from tenants.” – Erika Shea.
  5. Budget flexibility: An important consideration in large projects is maintaining flexibility in design to adapt to available budgets, especially when a significant portion of the budget depends on external funding.

Early strategies to engage decision-makers:

  1. Craft a solid business case: Showcase both financial and ecological benefits to rally stakeholders around the project.
  2. Showcase funding options: Emphasize potential funding sources, enhancing confidence in the project's feasibility.
  3. Share knowledge: Distribute relevant research and articles to enlighten decision-makers on energy efficiency.
  4. Hold informative sessions: Organize meetings with leaders to address queries, discuss finances, and mitigate risks, fostering understanding and support.

In the evolving landscape of energy and climate policies, New Dawn Enterprises stands as a role model for achieving sustainability in affordable housing. Their experience shows that, despite challenges faced, moving toward energy efficiency is not only achievable but also economically and socially rewarding.  

GMF's Sustainable Affordable Housing initiative supports affordable housing providers to improve their energy efficiency. This is achieved through funding and capacity development support for energy efficient retrofits and new builds. 

For more information about Pine Tree Estate’s decision-making process, read the interview with Erika Shaw, President/CEO of New Dawn Enterprises

Want to explore all GMF-funded projects? Check out the Projects Database for a complete overview of funded projects and get inspired by municipalities of all sizes, across Canada. 

Visit the projects database

The Green Municipal Fund: supporting innovative sustainability solutions

Our funding offers support for Canadian municipalities in executing innovative projects that tackle climate challenges, reduce GHGs, and enhance the quality of life by accelerating a transformation to resilient, net-zero communities. Canadian municipalities and their partners can access this funding to upgrade infrastructure, transform municipal service delivery, build and retrofit affordable housing units and scale up innovative home-energy financing programs while seeing tangible environmental, economic, and social benefits. 

The GMF advantage

GMF is more than just a funding source—we’re a full-service partner in your climate action progress.

  • Grants and loans for all stages
  • Stackable with other funding sources
  • Dedicated staff to help you apply
  • Free resources to help build business cases and improve project outcomes

Grants and loans to cover eligible project costs

GMF has you covered with end-to-end project funding available to communities of all sizes.

  • Funding can cover from 50% to 80% of eligible project costs*
  • Grants are available for planning, studies and pilot projects
  • Loans are available for capital projects with an additional grant of up to 15% of the loan amount

*Increased % for small or rural municipalities completing plans, studies and pilot projects.
*20 % of eligible costs for Sustainable Affordable Housing (SAH) new construction

Sustainable Municipal Buildings

Net-zero new builds

and deep energy retrofits.

  • -$10 M in combined grants and loans for capital projects 
  • -$200,000 in grants for studies

Learn more

Community Energy Systems

Energy solutions

that meet community needs.

  • -$10 M in combined grants and loans for capital projects 
  • -$200,000 in grants for studies
  • -$100,000 in grants for business cases

Learn more

Organic Waste-to-Energy

Local energy

from organic waste and landfill gas.

  • -$10 M in combined grants and loans for capital projects
  • -$200,000 in grants for studies
  • -$100,000 in grants for business cases

Learn more

Municipal Fleet Electrification

Electric vehicles & chargers

for municipal and transit fleets.

  • -$10 M in combined grants and loans for capital projects 
  • -$200,000 in grants for studies

Learn more

Net-Zero Transformation

Innovative solutions

that drive greenhouse gas reductions.

  • -$10 M in combined loans and grants for capital projects 
  • -$500,000 in grants for pilots
  • -$200,000 in grants for studies
  • -$200,000 in grants for plans

Learn more

Community Buildings Retrofit

Deep energy retrofits

of community buildings.

  • -$5 M in combined grants and loans for capital projects 
  • -$200,000 in grants for a portfolio of buildings study
  • -$65,000 in grants for a single building study

Learn more

Sustainable Affordable Housing

New builds & retrofits

of sustainable affordable housing.

  • -$10 M in combined grants and loans for capital projects 
  • -$500,000 in grants for pilots
  • -$175,000 in grants for studies
  • -$25,000 in grants for plans

Learn more


 

Community Efficiency Financing

Home-energy financing

for low-rise residential properties.

  • -$15 M in combined loans and grants for capital projects 
  • -$500,000 in grants for pilots
  • -$175,000 in grants for studies

Learn more

  • Design and construct new high-efficiency municipal or community buildings
  • Study and implement retrofits of municipal buildings or a portfolio of municipal buildings for higher energy performance and significant GHG emissions reduction
  • Construct, commission and rapidly deploy a community energy system
  • Outline the design of a proposed community energy system
  • Assess viable community energy projects and their business models
  • Construct and commission an organic waste-to-energy system
  • Outline the design of a proposed organic waste-to-energy system
  • Assess viable waste-to-energy systems and business models for your project
  • Drive a partial or complete transition of your municipal and/or transit fleet to zero-emission vehicles
  • Assess the feasibility of the transition to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) to significantly reduce GHG emissions
  • Deploy a full-scale best-in-class GHG reduction solution
  • Evaluate innovative GHG reduction solutions in real-world conditions
  • Assess new approaches and solutions to bring your community closer to net-zero
  • Retrofit a community building or portfolio of buildings for higher energy performance and significant GHG emissions reduction over time
  • Outline the design of a proposed retrofit of an existing community building or portfolio of existing buildings
  • Retrofit a community building to achieve a minimum 30 percent GHG emissions reduction
  • Test innovative solutions that generate deep energy efficiency outcomes for existing affordable housing retrofits and new builds
  • Evaluate solutions for integrating deep energy efficiency measures in existing affordable housing retrofit and new build projects
  • Develop deliverables required for sustainable affordable housing funding applications 
     
  • Implement or scale-up a full version of your local home-energy upgrade program
  • Test a smaller-scale version of a home-energy upgrade program
     

Learn more about our initiatives

Sustainable Municipal Buildings

Reduce GHG emissions and save on energy costs with net-zero new builds and deep energy retrofits

Read more

Municipal Fleet Electrification

Reduce fuel costs and achieve GHG reductions

Read more

Community Energy Systems

Meet community energy needs, increase energy efficiency, and build grid resilience

Read more

Organic Waste-to-Energy

Recover value and energy from organic materials and landfill gas

Read more

Net-Zero Transformation

Develop and demonstrate innovative solutions to support the municipal transition to net-zero

Read more

Community Buildings Retrofit initiative

Retrofit existing community buildings to lower GHG emissions and extend their life cycle.

Read more

Community Efficiency Financing

Plan, implement and scale up home-energy upgrade financing programs for residential energy projects.

Read more

Sustainable Affordable Housing

Switch to energy-efficient options and lower your energy bills.

Read more

Growing Canada’s Community Canopies

Helping local governments and communities plant trees to fight climate change

Read more

Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation

Community-based climate adaptation initiative

Read more

Have questions about our funding?

Thinking about applying for GMF funding? Our advisors are available to help you prepare the strongest application possible.

1-877-417-0550

gmfinfo@fcm.ca

Book a meeting with a GMF advisor.

Find funding that’s right for you

Looking for funding for your sustainability project? Use FCM's Funding Opportunity Finder to find compatible GMF funding that could suit your municipality. 

Find funding

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Delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, GMF manages approximately $2.4B in programs funded by the Government of Canada.

Read the transcript.

Environmental challenges disproportionately affect vulnerable groups, making today's climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts vital in reducing current and future inequities. As local governments manage essential services, social systems, and infrastructure, recognizing and addressing these vulnerabilities is critical.

Watch a timely discussion on how Reconciliation and Anti-Racism, Equity and Inclusion (AREI) principles are shaping the Green Municipal Fund (GMF) initiatives. This webinar delved into the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' (FCM) commitment to these values, demonstrating their essential role in sustainable municipal development.

Watch this recording to: 

  • get a better understanding of the integration of Reconciliation and AREI in GMF-funded projects
  • gain insights into the new Reconciliation and AREI socio-economic benefits framework
  • explore practical strategies for municipalities to apply these principles effectively

Featured speakers: 

  • Ty Smith, Senior Director, Anti-Racism, Equity & Inclusion, Federation of Canadian Municipalities
  • Yi Liu, Director, Community Efficiency and Leverage Programs, Green Municipal Fund
  • Gabrielle Massicotte, Socio-Economic Benefits Specialist, Green Municipal Fund 
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The Housing Providers’ Toolkit equips Canadian non-profit housing organizations, municipal providers, and housing co-ops with the tools they need to effectively navigate the opportunities for enhancing energy efficiency in affordable housing. This comprehensive resource includes everything from understanding the intrinsic advantages of energy-efficient buildings, to the practical steps of implementation and applying for funding.

Each component below is crafted to support both retrofits of existing units and new builds. Whether you're aiming to transform your current infrastructure or embark on innovative new projects, this toolkit is your guide, ensuring that you have what you need to make informed and impactful decisions.

Sustainable affordable housing funding roadmap

Learn about the Sustainable affordable housing funding roadmap process with this resource. It outlines the process to assess your building’s energy efficiency needs and opportunities with GMF’S Sustainable Affordable Housing (SAH) initiative. Gain clarity on the various project stages, the associated timeline for completion and tools that simplify the approval process.

Download the roadmap.

Project cash flow calculator and Energy benchmarking tool

The Project cash flow calculator and Energy benchmarking tool are designed to help housing providers understand how much energy their buildings use and assess and quantify the associated costs with potential retrofits or new builds. It includes a set of parameters and performance metrics, including capital cost, savings, inflation rate, simple payback and net present value to determine the financial feasibility and the energy savings associated with a project. This tool will help housing providers make informed decisions, leveraging accurate data to assess the viability of a potential project.

Open the calculator and energy benchmarking tool.

Funders list for sustainable affordable housing

Energy efficient affordable housing projects are expensive to undertake. We’ve compiled a list of potential funders from across the country to help you easily identify partners to support your project. Catering to both provincial and national levels, many of the organizations on this list support both retrofits and new build projects.

Search the funders list.

Webinar recording: Transform your approach to energy efficiency

This webinar explores how the Housing Providers’ Toolkit can transform your approach to affordable housing projects. Whether you're considering a retrofit or planning a new build, this toolkit is designed to demystify the complexities of energy efficiency and make your projects more viable and impactful.

Watch the webinar.

Case study: Pine Tree Park Estates—a blueprint for sustainable, affordable housing 

An aerial view of Pine Tree Park Estates from the 1970s

New Dawn Enterprises transformed Pine Tree Park Estates, previously a military radar base, into Cape Breton's first net-zero energy community. This ambitious project, stretching from 2018 to 2023, highlights the step-by-step process of converting a brownfield into a sustainable, affordable housing model. With the support of diverse funding sources—including GMF’s Sustainable Affordable Housing (SAH) initiative—this project showcases a replicable blueprint for sustainable, affordable housing.

Read the case study.

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