During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) continue to make strategic investments to support more sustainable communities through the Green Municipal Fund (GMF). The $1 billion GMF is funded by the Government of Canada and delivered to municipalities by FCM.

Most recently, an energy efficiency project in Edmonton has received $9.6 million through GMF. The City of Edmonton’s Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP) will help homeowners and business owners retrofit existing homes and buildings with energy efficiency measures and renewable energy sources.

“Making our residential and commercial buildings more energy-efficient and resilient over the long-term is a pathway to greener, more sustainable communities that save us all money,” said Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. “The federal government’s support for Edmonton’s Clean Energy Improvement Program will help residents and businesses live and work in buildings that last longer, cost less, and generate cleaner air – so we can all breathe easier.”

From left, clockwise: Garth Frizzell, president of FCM; Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities;  Ben Henderson, Edmonton City Councillor and Chair of the Green Municipal Fund Council; and, Don Iveson, Mayor of Edmonton announced the recent energy efficiency project in Edmonton.

CEIP is a two-year program that will be administered by the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre. The program will start financing residential upgrades and retrofits in its first year with commercial projects to follow in the second year. Altogether CEIP is aiming for 80 residential and 20 commercial retrofits within its two-year span. If this is successful, the city’s next goal will be to recapitalize the program.

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Financing repayments will be collected by the municipality via the property tax process and will remain tied to the property upon sale.

The CEIP will track and report on the greenhouse gas emission reductions achieved, as well as energy consumption savings, and renewable energy generated.

“Canadians are eager to find new ways to make their homes energy efficient, and to generate more renewable energy. Local solutions—scaled up—deliver vital national impact, like economic growth and the reduction of emissions Canada needs to meet its climate change goals,” said Garth Frizzell, FCM president.FCM’s Green Municipal Fund shows that when federal and local governments work together, we deliver results for Canadians.”

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