Wednesday 1 June 2022

Community building retrofits in Canada receive $3.2m funding

An investment of more than CAD$3.2 million (£2m) has been announced for retrofit projects that lower emissions and improve the energy performance of community buildings in Canada.

The Green Municipal Fund's (GMF) Community Building Retrofit (CBR) initiative is providing the funding for 16 projects led by municipalities.

One of the municipalities is the City of Dieppe, New Brunswick, which is receiving CAD$2 million (£1.25m) to upgrade the Arthur-J-LeBlanc Centre to become more energy efficient and achieve carbon neutrality in the future.

The project is expected to help reduce energy use by 44% and cut emissions by 46%.

The Town of Truro, Nova Scotia, is also receiving CAD$365,200 (£229,176) to improve the energy efficiency of the Douglas Street Recreation Centre as well as its police station, with planned upgrades including LED lighting, replacing oil-fired boilers and hot water heaters and installing a building automation system.

In addition, the Town of Tisdale, Saskatchewan, has been granted CAD$24,000 (£15,061) to complete a greenhouse gas reduction feasibility study to help integrate energy efficiency and emissions reductions into long term planning for managing the RECplex, the town's multipurpose facility.

Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources said: “Buildings contribute 18% of Canada's GHG emissions. Pursuing energy efficiency upgrades in community buildings across the country will help us achieve our climate targets while also saving municipalities money on energy bills.

“Our government is pleased to help the City of Dieppe and other cities in every region of Canada to identify and capitalise on opportunities to lower emissions and build sustainable community buildings for Canadians to use and enjoy.”