The City of Calgary has decided to extend its clean energy improvement program (CEIP) to encompass non-residential business owners, expanding beyond its previous focus solely on homeowners. Since its inception in 2023, CEIP has provided financial aid to Calgarians looking to enhance the energy efficiency of their residences by implementing upgrades like solar panel installations, furnace replacements with heat pumps, and insulation enhancements.
Justin Smale, the city’s corporate environmental specialist, expressed optimism about the program’s expansion, citing its popularity among homeowners. Nearly 500 homeowners have participated in the program, collectively installing around 1,000 upgrades. Through CEIP, homeowners can apply for low-interest loans of up to $50,000 from the city to fund green energy improvements on their properties. The borrowed amount can be added to property tax bills and repaid over a maximum period of 20 years, with the option to settle the outstanding balance at any time without incurring penalties.
On average, homeowners undertaking the program typically implement two upgrades, with an average loan amounting to approximately $27,000. Recognizing demand from the commercial building sector for similar financial assistance mechanisms, the city has allocated up to $1 million in financing for a limited number of non-residential applicants, with repayment terms extending over a 25-year period.
Applications for the commercial loan program will open on March 24, while residential applications are set to open on March 31. The program does not cater to new constructions or properties categorized as “industrial” or “farmland” on property tax invoices. Notably, the program’s financing is tied to the property rather than the owner, enabling the repayment balance to be settled or transferred to a new owner upon property sale.
Lloyd Suchet, the executive director of the Building Owners and Managers Association, highlighted that the program extension will enable the commercial sector and non-profit organizations to undertake more substantial energy retrofits that would have otherwise been financially challenging. The initial $15 million funding for the program was sourced from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and supplemented by the city’s internal reserves.
Managed by Alberta Municipalities, the program has also been introduced in various other cities, including Canmore, Edmonton, and Lethbridge. Looking ahead, the city has secured $20 million in external funding to sustain the program, with participant contributions covering the funding acquisition costs. Smale emphasized that the program has injected significant funds into the local economy, benefitting contractors and stakeholders alike.