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New funding streams: Energy projects for community buildings

Tuesday, June 08, 2021
Funding is now available via the Infrastructure Canada Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program for energy projects for community buildings in Canada. Infrastructure Canada will contribute up to 80% for projects that achieve at least 25% in energy efficiency improvements, and up to 100% for projects in Indigenous communities. miEnergy can help turn around a strong application, so call today for a free consultation.

Program snapshot:

Over the next five years, the Canadian government is committing $1.5 billion to support green and accessible retrofits, repairs or upgrades of existing public community buildings and new community buildings for underserved communities. This funding is meant to help Canadian communities construct and improve community spaces, particularly among high needs populations. It supports projects that are designed to modernize operations, cut emissions, and build resilience while saving money and energy.

Application deadlines:

Applications for projects under $3 million are being accepted through a continuous intake stream.These small-medium sized projects are evaluated on a first-come-first-serve basis. For larger projects between $3 million and $25 million, the deadline is July 6th, 2021. Don’t delay! miEnergy is here to help turn around your application quickly, including the required “before and after” modelling.

Who is eligible?

The best projects and possible buildings in your community could include:
1. Community, culture and recreation facilities (e.g. community centres; child and youth centres)
2. Mobile community structures (e.g. mobile health clinics)
3. Community health and wellness facilities (e.g. greenhouses, and food banks; addiction and mental health centres; rehabilitation centres)
4. Indigenous health and social infrastructure facilities (e.g. community health centres, long-term care facilities/elders lodges)
5. Indigenous education facilities (e.g. schools, universities and colleges, adult learning centres; early childhood and daycares)

Retrofits must be in buildings that are accessible to the public and that provide non commercial services. The program is geared toward municipal or regional governments, provincial or territorial governments, public sector organizations, municipally-owned corporations, federally or provincially incorporated not-for-profit organizations and registered charities, band councils, a First Nation, Inuit or Métis government, and not-for-profit Indigenous development corporations.

How to apply:

Eligible applicants with eligible projects can complete an Applicant Registration Form via an online application portal. To assess projects, the program uses data from RETScreen® Expert software to calculate a building’s baseline energy consumption. This is where miEnergy can lend a hand.

Projects that will achieve at least 25% in energy efficiency improvements compared to the baseline are more likely to be selected for funding. Time is also a key factor, as projects that begin sooner will receive a higher score.

Streamline the application process:

As an energy provider with decades of experience in solar and geothermal, miEnergy can support your project team with this process, turning around an application within 2-3 weeks of receiving the required information. We provide applicants with information on energy savings, emissions savings, and anticipated payback of the project. Analysis from miEnergy also includes before and after cases for energy and emissions.

Get started:

To get started, all our team needs is your building’s square footage and access to your gas and power bills. Find out how solar and geothermal can transform your energy supply.
This is a great opportunity to kickstart projects of all sizes, and small-medium projects are particularly timely. Projects up to $3 million are funded on an ongoing basis, and the deadline for larger projects is fast approaching, so it is crucial to get your application underway soon.

Learn more about the funding program and find out if your project is eligible. Contact miEnergy with any questions you have about taking advantage of this exciting funding opportunity.

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