The federal government has launched a call for applications for two new initiatives to advance building retrofit projects: the Deep Retrofit Accelerator Initiative (DRAI) and the Greener Neighbourhoods Pilot Program (GNPP).

Deep Retrofit Accelerator Initiative

The $200 million DRAI program will invest in projects that support the development of deep retrofits in commercial, institutional, or mid- or high-rise multi-unit residential buildings across Canada.

Selected applicants will establish and collect deep retrofit projects, guide building owners in the process of developing and implementing specific retrofit projects, identify available funding and financing for specific deep retrofit projects, and conduct capacity building activities, such as developing or implementing new, standardized, or replicable methods for deep retrofits.

This call for applications is open to organizations including non-profits, private firms, civil societies, municipalities, provinces and territories, and Indigenous organizations and groups.

The call for DRAI applications will remain open until April 28, 2023. Applications from Indigenous organizations will be accepted on an ongoing basis until March 31, 2025, or until the funding is fully distributed.

Greener Neighbourhoods Pilot Program

The $35.5 million GNPP grant will support up to six communities across Canada in developing integrated approaches to deep energy retrofits—or a major building renovation project—such as upgrading building walls and insulation or upgrading space heating equipment.

The first phase of the program will support regional market development teams (MDTs) in preparing scalable deep energy retrofit plans for their communities. MDTs can convene and co-ordinate supply-side and demand-side actors to broker aggregated deep energy retrofit projects, find solutions to regional gaps and barriers, and drive market transformation in their regions.

This call for proposals is open to organizations including non-profits, private firms, and Indigenous organizations and groups. Successful applicants could receive contributions of up to $1 million per project.

The call for proposals under Phase 2 of the program is expected to launch by summer 2023. This will support demonstration projects in up to six communities, targeting clusters of low-rise housing (at least 100 units). These proposals will explore innovative and cost-effective pathways for more affordable and efficient building renovations.

The GNPP’s call for proposals for MDTs will remain open until April 5, 2023.

These new deep retrofit initiatives contribute to the transformation of the buildings sector in support of Canada’s forthcoming Green Buildings Strategy. As the country advances toward a net-zero emissions and climate-resilient buildings sector by 2050, collaboration with partners across the country is essential to delivering good jobs and resilient communities for generations to come.

“Retrofitting Canada’s buildings stock provides us with the opportunity to make communities more resilient to climate-related impacts, while reducing emissions and utility bills, increasing energy efficiency, and creating good-paying jobs in construction and maintenance,” says Jonathan Wilkinson, minister of natural resources.