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Last week, Jim Carr, Canada’s natural resources minister, announced a $182-million investment to increase energy efficiency and address climate change by improving how homes and buildings are designed, renovated, and constructed.
The funding, a part of the Green Infrastructure Fund, will support:
- research, development, and demonstration of solutions supporting the adoption of high-efficiency building codes;
- a program to help the industry find and test cost-effective, technical solutions for high-performance buildings;
- development of new energy standards for new and existing homes and buildings; and
- expansion of energy labelling programs to provide Canadians with better information on energy use in their businesses and homes and empower them to make smart energy-related choices.
“Energy efficiency is the quickest, cleanest, and cheapest way to support the transition to a low-carbon economy and meet our future energy needs. The benefits of investing in energy-efficient buildings go beyond lower energy costs and include improved health, comfort, productivity, and increased asset value. The most important gain will come from the reduction of harmful greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, helping Canada address climate change,” said Carr.
More than $45 million will fund research and development of energy-efficient buildings. Proposals are now being accepted for these kinds of projects.
Buildings and homes contribute approximately 17 per cent of Canada’s GHG emissions. The federal government is working with provinces, territories, and the industry on energy code development, data sharing, research and development, and market transformation strategies for the building sector. This initiative builds on the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change (PCF) and Canada’s Buildings Strategy.
Through Canada’s national energy dialogue, Generation Energy, Canadians are making it clear the transition to energy-efficient buildings is necessary for a low-carbon future.
