Canadians are eager to find new ways to make their homes energy efficient, and to generate more renewable energy. Municipalities of all sizes are ready to help—but don’t always know where to start.
Our $300 million initiative helps municipalities deliver energy financing programs for low-rise residential properties. Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE), utility on-bill financing and third-party lending partnerships are just some examples of financing models used by municipalities delivering residential energy programming.
No matter what stage you’re at, we can help you reach your environmental goals, bring jobs to your community and build better lives. Our new funding and learning resources can help your municipality achieve the following:
Create, launch and expand home-energy upgrade financing programs for low-rise residential energy projects.
Generate triple-bottom-line benefits:
Reduce GHG emissions, create energy savings and contribute to climate adaptation, water conservation and health and safety outcomes
Accelerate energy cost savings, improve housing affordability and keep the local economy moving
Increase home comfort, health and quality of life for residents
About CEF funding
FCM offers support throughout the delivery of a home-energy upgrade financing program through the following funding options:
Studies: Explore your options, build on market research or assess program performance with feasibility, design and program evaluation studies
Pilot projects: Test a smaller-scale version of your program in real-world settings; reserved for exceptional proposals that demonstrate clear market transformation potential and are otherwise ineligible for capital project funding
Capital projects: Access a grant combined with a low-interest loan or credit enhancement to implement a new program or scale up an existing model
FCM and the Government of Canada announce a $3.4-million investment through the Community Efficiency Financing initiative to implement a home energy retrofit financing program in the Regional Municipality of Durham.
FCM and the Government of Canada announce a $4.1-million investment through the Community Efficiency Financing (CEF) initiative to implement a home energy retrofit financing program in the City of Leduc, Alberta.
In 2016, after three years of careful planning and preparation, the municipalities of Plessisville, Varennes and Verchères banded together to launch a joint pilot project that would bring energy-efficient home renovations within reach for more homeowners.
Case studies
Read about initiatives your peers have run using GMF funding. Their stories are inspiring.
Homeowners in Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), NS, can take advantage of municipal financing through the Solar City program to install solar-powered water heating systems, lower their energy bills, and reduce water consumption.
Toronto's Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) and High-Rise Retrofit Improvement Support Program (Hi-RIS) provide low-interest, long-term loans to finance energy and water efficiency retrofits for private residential buildings.
Funding opportunities
Get funding
Explore ways to get FCM funding for your plans, feasibility studies, pilot projects, and capital projects.