Canada Unveils New Strategy for Energy-Efficient Homes
Plan targets lower emissions and affordable housing solutions
The Canadian government has announced the new Green Buildings Strategy (CGBS) to promote energy-efficient homes and reduce emissions. This strategy focuses on retrofitting existing buildings, ensuring new constructions are energy-efficient, and using low-carbon building materials.
Key Features of the Strategy:
- Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program (CGHAP): An $800 million initiative providing up to four times more than the existing $5,000 Canada Greener Homes Grant to help low-to-median-income Canadians reduce energy bills.
- Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Grant (OHPA): Launched in 2022, it helps households switch from oil heating to heat pumps, saving $1,500 to $4,500 annually.
- Canada Greener Homes Loan: Offers interest-free loans up to $40,000 with a 10-year repayment term for home energy upgrades.
- Green Municipal Fund: A $300 million initiative to help municipalities deliver energy financing programs for low-rise residential properties.
- National Labelling Approach: A $30 million commitment to develop a standardized home energy performance labeling system.
- Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund: A $6 billion fund to accelerate the construction and upgrading of housing-enabling infrastructure, with $976 million allocated to a new Rapid Housing Stream.
Government Statements:
- Federal Government: Emphasizes the need to retrofit 16 million homes and half a million other buildings by 2050 and ensure new builds are energy-efficient to address the housing crisis.
- Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities: Highlights the importance of making buildings energy-efficient and climate-resilient to end Canada's housing crisis.
- Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change: Stresses the need for collaboration across provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous Peoples, businesses, and individuals to reduce emissions from buildings.
