Deadline set for popular building grants

Canada’s federal government has put building owners and their designers on notice that it is only continuing to include energy retrofit initiatives as an interim measure until it revisits its strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Natural Resources Canada’s Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE) has been providing funding assistance for energy retrofits and new buildings that are designed for high energy efficiency for several years. Many of the most advanced “green” buildings have made use of these programs.
According to the OEE’s announcement on July 21, the Commercial Building Incentive Program (CBIP) will be open to applications until December 1, 2006, or until all the funding is depleted, whichever comes first. The program provides funding of up to $60,000 for the design and construction of new commercial, institutional and multi-unit residential buildings that meet certain parameters on energy savings. Its industrial counterpart, the Industrial Buildings Incentive Program (IBIP) is also open until December 1 only. It provides up to $80,000 for eligible organizations meeting process and building energy savings.
The EnerGuide for Existing Buildings program providing support funding for energy retrofits is only open until September 15. Applications after that date will be considered only on a case by case basis.
See http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca