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GRANTS CAN HELP GET YOUR RINK TO NET-ZERO. HERE’S HOW.
For community rinks and arenas, budgets are often tight, which can make the goal of getting to net-zero emissions seem unattainable. The good news? Whether it’s a new build, or you’re making retrofits, repairs and upgrades to an existing building, there are many federal, provincial and local hydro grants and incentives you can take advantage of to fund your net-zero projects, such as the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) Program, a 5-year, $1.5 billion federal funding program by Infrastructure Canada, a department of the Government of Canada.
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Start With A Net-Zero Audit
First things first: Understanding where and how you use energy in your building is key to developing a successful plan. Doing a net-zero audit not only helps identify the changes you need to make, but it also helps you set benchmarks to measure the impact of those changes.
FINDING THE RIGHT GRANT FOR YOUR FACILITY
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Get to know the grants and incentives available to fund your project with our easy cheat sheet.
GREEN AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY BUILDINGS (GICB) PROGRAM
The GICB Program is a 5-year, $1.5 billion federal funding program by Infrastructure Canada, a department of the Government of Canada. The program supports green and accessible retrofits, repairs or upgrades of existing public community buildings, and the construction of new publicly-accessible community buildings that serve high needs, underserved communities across Canada. The main objective of the government program is to improve the availability and condition of community buildings, whilst advancing climate priorities through energy efficiency and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
There are two types of eligible projects:
1. Retrofits, repairs and upgrades to existing buildings
2. Construction of new buildings
Who is eligible to apply?
- Municipal or regional governments
- Public sector bodies
- Not-for-profit organizations
- Provincial or territorial governments
- Indigenous recipients
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What are the requirements?
- Non-commercial community-oriented that provides open, available, and publicly-accessible community services Located in an area with underserved populations experiencing higher needs.
- Project implemented no earlier than April 1st, 2021, and no later than March 31st, 2026 Must submit building information using RETScreen® Expert software.
- Impacts of climate change have been assessed and considered for the project.
RETROFITS, REPAIRS AND UPGRADES TO EXISTING BUILDINGS
Eligible retrofits must include green retrofit measures, and measures that increase the overall accessibility and/or safety of the building. Green retrofit measures renovate, upgrade, and/or repair aspects of a physical building in a way that improves environmental outcomes.
Evaluation metrics:
- Construction start date
- Located in and demonstrates the ability to serve one or more communities with high needs
- Increased accessibility
- GHG reductions
- Energy savings
- Climate resiliency and best practices adoption
- Confidence in delivery/risk
CONSTRUCTION OF NEW BUILDINGS
New construction projects will be required to be built to be net-zero-carbon-ready or be exempt from net-zero-carbon and net-zero-carbon-ready, and built to the highest standard.
Evaluation metrics:
Construction start date
Located in and demonstrates the ability to serve one or more communities with high needs
Increased accessibility
Net-zero performance standard
Climate resiliency and best practices adoption
Confidence in delivery/risk
HOW MUCH OF MY COSTS WILL THIS PROGRAM COVER?
Total Eligible Project Cost | General program (up to % max from program) | In the territories and for Indigenous communities (up to % max from program) |
Retrofits up to $9,999,999 | 80% | 100% |
Retrofits costs $10,000,000+ | 60% | 100% |
New builds up to first $9,999,999 of costs | 60% | 100% |
New builds costs $10,000,000+ | 50% | 100% |
COMMUNITY BUILDINGS RETROFIT (CBR) PROGRAM
The CBR program is a $167 million initiative administered through FCM’s Green Municipal Fund. The program helps to optimize the energy performance and reduce greenhouse gas emissions of community buildings owned by municipalities and not-for-profit organizations. There are five available funding streams:
Community Building Monitoring and Analysis Grant
Community Building Recommissioning Grant
GHG Reduction Pathway Feasibility Studies
GHG Impact Retrofit Capital Projects
GHG Reduction Pathway Retrofit Capital Projects
Who is eligible to apply?
Canadian municipal governments, with the exception of the Low Carbon Cities Canada (LC3) namesake municipalities, which are the cities of Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, and the Halifax Regional Municipality.
Municipal partners
Private-sector entities
Indigenous communities
Municipally-owned corporations
Regional, provincial or territorial organizations delivering municipal services
Non-governmental organizations
Not-for-profit organizations
Research institutes (e.g., universities)
* Quebec municipalities are currently ineligible
What types of buildings are eligible?
CBR funding is available for projects that focus on community buildings. Community buildings are defined as an enclosed public place or enclosed workplace that is:
Owned by a municipal government or not-for-profit organization
Primarily used to provide athletic, recreational, cultural and community programs or services to the local community
Widely accessible to everyone, offering services that enhance the health and well-being, skills development, and economic development of individuals and communities
Types of projects and requirements:
1. Community Building Monitoring and Analysis Grant
Community buildings that do not have a building monitoring and analysis system in place
2. Community Building Recommissioning Grant
Building owners identify problems and integration issues as well as low- or no-cost operational improvements to improve comfort for building users and save energy
3. GHG Reduction Pathway Feasibility Studies
Feasibility study must aim to reduce GHG emissions by at least 50% compared to current or baseline performance within 10 years, and by at least 80% within 20 years
4. GHG Impact Retrofit Capital Projects
Project must aim to reduce GHG emissions by at least 30% compared to current or baseline performance
5. GHG Reduction Pathway Retrofit Capital Projects
Capital project must be supported by a GHG reduction pathway feasibility study or equivalent, Application must include the phase(s)/measure(s) identified in the pathway that are sequenced to achieve near net-zero GHG emissions within 20 years
HOW MUCH OF MY COSTS WILL THIS PROGRAM COVER?
Funding Stream | Available Funding |
Community Building Monitoring and Analysis Grant |
|
Community Building Recommissioning Grant |
|
GHG Reduction Pathway Feasibility Studies |
|
GHG Impact Retrofit Capital Projects |
|
GHG Reduction Pathway Retrofit Capital Projects |
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