Calgary homeowners are keen to go green and the city is so pleased that it wants to expand an energy efficiency upgrade loan program for more homes and commercial buildings.
The city’s Clean Energy Improvement Program offers low-interest loans to homeowners wanting to upgrade a furnace, install energy-efficient doors and windows, and insulate a drafty attic, among a range of energy-efficiency improvements.
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities funds the program, and according to city officials, it has reached capacity.
That’s why a City of Calgary committee recommends keeping the green dream alive. The city council has given preliminary approval to borrow another $30 million, making $20 million for upgrades to roughly 800 Calgary homes over the next two years and $10 million for commercial building energy use improvements.
The Mayor Likes It
“Investing more dollars in a fund absolutely makes sense at a time when Calgarians are facing affordability issues and are trying to figure out how to bring their energy bills down,” Calgary mayor Jyoti Gondek told CTV News.
If council votes in favour of the funding, building owners will once again be able to apply for a loan to make energy improvements. Loans would be repaid through their property taxes over the product’s life, whether it’s solar panels or a high-efficiency furnace.
To qualify, the applicant’s name must be on the property title. In addition, the home must undergo an EnerGuide evaluation, and a qualified contractor must make all improvements.
Homeowners Are Loving It
David Vonesch, CEO and President of SkyFire Energy, expects demand for energy improvement loans will remain high if city council greenlights the program.
“It’s almost like buying concert tickets where you need to be there as soon as it opens to get into the program,” said Vonesch, a University of Alberta mechanical engineering graduate working in the solar sector since 2007.
The city’s clean energy program is part of the Calgary Climate Strategy, passed by council in 2022.
The strategy aims to reach net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050.
Cutting Homeowner Costs and GHGs
Heating and cooling buildings generate roughly a third of global greenhouse gas emissions. Efficiency improvements can take a big bite out of a building’s emissions.
Since the energy efficiency program was launched in 2023, homeowner improvements have shaved nearly $300,000 from annual utility bills and 20,000 gigajoules (GJ) from yearly energy use. That’s enough power to heat 170 Alberta homes for a year.
Calgary’s planning and development services committee says expanding the program to include commercial owners makes sense because those buildings account for 27 percent of the city’s GHG emissions.
Justin Smale sits on Calgary’s climate and environment team and said these investments have an immediate positive climate impact.
“We have very strong citywide demand from Calgarians on this program, with every quadrant in the city participating,” Smale told councillors at a recent meeting.
Not So Fast
Not all councillors are gung-ho on this green initiative. Ward 13 Coun. Dan McLean doesn’t think the city should be in the banking business.
“I think at the end of the day, there’s a public perception, again, that the city should be involved in providing core services—your public safety, garbage removal, snow,” McLean said.
The plan will go to a public hearing and final council approval April 8.
