Feds offer $8.6M for home upgrades
Home Energy Retrofit Program will provide loans for home energy projects
Federal Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault called it an “exciting day” for Peterborough as he was in the city to announce $8.6 million in federal funding for a new municipal loan program aimed at helping local people renovate their homes for greater energy efficiency.
The funding includes a grant of $2.87 million, plus a loan of $5.75 million, for a total of $8.6 million. Guilbeault announced the funding at an outdoor press briefing on Engleburn Place in East City, Thursday afternoon.
He noted that the city’s soon-tobe-launched Home Energy Retrofit Program will lend homeowners and renters money for upgrading windows, doors, air sealing and insulation, as well as for installing heat pumps or solar panels.
The program aims to help approximately 600 Peterborough homes become retrofitted for better energy efficiency, states a press release from the federal government.
Guilbeault said he was impressed at Peterborough’s efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, citing the recently launched green bin kitchen organics program, for example.
“We face some big challenges as a country in tackling climate change, but people in Peterborough continue to impress with their leadership and their thoughtful climate policy and action,” Guilbeault said. “Peterborough is truly an example for the whole country to follow.”
City interim infrastructure commissioner Michael Papadacos, who was at the funding announcement, said the city’s new Home Energy Retrofit Program ought to be launched by fall.
The money to get the project started is coming from the federal government’s Green Municipal Fund — the specific program here is called the Community Efficiency Financing Program. The city had applied for money through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (which administers the funding).
Mayor Jeff Leal thanked Guilbeault on Thursday, and also thanked Peterborough-Kawartha
“Peterborough is truly an example for the whole country to follow.
STEVEN GUILBEAULT ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE MINISTER
MP Michelle Ferreri (who was present, but didn’t speak) for her “constant advocacy” in Ottawa.
Leal further acknowledged Peterborough County Warden Bonnie Clark (she was present, as well). Leal said he’s pleased about the new program, and what it will allow people to do.
“Homeowners will be able to access loans at very low interest rates and pay it back over time through their property tax bills or through a third-party lender,” he added. “The Home Energy Efficiency Program will lead to meaningful reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and lower energy bills for people in our community.”
The program is expected to cost nearly $11.9 million to launch, and city staff is planning to find the remainder of the money — about $3.3 million — from an Infrastructure Ontario loan ($3 million) and from the city’s reserve for environmental projects ($260,000).
Also at the launch Thursday were GreenUp Executive Director Tegan Moss, Coun. Kevin Duguay and Brampton Coun. Rowena Santos (who was representing the Federation of Canadian Municipalities).