By John Dickie, President, Canadian Federation of Apartment Associations
In October 2005, the Federal government announced $1.3B in new funding to address the impact of high energy costs. The Canadian Federation of Apartment Associations lobbied to have rebates paid to those who get the energy bills, ideally as a rebate on future energy bills, but alternately by application for a federal cheque. Those recommendations were rejected. Instead, the Federal government will be providing direct assistance to certain low-income Canadians, and funding for energy retrofits.
The government is targeting the direct assistance at low-income seniors and low-income families with children. The assistance is to be known as the Energy Cost Benefit. At least that benefit will direct the assistance to Canadians who are much more likely to rent than to own their homes; the benefit will assist many tenants to pay their rents.
There is also to be a program of subsidies for renovations to save energy, called EnerGuide for Low-Income Households. CMHC will deliver the program through the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP). The program will be open to private landlords. Unfortunately, the per unit subsidy limit will be in the order of $1,000 - $1,500 per room or suite for multiple-unit buildings and rooming houses, whereas for a single family house, the limit will be $3,500 - $5,000. CFAA will encourage the government to raise the limit on rental suites.
Assistance for energy audits on large apartment buildings is provided through EnerGuide for Existing Buildings (formerly known as the Energy Innovators Initiative). That program is not limited to low-income families. This initiative is available to owners of multiple-unit buildings and rooming houses built prior to 1980 and may be used for energy retrofits such as draft-proofing, heating system upgrades and window replacement, for example. Multi-unit residential buildings (with a common entrance) that are at least four storeys high or that have a footprint greater than 600 m2 are eligible for funding.
$170 million in funding was added to the existing EnerGuide for Houses Retrofit Incentive program (formerly known as the Energy Innovators Initiative with its Energy Retrofit Assistance) to extend the program to 2010. That program is not limited to low-income families. To be eligible for the grant, the dwelling must be either 1) a low-rise residential dwelling, that is a detached, semi-detached or row house that is no more than three and a half stories high, and that has a footprint of not more than 600 m2, or 2) a mobile dwelling on a permanent foundation.
Funding is available for retrofit planning activities and retrofit implementation projects.
Landlords can qualify for up to $25,000 for retrofit planning activities including energy audits, feasibility studies, energy management plans, and other project development and facilitation measures that can lead to energy savings. Technologies and equipment that are innovative or that use renewable energy should be considered. Applications for this funding must be submitted by January 31, 2006. All work must be completed and final documents submitted by February 28, 2007.
Depending on the current energy consumption of a building, landlords can qualify for up to $250,000 for retrofit implementation projects, including development and management, materials and labour, monitoring and tracking, staff training, and awareness. The initiative recommends implementing multiple measures such as efficient lighting systems, building envelope, motors, controls, heating, ventilating, air conditioning and other types of energy retrofits, as well as employee training. Where possible, technologies and equipment that are innovative or that use renewable energy should be considered.
For more information on both programs, go to www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/commercial/financial-assistance/existing/retrofits/index.cfm?attr=20
CFAA will continue to encourage governments to make all applicable housing programs open to private landlords, and to improve the terms of those programs.
CFAA is the sole national organization representing the interests of Canada’s $30 billion rental housing industry. For more information, go to
www.cfaa-fcapi.org.
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