Peter Harris
February 1, 2023
Workers install solar panels on a new home in the community of Ambleton in northwest Calgary on Thursday, January 19, 2023. Gavin Young/Postmedia
The Clean Energy Improvement Program is designed to help with the upfront costs of certain home improvement projects
Posted January 31, 2023 •
The city is making it easier for Calgarians to modernize their homes with clean energy through a new loan program that ties repayment to the property rather than the borrower.
The Clean Energy Improvement Program is designed to reduce the upfront costs of certain home improvement projects, including installing solar panels, upgrading heating and air conditioning, and upgrading water heaters and lighting. If the home is sold before the loan is repaid, the remaining costs are passed on to the next homeowner.
Workers install solar panels on a new home in the community of Ambleton in northwest Calgary on Thursday, January 19, 2023. Gavin Young/Postmedia
The Clean Energy Improvement Program is designed to help with the upfront costs of certain home improvement projects
Posted January 31, 2023 •
The city is making it easier for Calgarians to modernize their homes with clean energy through a new loan program that ties repayment to the property rather than the borrower.
The Clean Energy Improvement Program is designed to reduce the upfront costs of certain home improvement projects, including installing solar panels, upgrading heating and air conditioning, and upgrading water heaters and lighting. If the home is sold before the loan is repaid, the remaining costs are passed on to the next homeowner.
In a press release, the city said 65 percent of Calgary’s greenhouse gas emissions come from buildings. The program addresses the fact that many buildings that are standing today will still be around in 2050 when the city aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to zero.
Mayor Jyoti Gondek said the city has heard from residents who want to make these types of upgrades but can’t always afford the upfront cost.
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“With what we’ve seen in terms of inflation, it’s just been a little bit difficult for people to do the things they wanted to do,” the mayor said. “With this program that’s available to them, they can upgrade the things they want right away and they can slowly pay it back through their property tax bill.”
Loan linked to owner’s tax bill
Under CEIP, homeowners can qualify for a loan of up to $50,000 to cover the cost of upgrades. The city says it offers “competitive interest rates” and repayment terms of up to 20 years, though homeowners can repay the loan in full at any time with no penalty.
The loan is attached to the owner’s tax bill. David Kelly, CEO of solar installation company SkyFire Energy, said this could be the key to getting more people to do solar power installations.
“A lot of people argue, ‘I don’t want to solar power my house if I have to move in five years,'” Kelly said. “With this program and the loan that comes with the house, if you live in a house for five years, you pay your five years on the loan and then the next owner pays their five years on the loan.”
He said the cost of adding solar power to an average home is between $8,000 and $15,000.
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Kelly said there are other federal loans and grants as well.
“Solar energy makes sense today,” he said. “Especially with the subsidy programs and the loans, it’s cheaper than mains electricity.”
CEIP has been rolled out across Alberta
According to the city’s website, the program has a limited amount of money that can be borrowed. The program is currently valued at $15 million.
CEIP has already been rolled out in eight other communities across Alberta, including Lethbridge, Edmonton and Canmore. Alberta Municipalities is the third party administrator of the program.
Alberta Municipalities President Cathy Heron said Calgary is serving as the program’s provincial director.
“It is the largest program in the province to date, funding hundreds of residential energy efficiency and renewable energy projects over the next four years,” she said in a release. “Alberta Municipalities is proud to serve Calgarians as administrators of the program.”
Loan details are available at Calgary.ca/CEIP.
brthomas@postmedia.com
Twitter: @brodie_thomas
Mayor Jyoti Gondek said the city has heard from residents who want to make these types of upgrades but can’t always afford the upfront cost.
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This ad has not yet loaded, but your article continues below.
content of the article
“With what we’ve seen in terms of inflation, it’s just been a little bit difficult for people to do the things they wanted to do,” the mayor said. “With this program that’s available to them, they can upgrade the things they want right away and they can slowly pay it back through their property tax bill.”
Loan linked to owner’s tax bill
Under CEIP, homeowners can qualify for a loan of up to $50,000 to cover the cost of upgrades. The city says it offers “competitive interest rates” and repayment terms of up to 20 years, though homeowners can repay the loan in full at any time with no penalty.
The loan is attached to the owner’s tax bill. David Kelly, CEO of solar installation company SkyFire Energy, said this could be the key to getting more people to do solar power installations.
“A lot of people argue, ‘I don’t want to solar power my house if I have to move in five years,'” Kelly said. “With this program and the loan that comes with the house, if you live in a house for five years, you pay your five years on the loan and then the next owner pays their five years on the loan.”
He said the cost of adding solar power to an average home is between $8,000 and $15,000.
Federal program to help Alberta homeowners finance energy retrofits
City Hall adopts an updated climate change strategy and aims for a net zero target by 2050
Council greenlights a funding program to upgrade homes with clean energy
Kelly said there are other federal loans and grants as well.
“Solar energy makes sense today,” he said. “Especially with the subsidy programs and the loans, it’s cheaper than mains electricity.”
CEIP has been rolled out across Alberta
According to the city’s website, the program has a limited amount of money that can be borrowed. The program is currently valued at $15 million.
CEIP has already been rolled out in eight other communities across Alberta, including Lethbridge, Edmonton and Canmore. Alberta Municipalities is the third party administrator of the program.
Alberta Municipalities President Cathy Heron said Calgary is serving as the program’s provincial director.
“It is the largest program in the province to date, funding hundreds of residential energy efficiency and renewable energy projects over the next four years,” she said in a release. “Alberta Municipalities is proud to serve Calgarians as administrators of the program.”
Loan details are available at Calgary.ca/CEIP.
brthomas@postmedia.com
Twitter: @brodie_thomas
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