A two-year pilot program will finance energy efficiency upgrades to 100 existing Edmonton buildings as part of the city’s strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Approved unanimously by city council Thursday morning, the $12.4-million Clean Energy Improvement Program will be available to homeowners and organizations looking to make renewable energy improvements to their properties. The financing provided to approved projects will then be repaid over time through a clean energy improvement tax.

Peter Amerongen, spokesman for the city’s Energy Transition and Climate Resilience Advisory Committee, told councillors the pilot project is a necessary component to meet the goal of limiting carbon emissions to 135 megatonnes. This threshold is required to fall in line with the 1.5 C temperature increase agreed to as per the Paris Agreement.

With about 80 per cent of the buildings that will be used in 2050 already built, Amerongen said changes need to be made to the existing inventory to meet future climate change goals.

“Without fixing them, our kids are simply out of luck. Replacing them is not an option, not only because of the cost and the shortness of time, but because the energy of making and installing the materials will present even greater emissions,” he said. “This program is a cornerstone of the energy transition. It’s relatively inexpensive and it comes with lots of side benefits, good local jobs and lots of business opportunities for contractors and suppliers.”

Between 66 and 71 construction jobs are projected to be created as a result of the program which will be funded mostly through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. A loan of $8.4 million will be paid back over time and a grant of $1.2 million will go toward program and administration costs. The city will be footing about $2.1 million of the total bill.

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