Deadline: 5-Apr-23
Natural Resources Canada is seeking proposals for the Greener Neighbourhoods Pilot Program (GNPP) to validate the benefits and business cases of aggregated deep energy retrofits approaches in up to six community housing neighbourhoods in Canada.
The GNPP focuses on clusters of low-rise housing and seeks to pilot the Energiesprong aggregated retrofit model in the Canadian market. This model, developed by the Netherlands and adopted by the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the United States, accelerates the pace and scale of retrofits by aggregating similar homes and buildings in an entire neighbourhood to create mass demand for deep energy retrofits. This scale of project and similarity of buildings can leverage new retrofit approaches such as the use of prefabricated exterior panels to reduce on-site labour time and overall project costs, while reducing the energy use intensity and emissions from each retrofitted building. This support for community-level home retrofits aligns with the Net-Zero Advisory Body’s recommendation to seek out opportunities to decarbonize multiple buildings at once.
Objectives
The GNPP-MDT call aims to:
- Validate in multiple regions across Canada the technical and economic feasibility of the Energiesprong deep energy retrofit approach;
- Facilitate the development of deep retrofit projects in Canada;
- Build capacity by supporting up to six regional MDTs in their work to accelerate the market for aggregated deep energy retrofits; and
- Contribute to meeting Canada’s climate targets.
Funding Information
Applicants are eligible to request between $200,000 and $1 million (comprising up to 100% of total eligible project costs) for projects starting at any time on or after April 1, 2023, and ending no later than March 31, 2027, to enable organizations to operate as MDTs for the duration of the full GNPP.
Expected Outcomes
Projects are expected to achieve the following outcomes:
- Develop the regional market for aggregated deep energy housing retrofits at scale;
- Provide stakeholders with the knowledge, tools and recommendations to enable cost-effective deployment of aggregated deep energy housing retrofits;
- Lead to the publication of a regional roadmap that identifies pathways to implementing/scaling up industrialized deep energy retrofits that include technical, regulatory, and financial considerations;
- Where applicable, build capacity of Indigenous organizations and organizations serving Indigenous communities to deliver aggregated deep energy retrofits at scale in Indigenous communities; and
- Where applicable, develop the market for aggregated deep energy retrofits in Canada’s Indigenous communities.
Eligible Activities
Program funds may be directed to the following types of eligible activities:
- Related science activities including modelling, analysis, studies, assessments, protocols, and work supporting standards development (e.g. standardized approaches or tools to implement aggregated deep energy retrofits);
- Convening activities focused on promoting knowledge spillovers and technology transfer between organizations, including establishing and participating in forums, industry or technology seminars, workshops, and conferences;
- Coordination of activities that support the development of partnerships that could contribute to the objectives of the call (i.e. through convening stakeholders or matchmaking);
- Capacity building and training.
Eligibility Criteria
The GNPP-MDT call is open to legal entities validly incorporated or registered in Canada, including:
- For-profit and not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks, endowment-based municipal organizations, and consulting firms
- Indigenous for-profit and not-for-profit organizations and Indigenous governments, Tribal Councils, national and regional Indigenous councils or organizations (The term “Indigenous” is understood to include Inuit, Métis, First Nations, Status Indian and non-Status Indian individuals or any combination thereof.)
- Applicants must be able to demonstrate a history of operating in the capacity of an MDTand/or the ability to convene multiple stakeholders, collaborate with partners, and develop reports consistent with the general functions of MDTs.
For more information, visit Natural Resources Canada.
