Ontario Investing up to $900M in Energy Retrofits for Social Housing, Private Residential Apartment Buildings
Ontario Investing up to $900M in Energy Retrofits for Social Housing, Private Residential Apartment Buildings
Climate Change Action Plan Will Reduce GHGs, Create Jobs,
Support Sustainable Communities
Ontario is leading the fight against climate change by investing up to $900 million over four years from cap and trade proceeds to support people who rent by retrofitting social housing apartments and providing grants and rebates for residential multi-tenant buildings.
As part of the Climate Change Action Plan, which will be released this spring, the province will invest up to $500 million to retrofit social housing apartments with energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies such as energy-efficient windows and thermal insulation on piping and other mechanical systems. In addition to reducing emissions, this would improve comfort for residents and save money for social housing providers to make other capital improvements. Indigenous social housing would also be eligible for retrofits under this program.
Ontario will also help improve energy efficiency in private residential apartment buildings by investing up to $400 million in an incentive program that will offer rebates or grants toward the purchase and installation of energy efficient technologies, like boiler replacements and lighting retrofits.
To ensure that carbon pricing does not negatively impact tenants and that private building owners take advantage of retrofit programs, the province will also consult on and develop options to make it illegal to pass these costs onto tenants.
Through the Climate Change Action Plan, Ontario will ensure cap and trade proceeds are invested in a transparent and accountable way back into projects that fight climate change by helping households save money on their energy costs, creating good jobs in sectors like clean-tech and construction, and helping small- and medium-sized businesses reduce greenhouse gas pollution.
Fighting climate change while supporting growth, efficiency and productivity is part of the government’s economic plan to build Ontario up and deliver on its number-one priority to grow the economy and create jobs. The four-part plan includes investing in talent and skills, including helping more people get and create the jobs of the future by expanding access to high-quality college and university education. The plan is making the largest investment in public infrastructure in Ontario’s history and investing in a low-carbon economy driven by innovative, high-growth, export-oriented businesses. The plan is also helping working Ontarians achieve a more secure retirement.
QUOTES
“These initiatives expand on our recent efforts through the Green Investment Fund to bring upgrades to older, energy inefficient social housing buildings to reduce energy costs and better serve tenants, while helping Ontario meet the climate challenges of today and tomorrow. This investment will help our province reduce greenhouse gas emissions while enhancing the quality of life of low-income Ontarians.”
— Ted McMeekin, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
“Ontario is leading the fight against climate change and taking strong action by ending dirty coal, setting aggressive greenhouse gas reduction targets, establishing a cap and trade program and building transit. The Climate Change Action Plan is our next step in that fight. The plan will create good jobs, help people and businesses become more energy-efficient, and accelerate a shift to a more sustainable society.”
— Glen Murray, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change
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