Energy efficiency makes for healthy workplaces and living spaces, increases comfort and saves money. Take steps to improve energy efficiency and you can also help create a healthier environment by reducing smog pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.

Commercial and Institutional Buildings

Use our publications, training, tools and other technical information to help choose energy efficiency measures and practices for your existing buildings. If you own small or medium-sized buildings, you may be eligible for our ecoENERGY Retrofit financial incentive.

To promote energy-efficient design of new buildings, we offer a number tools and activities including simulation software, training, information and access to stakeholder networks.

We are working with other levels of government to encourage the adoption of more stringent energy codes and to update the Model National Energy Code for Buildings. We are also consulting with experts to develop a rating and labelling system for new and existing buildings.

For buildings owned by the Government of Canada, we offer the Federal Buildings Initiative, a proven, turn-key solution that enables federal departments and agencies to retrofit their buildings without necessarily using their own capital funds.

Existing Homes

ecoENERGY Retrofit - Homes – is available to owners of single family homes including detached, semi-detached and low rise multi-unit residential buildings.  Property owners can qualify for a federal grant for improving the energy efficiency of their home. The maximum grant you can receive per home or multi-unit residential building is $5,000; whereas the total grant amount available to one individual or entity for eligible properties over the life of the program is $500,000. It also helps home buyers choose an energy efficient new home.

Newly Built Homes

When you build or buy a new home, you want the best product on the market – one that's as energy efficient as possible and that will keep your energy bills under control for years to come.

This is why we have developed the R-2000* Standard as a training and building standard and the EnerGuide rating system as an energy rating tool.

The R-2000 Standard and EnerGuide rating system have prepared the market for regional energy efficiency initiatives such as ENERGY STAR® for New Homes to advance energy efficient home building in Canada.