Applications are now open for the Town of Okotoks’ Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP), which allows residential property owners access to financing to complete energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades to their home that help reduce utility bill costs and energy use for the property.
Participants of CEIP can secure low-interest loans from the Town for eligible home energy efficiency upgrade projects valued from $3,000 to $50,000. Interest rates in the program are competitive, and repayment terms long, to improve the affordability of repayment. The first 40 residents that complete a CEIP project will also be eligible to receive a $500 rebate that will be applied to reduce the balance of their loan.
Eligible upgrades include air sealing, adding insulation, installing tankless water heaters or solar panels, upgrading ventilation, air conditioning, light fixtures and more. The property owner must complete a NRCan home energy audit pre and post project.
“We’re excited to launch this innovative program because it gives Okotoks residents the opportunity to finance retrofits to their homes that will improve energy efficiency, lower their home’s greenhouse gas emissions and help the homeowner save money,” said Town of Okotoks Environment & Sustainability Coordinator, Jinny Toffelmire. “This program is also unique in terms of financing because project funding is tied to the property and can transfer to the next property owner if the home is sold.”
“The Town of Okotoks continues to build on our commitment to environmental responsibility through initiatives like the Clean Energy Improvement Program, which give residents the opportunity to make changes in their home that contribute to our collective effort to combat climate change and achieve our targets in reducing our greenhouse gas emissions,” says Okotoks Mayor, Tanya Thorn.
Only the property owners who choose to participate in CEIP will see an increase on their annual property tax bill, based on improvements made to their property. Increases will be noted on participants’ annual tax bill until CEIP financing has been repaid. If you do not participate in the program, it will not impact your property taxes.
This program is expected to bring approximately 80 residential upgrade projects to Okotoks over the next 4 years and create a growing market of renovations for contractors. Clean energy improvements must be completed by a CEIP-qualified contractor, as approved by Alberta Municipalities. If you are a contractor interested in taking advantage of this opportunity and becoming CEIP-approved, apply now at ceip.abmunis.ca/contractor.
CEIP is administered in partnership with Alberta Municipalities. Alberta Municipalities is a not-for-profit association that represents Alberta’s 265 urban municipalities including cities, towns, villages, summer villages, and specialized municipalities, as well as Associate and Affiliate members. Visit Okotoks’ CEIP page to view the full terms and conditions, interest rates, eligibility criteria, eligible upgrades, and repayment terms for your specific project.
This program is made possible with the assistance of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund, an endowment created by the Government of Canada.
Learn more at okotoks.ca/CEIP.