Friday, September 12, 2025
Canada is taking action to build a clean, affordable future one house and building at a time. With buildings accounting for the country’s third-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, energy-efficient housing is central to Canada’s fight against climate change.
This World Green Building Week, Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, Julie Dabrusin, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) President Rebecca Bligh announced $85.5 million in funding under the Sustainable Affordable Housing (SAH) stream of the Green Municipal Fund (GMF). This investment includes approximately $67.9 million for 21 capital and pilot projects and $17.6 million for planning and feasibility studies that will help communities of all sizes develop and scale innovative housing solutions that are affordable, energy efficient and climate-resilient.
“Greener homes mean healthier communities and lower costs for families,” said Minister Dabrusin. “By investing $85.5 million through the Green Municipal Fund’s Sustainable Affordable Housing stream, we’re helping communities across the country cut emissions, improve resilience, and deliver real climate solutions. Innovative projects like the Sundance Housing Co-operative retrofit in Edmonton show how affordable and climate resilient housing can go hand in hand. This is how we build a cleaner, stronger, and more sustainable Canada.”
One of the capital projects is a deep energy retrofit of 59 townhouse units that has been completed at the Sundance Housing Co-operative in Edmonton, Alberta. This pioneering project based on the successful Dutch Energiesprong approach will reduce total building energy use by up to 94 percent while allowing residents to remain in their homes during construction. It is the first panelized retrofit of its kind for a Canadian co-operative housing provider.
These projects highlight Canada’s progress in creating energy-efficient, climate-resilient and affordable buildings that benefit communities, the economy and the environment.
Edmonton is showing real leadership on housing. The retrofit at Sundance Housing Co-Op is the largest of its kind in Canada, and it proves that we can cut emissions and keep housing affordable for families,” said Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Prairies Economic Development Canada. “As an Edmontonian, I’m proud to see our city at the forefront of housing innovation that lowers costs for families and strengthens communities.”
For further information, visit: Green Municipal Fund
Featured image credit: MP Eleanor Olszewski/Instagram
