Seamus O’Regan, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, recently announced an investment of over $2,445,000 toward the construction of energy-efficient residential buildings across Canada.
The funding will support a project led by the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) that will enable seven housing builders to construct net-zero energy and net-zero energy ready residential buildings in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario.
“More energy-efficient homes means less emissions in our atmosphere and more money in the pockets of Canadians” said Minister O’Regan. “It’s a win-win. That’s how we’ll get to net-zero emissions by 2050, with partners like the Canadian Home Builders’ Association.”
Buildings and homes contribute approximately 17 per cent of Canada’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Net-zero energy buildings are designed and constructed to produce at least as much energy as they consume on an annual basis.
The project seeks to demonstrate it is possible to construct net-zero energy ready housing with reduced cost and construction time, which will in turn inspire energy-efficient changes throughout Canada’s construction industry. The investment is part of the government’s commitment to fight climate change, advance a clean energy future, and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Federal funding through the Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) Green Infrastructure program aims to accelerate the deployment and market entry of next-generation clean energy infrastructure in Canada.
For further information on NRCan’s Green Infrastructure program, click here.
Featured image credit: Government of Canada.