Lethbridge has change into the ninth community in Alberta to launch a program helping residents pay for energy efficient and renewable energy upgrades to their homes.
The Clean Energy Improvement Program through Alberta Municipalities helps to eliminate the upfront cost of putting in items like recent windows, doors, solar panels, lights and more to residential properties by offering low-interest financing through town.
Residents pays off the loan for the span of as much as 20 years — depending on the project — which is added to property tax payments. The associated fee of the development should be between $3,000 and $50,000 dollars.
“Alberta Municipalities is pleased to support the City of Lethbridge because it introduces its Clean Energy Improvement Program,” said Cathy Heron, the president of Alberta Municipalities.
“This program will help residential property owners spend money on energy efficiency upgrades or renewable energy installations, making their properties more comfortable while enhancing their property values and saving energy costs.”
The CEIP entered development around five years ago and has seen success in Calgary, Edmonton, Canmore, Athabasca, Devon, Leduc, Rocky Mountain House and St. Albert.
Pre-qualification applications were being accepted from Lethbridge residents as of Tuesday, and Mayor Blaine Hyggen said they were rolling in early.
“I feel it’s improbable to find a way to see what it’s done in other areas, (and with) us with the ability to come on board, it’s great,” he said.
Throughout the four-year pilot, town said an estimated 180 homeowners will profit.
Alberta Municipalities facilitates it, while the City of Lethbridge has received $3.8 million in assistance from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) Green Municipal Fund for its implementation.
As well as, this system will be stacked with other grants similar to those offered through Canada Greener Homes, and town is offering an $800 incentive to residents who complete projects on a first-come, first-served basis.
Kathleen Sheppard, executive director with Environment Lethbridge, is looking forward to the long-term environmental advantages.
“At Environment Lethbridge, we all know that one among the massive barriers for homeowners with regards to energy efficiency and renewable energy is the upfront cost, and so this program is a way for homeowners to actually manage that cost,” she said.
“We do have a number of older homes and for those who’re in a house with single-pane windows and you might have the chance to upgrade those windows, you’ll notice a decrease in your energy costs straight away.”
An application must be submitted and approved before any work begins on the project; it doesn’t apply post factum.
More information and terms and conditions are available through the Alberta Municipalities website.
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