Homeowners can still apply for the city’s Clean Energy improvement Program (CEIP), to get low-interest loans for green home upgrades. The city is also increasing its rebate amount for applicants to $1,350 from $800.
“We have excess advertising dollars and have been able to find some administrative efficiencies and would like to pass that down to the homeowners rather than giving back grant money at the end of the program,” says Larry Laverty, assessment and taxation manager and local CEIP Program Manager. “Anyone enrolled in the CEIP program is eligible for the rebate on a first-come, first-served basis until the fund expires. The monies are coming out of the CEIP grant fund.”
The program can help with upgrades such as new windows, doors, adding solar panels, increasing insulation and upgrading lighting fixtures. Last year, applications for the program filled up withing a week. City council amended it to remove the previous annual cap amount to allow for quicker delivery of the funds.
“We are still encouraging homeowners to look into this option as we still have capacity to help more people in our city make clean energy improvements,” says Laverty. “This program remains a great opportunity for those homeowners thinking about renovations to consider choices for better energy performance and to lower their utility bills.”
Homeowners who are accepted for the program pay back the loan through property taxes and the balance can be transferred if the home sells. It can also be repaid in whole at anytime without penalty.
Participants must install eligible upgrades with a minimum cost of $3,000 to qualify for financing and there is a maximum of $50,000 of eligible costs per property. The annual Clean Energy Improvement Tax cannot exceed the property’s annual municipal property tax payment.
The program is administered by Alberta Municipalities in partnership with the City of Lethbridge. The city got $3.2 million from the FCM Green Municipal Green Municipal Fund, an endowment created federal government.
During the pilot project, the program is expected to help an estimated 180 homeowners with the cost of upgrades.