Non-profit housing retrofit grants
Supporting climate-friendly retrofits.
Grants
Up to $99,000
For
Non-profit housing providers to plan for climate-friendly renovations
We’re providing $5 million in grants to help non-profit housing providers and housing co-operatives to take on deep energy retrofits.
It’s a key part of our climate commitments.
What the Non-Profit Housing Retrofit Program offers.
We support projects that help non-profit housing providers and housing co-operatives put their buildings on a pathway to net-zero and climate resilience — toward buildings that emit no greenhouse gases and better withstand the negative effects of a changing climate, ensuring occupant comfort and health are
maintained.
Non-profit housing providers, and organizations that support them, can apply for a grant to enable climate-friendly retrofits.
We offer two types of grants based on your project phase: planning grants, and capital and implementation support grants. Applicants are welcome to apply for both.
Planning grants.
Get grants up to $80,000 to support planning for deep energy and carbon retrofit projects such as:
- Replacing natural gas-fired heating, hot water, ventilation, and air conditioning with electric systems
- Improving energy efficiency
- Adding cooling and improving ventilation
- Other measures that enable buildings to withstand the negative effects of a changing climate
Grants can be used in combination with other funding programs.
You can use these grants for:
- Portfolio planning
- Feasibility studies
- Building energy studies
- Energy modelling
- Other plans and studies required for retrofit projects
- Added organization capacity to support retrofit planning
- Other projects that support a pathway to net-zero and climate resilience
Organizations that have 10+ multi-unit residential buildings in their portfolio are eligible for:
- an additional $30,000 to support net-zero portfolio planning, and
- up to $160,000 in planning grants to support planning for a minimum of two buildings.
Capital and implementation support grants.
Capital grants can support Vancity members who undertake retrofit projects that will achieve a minimum reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 30%, and move a building along a pathway toward net-zero emissions. Grants can be used to cover:
- Equipment
- Labour and engineering
- Electrical capacity upgrades
Additional funding for implementation support is available with capital grants. Implementation funding can be used to cover costs such as:
- Project management
- Commissioning
- Training for building management staff
The maximum grant funds available per application is $99,000. This includes:
- 10% of capital costs, up to $90,000
- Up to 10% of capital grant for implementation support
Organizations that have 10+ multi-unit residential buildings in their portfolio are eligible to receive up to $180,000 in capital grants and up to $18,000 in implementation support for retrofit projects in a minimum of two buildings.
Projects not in alignment with a net-zero pathway are not eligible for capital or implementation support grants. For example, projects that include upgrades to existing, or the installation of new, gas-powered space heating/cooling or domestic hot water systems will not be funded. Hybrid systems are also ineligible.
Eligibility.
You are eligible to participate in the program if your organization is:
- A non-profit housing society or a non-profit housing co-operative
- An active Vancity member in good standing
Not a member?
Connect with our Community Investment team and learn about all the ways we can support your organization.
How to apply.
Review the grant guidelines document which includes all the information you’ll need to fill out the application form.
Once we receive your completed application, we’ll follow up within three weeks and if required, request additional information or a meeting to further discuss your project.
Piloting best practices.
To reach a net-zero future, portfolio and capital planning need to include measures for deep emissions reductions and climate resilience. In partnership with Affine Climate Solutions three of our members are working towards establishing best practices in the non-profit housing sector and are working closely with them to test new approaches for net-zero retrofit planning.
Pilot participants are receiving free consulting services from Affine Climate Solutions that include:
- Climate-aligned portfolio planning that promotes emissions reductions, resilience, and maintenance priorities
- Based on the climate-aligned portfolio plan, selection of one net-zero retrofit pilot project
- Project management support for a net-zero emissions energy study for the selected pilot project
- Based on the study results, retrofit business case development and financial analysis for the net-zero retrofit pilot project
The pilot participants are all in different stages of the program, but we’ve already seen great results. Our first participant is now ready to finance a building project that is expected to reduce GHG emissions by approximately 99% and add cooling in a 31-unit building serving seniors. This pilot project has and continues to inform refinements to our program.
Strengthen the sector.
If your non-profit organization enables non-profit housing providers or housing co-operatives to implement retrofit projects, we’d love to support your work. Organizations we’ve supported and ways they’ve used the funding:
- Aboriginal Housing Management Association
Increase their capacity to enable their members to plan and implement retrofit projects. - BC Non-Profit Housing Association
Develop new training curricula for housing providers – at the staff and board levels – on planning for building renewal and retrofits. - Affine Climate Solutions
Provide free consulting services to non-profit housing members participating in the Net-zero Pilot Program. - Cooperative Housing Federation of BC
Engage member co-ops to benchmark and share building energy data for tailored support on retrofit projects.
Should your organization be on this list?
Connect with us at housingretrofits@vancity.com.
We’re just getting started.
Help us evolve this new program. What challenges are you seeing with retrofitting buildings that we can help with?
Email us at housingretrofits@vancity.com.