Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP)

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Apply now to the Clean Energy Improvement Program on the applicant portal.

Finance the addition of renewable energy and energy retrofits to your residential, commercial and multi-unit residential buildings.

Fixed long-term interest rate
Financing repaid through your property’s tax bill at terms up to 20 years
Financing is tied to the property rather than to you; repayment can be transferred to a new owner if you sell the property.
Residential property owners and owners of multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) can finance up to $50K of retrofits through the program. Non-residential owners can finance up to $1M (greater amounts per project may qualify).
Common upgrades include replacing windows and doors, adding insulation and installing solar PVs.

CEIP is administered by Alberta Municipalities. For more information and to submit your pre-qualification, please visit Alberta Municipalities' website myceip.ca.

Eight Stages of Your CEIP Retrofit Journey

Starting your CEIP retrofit journey involves several key stages. Here's an overview of the process:

Stage 1

Pre-qualification: to ensure you and your property meet the basic eligibility requirements.

To fill out the pre-qualification form you will need:
a. A copy of your property insurance
b. Property tax bill
The pre-qualification form can be found at myceip.ca.

Stage 2

EnerGuide Home Evaluation, or ASHRAE level 2 Audit for Non-Residential Properties: to identify which retrofits will have the greatest impact and how to sequence them if applicable.

Stage 3

Project Application:

a. Use the results of your energy audit to select your upgrades.
b. Choose a contractor(s) from the list of CEIP qualified contractors.
c. Complete your project application and submit on the portal at myceip.ca.

Stage 4

Agreements:

After review and approval of your application, you will enter into:
a. Clean Energy Improvement Agreement with the City of Edmonton
b. Project Agreement with Alberta Municipalities and your contractor(s)

Stage 5

Project Installation:

Make sure your contractor(s) applies for all necessary permits before installation begins.

Stage 6

Upgrade Completion:

Submit your Upgrade Completion Forms as your improvements are completed to ensure timely payment of your contractor(s). If your CEIP project has multiple upgrades completed at different times, multiple Upgrade Completion Forms will need to be submitted.

Stage 7

Post-Project EnerGuide Evaluation or Post-Project Memo for Non-Residential Properties:

Residential:
- A Post-Project EnerGuide Evaluation will establish your new rating and label
Non-Residential:
- A Post-Project Memo to be completed by your engineering consultant to determine the energy and greenhouse gas emissions savings and verify the installation

Stage 8

Repayment:

You will repay the costs of your upgrades through your property tax bill.

Resources

Learn more about various energy efficiency upgrades and renewable energy.

Home Energy Evaluation and Toolkit

Discover the Home Energy Toolkit available for free at the library.

Change Homes For Climate Guide

Download our Change Homes for Climate Guide.

Keeping the Heat In

Read a detailed document from Natural Resources Canada on keeping the heat in!

Learn more about Solar in Edmonton in this Tiny Explanation Video or infographic.

Learn more about the benefits of tankless hot water heaters.

Find more videos and infographics

Other Financing Opportunities

Solar Energy Rebate for Multi-Unit Residential Properties (MURBs)
The Canada Greener Homes Program offers zero-interest financing of up to 40k with a 10-year term to cover the costs of home energy upgrades.
Seniors can apply to the Government of Alberta's Seniors Home Adaptation and Repair (SHARP) loan program.

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How are applicants selected for program approval?

Working closely with the City of Edmonton, Alberta Municipalities will be responsible for administering CEIP from end-to-end including reviewing and approving applications. Applicants will have access to the program on a first come-first served basis. A pre-qualification step has been incorporated to ensure participants self evaluate their eligibility for the program. If their pre-qualification submission confirms basic eligibility, they can then choose to proceed with an application.

If the program is oversubscribed, what happens to applicants that did not get approved?

The financing planned for the permanent program is $20 million to start. Twenty million dollars will support approximately 300 residential and 16 commercial projects. City administration will “gate” applications to enable a steady pipeline of projects at various stages between 2024 and 2027. Should demand for CEIP funding exceed the planned amount, the City administration will return to Council for direction. A wait list will be created that will allow applicants to proceed to the next round of funding should the program become oversubscribed.

Why is there a minimum of three upgrades to participate in the City of Edmonton’s CEIP programs?

The City has set an aggressive target to be carbon neutral in its corporate operations by 2040 and for the entire community to produce net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. CEIP is one tool to help them meet their targets. The requirement for multiple upgrades to qualify for CEIP financing ensures deeper green retrofits are supported.

Can people apply for energy efficient upgrades that they’ve already made to their property? Is financing available retroactively?

No. Retroactive financing for existing clean energy improvements is not available through the Clean Energy Improvement Program. Only projects that originate under the program can access financing as the program is designed to accelerate and support new investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

What are the costs associated with administering the program?

One time start-up implementation costs for the permanent CEIP are projected at $1.8 million. Costs to offer and administer the program are $1 million annually from 2024-2027 and include software maintenance, internal resources and fees paid to the program Administrator. These costs will be funded within the approved 2023-2026 budget.

Can applicants apply for other rebates if they’ve already applied for CEIP funding?

Yes, Clean Energy Improvement Program participants can qualify for and receive additional rebates and incentives. We encourage applicants to pursue all other applicable government (municipal/provincial/federal), utility provider/manufacturer rebates.

Why are there no City of Edmonton rebates available for residential property owners to combine with financing for the permanent CEIP program?

The City of Edmonton’s Home Energy Retrofit Accelerator Program and Solar Rebate Program for residential homes are now fully subscribed. Currently, the City of Edmonton is offering a Solar Rebate Program for owners of multi-unit residential properties (MURBs). For more information, visit the City's Solar Energy page.

Can I repay my Clean Energy Improvement Tax on a monthly basis?

If a homeowner is on the monthly payment plan for their municipal taxes, they will pay off their CEIP Tax monthly as well. All upgrade charges will be split into 12 payments per year. CEIP charges are added to the monthly bill in June of each year. The first year the CEIP taxes are added, they will be split into six payments until December of that year. Year two of the payments will be 12 equal payments.

For more information on how to enroll in the City of Edmonton’s Property Tax Monthly Payment Plan program, visit the City’s page on property tax monthly payments.

Can I pay out my Clean Energy Improvement Tax early?

A CEIP participant can choose to pay out one or more of their upgrades (each is a separate tax, which can be paid out individually) in a lump sum. They will avoid any future interest charges once the lump sum is paid. CEIP participants can do this at any time during their financing, but must pay off each tax amount fully. They cannot make partial payments in this case.

What were the results of the CEIP Pilot initiative?

The pilot program is winding down and all upgrades for participating buildings are expected to be complete by 2025. As of September 13, 2024, the Pilot Program has 64 residential projects with a projected retrofit value of $2 million. Of these, 35 projects have completed construction. Three non-residential projects have been approved. Of these, one project has completed construction to Net Zero with a total CEIP financing value of $1 million.

The three most common upgrades across both residential and non-residential included 74% of homes upgrading windows and doors, 63% increased insulation and 56% installed solar PV (as of April, 2024).

What permits are required for CEIP upgrades?

Required permits will vary depending on the upgrade. For more information on the permitting process and what’s required, including how to book an appointment or have your questions answered by email or phone, visit Permit Inquiries and Appointments.

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City Environmental Strategies

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Telephone	In Edmonton: 311 Outside Edmonton: 780-442-5311

Email	changeforclimate@edmonton.ca
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