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Programs and Funding

Expanded Municipal Energy Efficiency Initiative

The total amount of assistance to any one municipality under this initiative, in each year (From April 1-March 31) is capped at $100,000. They can apply for additional funds in additional years if funds are available. All funding is planned for disbursement for eligible reimbursement costs of retrofits undertaken between April 1, 2007 and March 31, 2011.

*Please note that funding is subject to availability.

Only those municipalities that have a consultation visit, and have received a report from the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) outlining their lighting, heating system, and rink equipment; and have provided SRC with a waiver providing access to the municipal energy consumption utility records for up to 18 months prior, and 10 years after the installations are complete will be eligible for these initiatives.

Energy Efficient Lighting Program

SRC will pay a one-time fee for the purchase of pre- and post-energy consumption utility records from the municipalities as related to the replacement of existing lighting systems with energy efficient lighting improvements as identified in the facility reports provided by SRC to the municipality. This fee shall be established at 25% of the total project costs (equipment and labour) and any additional costs incurred by the municipality related to the lighting retrofits that are above this amount (e.g. related to additional installation/maintenance costs, local supplier mark-up costs, or optimal lighting design fees) will be deemed to be the responsibility of the municipality. Under this initiative, financial support is limited to one time support, per technology installed per building.

The Government Services agreement provides the opportunity for municipalities to take advantage of bulk purchasing prices for lighting. For more information contact SRC or:

Litemor
Saskatoon, SK
www.litemor.com
306-665-2852

Energy Efficient Heating Program

SRC will pay a one-time fee for the purchase of pre- and post-energy consumption utility records from municipalities as related to the replacement of existing heating systems with energy efficient heating improvements as identified in the facility reports provided by SRC to the municipality. A heating recommendation report from SRC is required. Payments will be limited up to $1000 per furnace and up to $1200 per boiler and will apply to the following types of equipment:

  • Energy Star® qualified gas furnaces that has 92.0% AFUE or better and an electronically commutated, DC variable speed fan motor;
  • Energy Star® qualified oil furnace that has an 85.0% AFUE or better and an electronically commutated, DC variable speed fan motor; or
  • Energy Star® qualified oil or gas boiler that has an 85% AFUE or better

Municipal costs incurred above these amounts (e.g., for installation, local supplier mark-up or inspections) will be the responsibility of the municipality. Under this initiative, financial support is limited to one time support, per technology installed per building.

Demand Side Management (DSM) for Rinks

SRC will pay a one-time fee for the purchase of pre- and post-energy consumption utility records from municipalities and municipal organizations as related to the installation of items from the following list. This fee shall be established at 25% of the total project costs (equipment and labour) for specified DSM equipment.

  • Second pump, or two speed pump
  • Variable speed drive for condenser
  • Variable speed drive for brine pump
  • Heat reclaim on the refrigerant gas to provide hot water for the flood water and possibly for the showers
  • Occupied/unoccupied sensor to allow the ice temperature to increase by 2°C when rink is unoccupied
  • Rink ice temperature sensor so that the brine pump does not have to run continuously to provide a brine temperature
  • Occupancy sensors in dressing rooms and referee rooms to control lighting
  • Power factor correction
  • 20% - premium efficiency motors (replace large horsepower motors with premium efficiency motors and resize pulleys to maintain proper rotational speed of the compressor.)

SaskPower DSM manual 

Solar Heating Initiative for Today (SHIFT)

Solar Heating Initiative for Today (SHIFT) is available to help large energy consumers harness solar energy to heat water and indoor air for use in their facilities.

The target market will be large consumers of hot water in Saskatchewan such as:

  • Businesses and industries residing and doing business in Saskatchewan;
  • Multi-unit residential buildings more than three stories;
  • Provincial facilities;
  • Public institutions (e.g. schools, hospitals); and
  • Municipalities

The Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) will pay a one-time fee for the purchase of pre- and post-energy consumption utility records from the above organizations as related to solar air and solar water installations in their facilities. This reimbursement fee will match the federal ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat initiative for eligible solar heating project costs up to $80,000. NRCan has modified their program and may be able to provide additional funding depending upon the project.

Applications for this initiative will be made jointly with the federal ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat initiative, administered by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). This program limits the overall government funding that may be used for any solar water heating installation project; these limits will be applied to SRC's program as well. The percentage and maximum amounts are identical for both SHIFT and ecoENERGY. Pre-approval from NRCan is required before equipment and labour costs are incurred.

  • Business, industry, multi-unit residential buildings and provincial facilities are allowed to receive up to 50 per cent of eligible project costs from government funding for a solar water heater installation project.
  • Public institutions and municipalities may solicit other sources of government funding for a solar water heater installation project to 100 per cent of eligible project costs.

In order to be eligible for this program, organizations will be required to provide NRCan (as part of the application process) with a signed waiver giving SRC access to their energy consumption utility records for up to 18 months prior to the installation and 10 years after installations are complete.

Eligible costs include material (excluding GST and PST) and labour (excluding GST) costs for the following. Except for design, permitting, feasibility, and simulation studies expenditures, costs are only eligible if incurred after agreements have been signed by the applicant with both SRC and NRCan. Eligible costs/activities/materials are identical to the federal program.

  • Design and permitting
  • Feasibility and simulation studies
  • Solar collectors
  • Collector rack/support fasteners
  • Piping from collector array to solar storage tank and to conventional hot water tank
  • Pipe and solar storage tank insulation
  • Solar heat exchanger
  • Solar heat storage tank(s)
  • Pump(s) (collector side)
  • Solar system controller
  • Photovoltaic components used to power pumps in the system
  • Supervision
  • Shipping
  • Inspection and commissioning

Steps:

  1. For full criteria and application forms click here
  2. Contact a solar provider in Saskatchewan for a cost estimate and evaluation of your building and provide details on the installation.
  3. Fill out a SHIFT utility consent form and appropriate section/s of application with solar provider.

Within 30 days of commissioning an approved solar project, the applicant must submit the following to NRCan:

  1. A commissioning report signed by a professional engineer or a certified engineering technologist.
  2. Copies of all relevant invoices.
  3. A signed attestation form of all governmental funding received.
  4. A signed waiver form allowing SRC access to the participant's energy consumption records for 18 months prior to the installation, and 10 years after the installations are complete.

A cheque will be issued by SRC for the SHIFT program's portion of eligible solar project costs once Natural Resources Canada has advised SRC that all the above have been received and are deemed acceptable to the program, and all requirements of the federal contribution agreement have been met.

As part of this initiative, clients will also be made aware of other potential sources of funding that are applicable.

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