OTTAWA -- Commercial businesses and public institutions can now apply for new funding to make their buildings more energy efficient. Energy Retrofit Assistance, from Natural Resources Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency, is designed to encourage eligible organizations representing educational, health, retail, hospitality and other property sectors to develop and implement energy retrofits.

"By reducing energy consumption, organizations can save money and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change," said Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Natural Resources Canada. "Energy Retrofit Assistance can help them offset costs and pay back their investment more quickly."

Delivered through the department's Energy Innovators Initiative, the funding targets large energy consumers and has two main components:

Funding is provided for in the Government of Canada budget and is therefore built into the existing financial framework. The funding for this initiative builds on the Government of Canada's $1.5-billion commitment to help address climate change and implement energy-efficient initiatives.