A new round of funding is available to underwrite adoption of the ISO 50001 energy management systems standard in commercial and institutional buildings. Up to $40,000 per building or $200,000 per portfolio is on offer to help cover the implementation costs of procedures and some supporting technologies required to comply with and/or achieve certification under the voluntary international standard.

Owners and operators of commercial and institutional buildings, industry associations, provincial/territorial and municipal governments, utilities and Indigenous organizations can apply for the funding, which Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is administering. To participate, buildings must be registered in the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager benchmarking program.

The ISO 50001 standard is a framework for continuous improvement that requires organizations to identify a baseline starting point and commit to a process for improving energy performance with rigorous monitoring to ensure compliance. Prospective adopters are encouraged to use the free navigational guidance available through NRCan’s website.

The incentive covers up to 60 per cent of eligible costs for private companies and up to 75 per cent of eligible costs for not-for-profit organizations and agencies to the maximum funding level. That may include: staff time spent working on the project; training, licensing and contracting/consulting fees; and the purchase of instrumentation, software or metering. However, the funding does not apply for the installation of instrumentation, software or metering, or any other capital project related to improving energy performance.

Applications will be evaluated for energy saving potential, project feasibility and adherence with the stated requirements for a complete proposal. Based on this criteria, NRCan will approve applicants in descending order from the highest achieved scores until the funding is fully allocated.

The application deadline is October 21, 2024. Approved projects must be completed by March 31, 2026.