CEIP is a new financing tool to help residential and non-residential property owners with the upfront costs of energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades. The financing is tied to the property, not the property owner. Property owners pay back the cost through their property taxes and enjoy the energy savings.
Program background
The Clean Energy Improvement Program (residential and commercial) is administered by Alberta Municipalities in partnership with Sturgeon County. Grant funding from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities offsets initial residential program administration costs and helps offer low-interest CEIP financing to residents.
The Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP) provides residential property owners access to low-cost financing (up to $50,000) for energy efficient and renewable energy home renovations. CEIP offers a flexible, affordable way to offset rising energy costs while also improving your home’s comfort and value. You could save energy on bills and save the initial expense when you replace your old furnace, upgrade insulation, or install a solar PV system under our Sturgeon County’s CEIP.
CEIP Benefits:
- Low interest rates. CEIP offers below-market interest rates (3 percent).
- Money back for a limited time. A 5 per cent rebate for each project reduces the cost, but you will have to apply now!
- Long repayment terms. Upgrades can be amortized for up to 20 years. Longer repayment terms mean lower annual payments.
- CEIP financing is assigned to the property, not the property owner. CEIP repayments are made through your regular property tax bill. CEIP is transferrable to new owners.
- Support local businesses. Boost our local economy by hiring your favourite local contractor or quickly find one in our online qualified contractor directory.
- Eligible costs. CEIP upgrades can also include incidental and professional costs. For example, the cost of upgrading your electrical panel before installing a Solar PV system. See Program Terms and Conditions for more details.
CEIP is municipality-led; municipalities must first pass an enabling bylaw, then partner with the provincially appointed administrator to deliver the program.
Sturgeon County’s Clean Energy Improvement Tax Bylaw 1562/21 was passed on April 19, 2022.
Residential Program
The Clean Energy Improvement Program is on a first-come, first-served basis. About 30 residential upgrade projects are budgeted for per year.
Visit the Clean Energy Improvement Program website for a complete list of eligible residential upgrades.
Questions? Give us a Call
1 (888) 506 – 9996
Eligible residential upgrades include:
- Doors, windows, insulation, and air sealing
- Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
- Lighting
- Renewable energy, solar, PV, and thermal
- Water heating
Residential Application Process:
Sturgeon County residential property owners can now submit pre-qualification applications!
acceptance into the Clean Energy Improvement Program is on a first-come, first-served basis. About 30 residential upgrade projects are budgeted for per year. The process of the program follows these five basic steps:
Pre-qualification
Complete and submit the Pre-qualification Form on the Clean Energy Improvement Program website to ensure the property meets the program eligibility criteria set out in Sturgeon County’s CEIP Terms and Conditions.
Home Evaluation and Project Application
After the Pre-qualification Form is approved, property owners must complete an EnerGuide Home Evaluation, select a qualified contractor, and submit the Project Application Form that is provided by Alberta Municipalities.
CEIP Agreements
Once the Project Application is approved, total financing amount and terms will be confirmed in a Clean Energy Improvement Agreement and a Project Agreement. Both agreements are to be signed by all required parties.
Project Installation
After agreements are signed, an Installation Authorization Notice will be sent to the property owners. At this point your qualified contractor can start installing your upgrades. All upgrades must be done within six months of receiving the Installation Authorization Notice.
Repayment
After the upgrades are done, submit an Upgrade Completion Form with supporting documents. Once approved, the program administrator will pay the Qualified Contractor directly, and the approved project cost will be added to your property’s tax account. You’ll see the total project cost added to your property’s tax bill on the agreed repayment schedule. Complete a post-project EnergGuide Home Evaluation and send the report to the program administrator.
Look for Qualified Contractors
To be eligible for financing, all projects must be completed by a Qualified Contractor. These are Alberta-based energy efficiency and renewable energy experts. The Clean Energy Improvement Program maintains a listing of Qualified Contractors for your reference and encourages participation by businesses locally rooted in participating municipalities.
Become a Qualified Contractor
Local contractors are integral to the success of the Clean Energy Improvement Program. If you’re interested in learning more about becoming a Qualified Contractor visit myceip.ca and sign up.
Incentives
Sturgeon County is offering an incentive of up to 5 per cent of approved project costs. This incentive will be available to participants who complete a CEIP project on a first-come, first-served basis. The incentive amount will be automatically applied to the Clean Energy Improvement Tax, not issued to the property owner directly.
The Clean Energy Improvement Program is administered by Alberta Municipalities in partnership with Sturgeon County.
This program is carried out with assistance from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund, an endowment created by the Government of Canada.
Commercial Program
Applications for the Clean Energy Improvement Program are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Visit the Clean Energy Improvement Program website for a complete list of eligible commercial upgrades.
Questions? Give us a Call
1 (888) 506 – 9996
Eligible commercial upgrades include:
- heating, ventilation and air conditioning
- renewable energy, solar PV and thermal
- lighting
- water heating
- doors, windows, insulation and air sealing
- commercial kitchen
- motors and drives
Commercial Application Process:
The process of the Sturgeon County Commercial CEIP Program follows these steps:
Pre-qualification Form
Complete and submit the Pre-qualification Form on the Clean Energy Improvement Program website to ensure the property meets the program eligibility criteria set out in Sturgeon County’s CEIP Terms and Conditions.
Audit Report or Full Feasibility Study
With the pre-qualification form you will need to provide an ASHRAE Level 2 audit report for energy efficiency upgrades, or a feasibility study for renewable energy upgrades, with the exception of solar PV installations.
CEIP Agreements
Once the Project Application is approved, total financing amount and terms will be confirmed in a Clean Energy Improvement Agreement and a Project Agreement are to be signed by all required parties.
Project Installation
After agreements are signed, an Installation Authorization Notice will be sent to the property owners. At this point your qualified contractor can start installing your upgrades. All upgrades must be done within six months of receiving the Installation Authorization Notice.
Repayment
After the upgrades are done, submit an Upgrade Completion Form with supporting documents. Once approved, the program administrator will pay the Qualified Contractor directly, and the approved project cost will be added to your property’s tax account. You’ll see the total project cost added to your property’s tax bill on the agreed repayment schedule. For energy efficiency upgrades, submit a post-project memo confirming the energy savings estimates and greenhouse gas emissions savings estimates.
The Clean Energy Innovation Program is administered by Alberta Municipalities in partnership with Sturgeon County.