Commercial Buildings Retrofit Program

• Financial incentive of up to $8,000 for an energy audit to determine the energy efficiency improvement potential of a commercial building.
• Up to $1.25 million in funding for the implementation of eligible energy efficiency improvements, calculated based on gigajoules of electricity saved or as a percentage of project costs for non-electric energy-saving measures.
• Incentives for electricity-saving projects are $120 per gigajoule saved, up to a maximum of $250,000 per fiscal year.
• For non-electric energy-saving measures, up to 25% of total project costs (excluding taxes), capped at $1 million per entity per fiscal year.
• Audit incentives vary by building size, with maximums of $1,100, $2,200, or $3,300 for ASHRAE level II audits, and up to $8,000 when at least one measure is implemented.

• The applicant must be the owner, manager, or tenant of a commercial or institutional building located in New Brunswick.
• The building must be at least 2 years old and have a permanent address in New Brunswick.
• The project must involve eligible energy efficiency measures that have not yet started and are proven by recognized third parties.
• The applicant must provide a one-year summary of utility bills and a copy of a recent electricity bill.
• Applications must be submitted through approved energy service providers or qualified specialists, and all required documentation must be included at submission.

Who is eligible?

• Commercial buildings (including office buildings, retail stores, restaurants, and standalone warehouses)
• Institutional buildings (such as colleges, hospitals, schools, universities, nursing homes, and places of worship)
• Agricultural buildings
• Municipally owned buildings
• Multi-residential buildings with 3 or more units and mixed-use commercial/residential properties (including houses converted for commercial use)

Who is not eligible

• Manufacturing facilities, including attached warehouses and facilities.
• Residential buildings such as houses, duplexes, and row houses.
• Buildings owned by the federal government.

Eligible expenses

• External project management costs.
• Purchase and installation of approved equipment.
• Removal or decommissioning of replaced equipment under the program.
• Inspections required by legal or regulatory provisions for the project.
• Shipping, delivery, customs, and related costs for delivering equipment to the project site.
• Consulting fees directly related to the design, selection, purchase, and installation of approved upgrades, including specialist services, engineers, scientists, technicians, managers, contractors, and training to ensure proper project operation.
• Additional studies or other costs specifically approved by Énergie NB.

Eligible geographic areas

• Buildings with a permanent address in New Brunswick, Canada.

• Compliance with all mandatory program requirements and submission of all required documentation.
• Clear demonstration that the proposed energy efficiency measures result in actual energy savings.
• The proposed project must have a minimum simple payback period of one year, with details provided in the energy audit report.
• Completion of approved energy efficiency projects within the specified time frame (18 months for most, 36 months for municipalities and campuses).

• All program funding is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and applications may be rejected if program funds are depleted.
• Energy NB reserves the right to limit the number of accepted projects or reject applications if eligibility or program requirements are unlikely to be met.
• Applicants must not begin improvement work or incur costs before receiving a signed program agreement and written approval from Energy NB.
• Previously completed audits are eligible if they are less than three years old, though updates may be required to reflect new technologies or building changes.