This year, CIER and The LEAP Group have partnered to launch the Deep Retrofit Accelerator for Indigenous Communities Program (DRAI for short—rhymes with “grey”). The program aims to secure necessary resources and funding to retrofit qualifying community buildings and multi-unit housing to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions.

A deep retrofit is a multi-faceted building renovation, consisting of upgrades to multiple building systems. A deep retrofit intends to reduce energy consumption by over 50% and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by over 70%.

Examples of retrofitting include:
• Upgrading building envelope (insulation, windows, doors, roofing).
• Replacing heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.
• Switching from fossil fuels to electricity for space and water heating systems.
• Upgrading lighting.
• Installing renewable energy systems (e.g. solar panels).

DRAI aims to promote a greater awareness in Indigenous communities about energy consumption and emission profiles. Specialists will identify energy-saving and emission-reducing retrofit opportunities, and funding will be secured to modernize community buildings.

There is currently availability for First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Northwest Territories to participate. Services provided under this program are delivered at no cost. Partnering communities may benefit from the following support:
• Drafting and submitting funding applications for deep retrofit projects.
• Funding to hire a part-time Energy Champion from your community to support the project.
• Direct interaction with expert project teams from CIER and LEAP.
• Energy assessments conducted on the community’s commercial, institutional, industrial and multi-unit residential buildings.
• Participation in virtual learning circles to network and share knowledge.

CIER and LEAP are involved in a multitude of tasks, including funding research, application support, energy efficiency assessments, renewable energy opportunity assessments, deep retrofit opportunity identification, and project planning support.

If you think your community would benefit from this program, APPLY HERE. For additional details, view THIS PAGE or contact [email protected] .