Home Energy Improvement Loan Design Study

The City of Thunder Bay continuously assesses opportunities and barriers for improving home energy efficiency. Reducing our household emissions through energy efficiency retrofits is an important step on the City’s path to net-zero.

A Feasibility Study was presented to City Council on July 18, 2022. The following are the Phase 1: Home Energy Improvement Feasibility Study documents:

• Thunder Bay Community Efficiency Financing Study
• Thunder Bay Landscape Assessment Report
• Thunder Bay Stakeholder Engagement Report

With Council’s approval, we are undergoing Phase 2: the Home Energy Improvement Loan Program Design Study.

Share your thoughts on the proposed home energy improvement loan program by filling out the survey.

About the Project

The City of Thunder Bay approved the Thunder Bay Net-Zero Strategy on June 7, 2021 and set a community-wide target for net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050.

The energy we use to heat, cool, and power our homes represents 18% of Thunder Bay’s annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. GHG emissions like carbon dioxide and methane contribute to the climate crisis, and reducing household emissions is an important step on the City’s path to net-zero.

Developing a Home Energy Improvement Loan Program will help homeowners make energy efficiency improvements to their homes such as adding insulation, upgrading heating and cooling systems, and installing solar panels by offering a mix of financing, technical guidance, and other support services.

EarthCare Thunder Bay is currently working with Dunsky Energy and Climate to design a Home Energy Improvement Loan Program for Thunder Bay residents. Completing this survey will help them assess the opportunities and barriers that exist for improving home energy efficiency in Thunder Bay.

Background

In 2023, the City of Thunder Bay received funding from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund to conduct a Home Energy Improvement Loan Program Design Study.

In 2022, a completed Home Energy Improvement Feasibility Study was presented to Thunder Bay City Council.

In 2021, the City of Thunder Bay received funding from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund to conduct a feasibility study on implementing home energy efficiency retrofit financing programs in the community.

These studies and grants are an outcome of the City’s Net-Zero Strategy and are a response to the Climate Emergency declared by City Council in January 2020.