Energy Efficiency Business Grants in Ontario: 43 Programs You Can Apply for Today

The Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP) provides funding towards the deployment of electric vehicle (EV) chargers and hydrogen refuelling stations across Canada.

This initiative addresses a key barrier to the adoption of zero-emission vehicles (ZEV)—the lack of charging and refuelling stations in Canada—by increasing the availability of localized charging and hydrogen refuelling opportunities where Canadians live, work, travel, and play. This is administered through three key funding streams and is available until 2027.

The Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP) is a $680 million program that was launched in 2019. The program aims to address the lack of charging infrastructure and hydrogen refuelling stations in Canada, one of the key barriers to zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) adoption, by increasing the availability of localized charging and hydrogen refuelling opportunities where Canadians live, work, and play.

This Request for Proposals (RFP) targets ZEV infrastructure projects to be carried out by Indigenous organizations. Only applications that meet ZEVIP’s requirements as outlined below will be considered for funding opportunities.

Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP) for delivery organizations (also known as, Initial Recipients) further distribute ZEVIP funds to “Ultimate Recipients” to install electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in public places, on-street, in multi-unit residential buildings, at workplaces, or for on-road vehicle fleets. The third-party delivery approach allows Initial Recipients to redistribute a portion of the ZEVIP funding to Ultimate Recipients for smaller, more localised EV infrastructure projects (less than $100,000) where Canadians live, work and play.

Building-wide funding for toilet, showerhead and tap aerator upgrades
Receive funding to support the upgrading of your apartment building with water-efficient toilets, showerheads and tap aerators. This program is best suited for medium to large-sized apartment buildings interested in long-term savings.

The Water Efficient Technology (W.E.T.) program provides commercial, industrial and institutional-sector companies with resources and funding to reduce water use.

The program fund high impact climate solutions to create low-carbon, equitable cities in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area

The Supply Management Processing Investment Fund (SMPIF) helps processors of supply-managed commodities adapt to market changes resulting from the implementation of the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The program provides non-repayable contributions to support investments in dairy, poultry, and egg processing facilities that improve productivity and/or efficiency through the purchase of new automated equipment and technology.

The Savings by Design Commercial and Multi-Residential program gives project team free access to industry experts, technical tools and financial incentives to help build high-performance, resilient and sustainable buildings.

Get ahead with energy management training for your business! Save on Energy offers incentives of up to 50 percent for a range of industry-leading training courses for energy professionals.

Save on Energy offers a broad range of educational tools, resources and training programs to help businesses and professionals across Ontario build and enhance their competencies in energy efficiency and energy management practices. By expanding your organizational and professional capabilities, you’ll be able to undertake initiatives to save energy, reduce costs and meet your sustainability and carbon reduction goals.

Save on Energy’s Strategic Energy Management (SEM) program is a transformational new program, designed to help organizations improve their energy performance by implementing an integrated system of organizational practices, policies and processes to achieve persistent energy savings.

The SEM program will provide your organization with knowledge, expertise and training in energy management that can help increase your profitability through reduced energy costs and productivity, build organizational skills, and help your organization achieve your carbon reduction and environmental goals.

The Save on Energy Small Business Program is designed to help small businesses across Ontario make equipment improvements to reduce their energy consumption, at no cost to their business. Leveraging the success of the former Small Business Lighting program, this new and improved program offers small businesses direct-install incentives on an expanded range of equipment – both lighting and non-lighting. An investment in energy-efficient equipment upgrades is an investment in enhancing your customers’ experience, employee satisfaction and your bottom line. Save time and money when you participate in the Small Business program.

The Save on Energy Retrofit program offers businesses in Ontario incentives to upgrade equipment, reduce energy bills, lower their carbon footprint and increase productivity. The incentives are designed to help businesses speed up their payback on energy-efficiency equipment upgrades. The program offers incentives in two streams:
– Custom stream for larger, more complex retrofit projects to capture greater energy savings;
– Prescriptive stream for targeted retrofit projects focusing on commonly used products and technologies.

Participants in Peak Perks save with their smart thermostats by participating in brief, time-limited thermostat adjustments during periods of peak electricity demand that can occur on the hottest summer days.

The IESO’s Save on Energy Industrial Energy Efficiency Program (IEEP) has been extended until June 30, 2025. It supports customers across Ontario in improving their industrial processes and implementing system optimization projects. The program offers organizations up to $5 million in financial incentives for each large, industrial energy-efficiency project accepted into the program. Eligible projects will deliver electricity savings using proven commercial technologies to lower energy consumption and reduce electricity bills.

Save on Energy’s Existing Building Commissioning (EBCx) program is designed to help owners, operators and managers of commercial and institutional buildings in Ontario improve their energy management. Implementing building management best practices will help reduce energy waste, enhance occupant comfort and increase profitability.

The Energy Performance Program (EPP) rewards customers who are able to make behavioural and operational changes that support capital investment projects, enabling them to grow their energy savings year over year.

Maximize your savings and efficiency with our Commercial CoolSaver program, delivered in collaboration with Alectra Utilities. Eligible businesses in York Region can receive free A/C tune-ups for HVAC systems – plus exclusive instant discounts on a variety of high efficiency upgrades.

Free tune-ups include airflow correction, air filter cleaning or replacement, digital refrigerant analysis, and cleaning of indoor blower, evaporator coils and condenser coils.

The Save on Energy BizEnergySaver program is designed to help industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI), and multi-residential building owners and operators make equipment improvements to reduce their energy consumption. The program helps address local electricity system constraints in Ottawa and in the Richview South area in Toronto by offering upfront incentives and direct installation of LED upgrades, adaptive lighting controls in areas such as exit stairwells and parking garages, high bay lighting upgrades and controls, variable frequency drives (VFDs) for pump systems and fans, and parking garage exhaust fan controls.

ECC’s Output-Based Pricing System Proceeds Fund: Decarbonization Incentive Program (DIP) provides incentives to Canada’s industrial sectors’ single or multi-year projects accelerating the deployment of commercially available and/or proven low-carbon technologies and processes that will further reduce GHG emissions.

The Grid Innovation Fund (GIF) advances innovative opportunities to achieve electricity bill savings for Ontario ratepayers by funding projects that either enable customers to better manage their energy consumption or that reduce the costs associated with maintaining reliable operation of the province’s grid. The GIF makes investments in specific projects – not companies – with clear objectives. It supports projects that validate the performance and business case of promising new technologies, practices, and services. The GIF also supports projects that identify and mitigate market barriers, or otherwise accelerate the adoption of competitive cost-effective energy solutions.

The Green Market Acceleration Program (GMAP) provides local firms and foreign investors with an opportunity to collaborate with the City of Toronto in order to accelerate the development and commercialization of made-in-Toronto green technologies.

Participants accepted into GMAP will gain controlled access to City-owned infrastructure and assets (ie. buildings, streets, vehicles, water) for applied research, proof of concept and demonstration pilots for their new green technologies during the early stages of product development.

The Industrial Facility track offers financial assistance for projects that enhance energy efficiency. You could receive up to 50% of eligible costs (up to 100% for Indigenous or not-for-profit organizations), from a minimum of $40,000 to a maximum of $10 million per proposal. Eligible recipients are Canadian facilities engaged in energy-consuming processes that transform materials into new products. Apply now for the opportunity to make your facility more energy-efficient with the Industrial Facility track.

The Energy Efficiency Solutions Track supports the industrial energy efficiency initiatives undertaken by those entities that align with Government of Canada objectives. Under the Energy Efficiency Solutions Track, eligible projects include those that support the implementation of energy efficiency and energy management solutions. These activities are intended for industrial facilities that are engaged in energy consuming processes that involve the physical or chemical transformation of materials or substances into new products.

The Green Freight Program will help fleets reduce their fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions through fleet energy assessments, fleet retrofits, engine repowers, logistical best-practice implementation and the purchase of low carbon vehicles. This will be administered through two key funding streams.

Stream 1 of the Program provides grant funding up to a maximum of $250,000 per Applicant towards Third-Party Fleet Energy Assessments and Truck/Trailer Equipment Retrofits. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) has established a list of approved retrofit devices, of which a percentage of the cost are eligible for a grant.

This stream aims to increase the knowledge and capacity of the on-road freight transportation sector to adopt energy efficiency measures tailored to operational needs by providing financial support. Stream 1 of the Program is accepting applications through a continuous intake process. Only applications that meet the Program’s requirements as outlined in this Guide will receive a grant on a first come, first served basis.

Stream 2 (Repower and Replace) will be providing non-repayable contributions towards fuels switching, engine repowers, and purchase of low-carbon alternative fuel vehicles. Stream 2 of the program contributes up to 50% of the incremental cost for the purchase of low-carbon alternative fuel vehicles, or 50% of total project costs, up to a maximum of $5 million per project.

The Green Bond program will support projects that contribute to positive environmental outcomes while ensuring we continue to support our overarching mandate and commitment to responsible investment.

CICERO Shades of Green rated PSP’s Green Bond Framework Medium Green. Included in the overall shading was an assessment of our governance structure, which received a score of Excellent.

FedDev Ontario is investing in people, potential, and possibilities. We want to help you grow so you can reach your potential and unlock new possibilities.

The Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program (FSIIP) – Business Projects program provides funding for strategic investments in the forest sector to for-profit manufacturers and processors of wood and forest biomass across Ontario.
Strategic investments must improve productivity and innovation, enhance competitiveness, support new market access, provide benefits to Ontario’s broader forest sector and strengthen regional economies.

FinDev Canada offers financing and equity investments to Canadian companies operating in developing countries that demonstrate sustainable social and economic benefits for local communities, with a focus on job creation, women’s economic empowerment and climate change mitigation.

FCC offers financing for environmental solutions that can help farmers make environmental upgrades to their operation and switch to renewable energy resources.

Through the Energy Retrofit Loan (ERL) program, the City offers fixed, long-term, low-interest financing to enable building owners to invest in low-carbon, energy-efficient capital improvements.

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) provides an important pathway to emissions reductions for energy and industrial activities under conditions where neither electrification nor low carbon fuels are able to provide technically or economically feasible low-carbon solutions. The program supports businesses, academia, non-profits, government, and federal laboratories on the path to net-zero emissions by 2050. The CCUS RD&D call will focus on earlier-stage RD&D activities across three different focus areas:
1. Capture – Closed as of October 3, 2022;
2. Storage/Sequestration (to characterize and develop safe, permanent sub-surface CO2 storage to support planning of cost efficient storage opportunities across Canada);
3. Utilization (to expand the strategic uses of CO2, and support the development of cost and energy efficient utilization pathways).

Enbridge Gas offers a range of programs and incentives for retrofit projects that deliver energy savings—from straightforward upgrades to custom projects in commercial, multi-residential, affordable multi-family housing and industrial buildings. An incentive for every retrofit is provided through the following programs:
1. Affordable Multi-Family Housing Program;
2. Commercial Custom Retrofit Program;
3. Industrial Custom Engineering Program.

The Savings by Design Residential program gives production builders free access to industry experts and energy modelling to build a Net Zero Energy Ready discovery home plus qualify for incentives to build to ENERGY STAR© for New Homes standards.

The Affordable Multi-Family Housing New Construction is designed to provide incentives to builders or energy modelling company making capital improvement projects that will help save energy and money, and keep their building running optimally. Also, this provides incentives to eligible customers who are implementing high-efficiency equipment.

This Program provides a flexible incentive structure that can be customized to meet a Greenhouse plant’s particular needs. Financial incentives are provided for:
1. Audits, assessments and engineering analysis to identify and quantify thermal energy efficiency opportunities;
2. The purchase and installation of thermal energy-efficient equipment and technologies;
3. The implementation of operational improvements that reduce thermal energy requirements.

This Program offers an incentive to industrial customers and contractors towards the purchase and installation of a heat recovery ventilator (designed to keep heat in while moving stale air out) and/or energy recovery ventilator (take advantage of the humidity levels in the airflow).

This Program offers an incentive to business or industrial customers and contractors towards the purchase and installation of a destratification fan. These fans are designed to redistribute the heated air from the unoccupied ceiling space back to the floor level, reducing excess strain on the heating system.

This Program offers an incentive to business or industrial customers and contractors towards the purchase and installation of Demand Control Ventilation. This product optimizes the efficiency of the ventilation system by moderating the exchange of outside air to reduce air heating or cooling requirements, resulting in energy and cost savings.

This Program offers an incentive to business or industrial customers and contractors towards the purchase and installation of Demand Control Kitchen Ventilation. This product uses advanced sensors and variable speed controls to ramp up ventilation during busy preparation periods, and wind down ventilation during slower periods, significantly cutting back natural gas and electrical energy usage.

Through their Equipment Upgrades: Multi-Unit Residential In-Suite Fixed Incentive Program, Enbridge Gas offers financial incentives to all their eligible customers who will take advantage of energy-saving technologies such as heat-recovery ventilators (HRV) and energy-recovery ventilators (ERV). These technologies save energy by decreasing the load on the building’s heating system.

The Fixed Incentive Program is designed to offset the cost of upgrading equipment to energy-efficient natural gas technology, whether replacing end-of-life equipment or planning to buy new equipment. This program provides three incentives, including:
1. Air curtains;
2. Condensing MUAs;
3. Dock door seals.

The Building Automation program provides funding for building automation systems (BAS). BAS is an efficient way to increase a building’s flexibility to respond to a variety of operating conditions. Monitoring, managing and adjusting key energy systems from a single touchpoint is an effective way to optimize energy use automatically. Building owners and energy managers need to reassess control of indoor spaces as there are challenges on fluctuating occupancy levels, increased ventilation requirements and tighter budgets whether they run a large office building or affordable housing.
This program offers incentives through the following:
1. Affordable Multi-Family Housing Program;
2. Commercial Custom Retrofit Program;
3. Industrial Custom Engineering Program.

The Boilers program is designed to provide system upgrade, expert help and incentives to improve boiler energy efficiency and saves money. Without proper system design, boilers can waste energy and increase operational costs. Enbridge Gas’ Energy Solutions Advisors can help eligible customers identify projects and take advantage of incentives through the following programs:
1. Affordable Multi-Family Housing Program;
2. Commercial Custom Retrofit Program;
3. Industrial Custom Engineering Program.

The Industrial Studies & Assessments program is offered to customers that uncover energy-saving opportunities in their facilities. From equipment and processes to complex systems, evaluating the facility’s energy performance can help determine the financial benefits of investing in energy-efficient improvements.

The Energy Assessments and Meters (EXCLUDED/to remove: Commercial Custom Audits & Studies) program is designed to uncover energy-efficiency potential with an energy audit. An energy audit can be a blueprint to identify and quantify potential energy-saving measures on key systems and equipment. This program will provide incentives to offset the cost, and expert help to map out a plan to achieve ongoing savings, year after year.

The Distributor Discount Program: HVAC program offers instant discounts on high-efficiency commercial HVAC equipment. Space and water heating account for more than half of a typical building’s energy use. That’s why we’re offering rebates on the best energy-saving equipment on the market. By upgrading to high-efficiency heating and hot water equipment, you can save on energy costs immediately.

For commercial and multi-residential builders and developers, Enbridge Gas provides incentives up to $45,000 for testing and to resolve any issues discovered in the process, to help ensure intended performance standards are achieved. Airtightness testing should take place before the envelope is fully constructed to provide early identification of potential air leakage issues in order to qualify for incentives.

OCAF is excited to announce our Climate Equity Granting program, developed to further our commitment to equity and Reconciliation in climate action. This program is designed to ensure that climate action not only involves but is led by the communities it aims to serve – emphasizing our commitment towards communities that have historically been excluded from environmental dialogues.

We recognize the unique opportunity clean fuels present for Indigenous businesses and communities and encourage Indigenous participation on all projects. We have designed a distinct process with measures to increase funding of Indigenous-led clean production capacity projects in Canada.

Funding the build-out of new production capacity will:
grow the domestic production capacity for clean fuels including clean hydrogen, advanced biofuels, renewable natural gas, and sustainable aviation fuel, across Canada
offer new opportunities for Canada’s energy sector in the transition to producing cleaner sources of energy
support Canada’s efforts to reach net-zero by 2050
position Canada globally to reap economic, environmental, and social benefits of the energy transition

Funding for renewable energy and capacity building projects and related energy efficiency measures in Indigenous, rural and remote communities across Canada.

BDC’s Small Business Loan is designed to help businesses quickly and easily access the funds they need with flexible terms they can afford

The Agri-Food Energy Cost Savings Initiative provides funding to agri-food processors who use technologies and processes to increase energy efficiency in their operations.

The Affordable Housing Multi-Residential program offers incentives* to help you upgrade to high-efficiency equipment. Working with you at every step, our Energy Solutions Advisors are here to help you make capital improvement projects that will help you save energy and money and keep your building running optimally.