TORONTO, March 6 /CNW/ - The City of Toronto and Toronto Hydro are offering developers up to $13,000 for constructing energy efficient buildings (large commercial, institutional and multi-unit residential).

Under the Energy Efficiency Office's Better Buildings New Construction Program, developers are encouraged to make new buildings 25 per cent more energy efficient than the current building code requires.

The 2005 pilot phase of the program involved 17 buildings. Design changes resulted in 30 to 50 per cent less energy being consumed by each building.

Early involvement in the design stage is a key to the program's success. Under the BBNCP, the building project can receive up to $7,000 in grants to investigate the integration of energy efficiency measures.

"Using energy modeling in the design stage for FILMPORT will help us reduce energy use by more than 30 per cent with minimal additional capital investment," said Peter LaForme, Director of Operations, Toronto Film Studios.

Once the building permit application is submitted, there is an added one-time incentive of $10 per peak kilowatt saved, up to $3,000. A further incentive of $10 per peak kilowatt saved, up to $3,000, is offered when the building is occupied. Savings are based on the energy use of the building compared to what would be used if it was built to meet the current building code.

"The City needs to reduce energy use in Toronto. By promoting the development of energy efficient buildings, we are moving in the right direction," said Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone, Chair of the Roundtable on the Environment. "We hope our leadership and incentives encourage all developers to be part of the solution."

The City also helps owners reduce energy use in existing buildings through the Better Buildings Partnership. More than 500 buildings have been retrofitted, reducing CO(2) emissions by more than one million tonnes.

"The BBNCP complements other City initiatives to make Toronto energy efficient, and contributes to our City's economic and environmental vitality," said Jodie Parmar, Director, Business and Strategic Innovation, Facilities and Real Estate.

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