The Existing Building Commissioning (EBCx) program is designed to support owners, operators, and managers of commercial and institutional buildings in Ontario.
The program aims to improve the building’s energy management practices resulting in reduced energy waste, enhanced occupant comfort, and increased profitability.
EBCx involves site visits, system inspections, measurements and testing of equipment, as well as the analysis of all collected data. An accredited building commissioning provider identifies potential energy conservation measures and works with the participant to implement them.
Funding Snapshot: Existing Building Commissioning (EBCx) Program
There are several benefits to the program including:
- Increased profitability and property value;
- Reduced environmental impact;
- Developing a continuous improvement mindset; and
- Enhanced occupant comfort.
The program has three phases: the Investigation Phase; the Implementation Phase; and the Persistence Phase.
Funding Amount
The EBCx program has three phases and incentives are available to participants who complete each one:
- Investigation Phase – Hire a commissioning provider to investigate your facility, prepare a report and draft a commissioning plan.
- Receive up to $0.06 per sq. ft. of the building area to a maximum of $50,000 per facility and/or 75% of the costs paid to the CP to undertake investigation.
- Implementation Phase – Implement energy efficiency measures identified in the commissioning plan.
- Receive up to $0.03 per kWh of confirmed persisting energy savings to a maximum of 30% of the facility’s annual electricity consumption or $50,000, whichever is lower. Savings are calculated and verified after a 12-month period.
- Persistence Phase – Receive training from your CP to maintain and monitor systems for one year.
- Receive up to $0.03 per kWh of confirmed energy savings to a maximum of 30% of the facility’s annual electricity consumption or $50,000, whichever is lower.
Applicant Eligibility
A participant must:
- Be the owner, operator, or manager of a commercial or institutional building; or
- Be an electricity customer with one or more Facilities connected to (or behind the meter of an electricity customer connected to) the IESO-Controlled Grid or a Distribution System.
Eligible Facilities
Eligible Facilities must:
- Have a minimum of 12 months of consecutive energy data;
- Have consumed a minimum of 750,000 kWh per annum, not including energy consumed by industrial and manufacturing processes;
- Have baseline models meeting the minimum standards;
- Not have undertaken a commissioning exercise in the last two years;
- Not be participating in a building accreditation system that requires EBCx as a pre-requisite;
- Be connected to, or behind the meter of, an electricity customer connected to the IESO-controlled grid or a distribution system; and
- Meet any other eligibility requirements as outlined in the M&V Guidelines.
Eligible Projects
To be eligible, a project must include one of the following measures:
- Occupant behavioural measures;
- Set point and scheduling optimization;
- Air and water balancing;
- Other operational and maintenance changes; or
- Equipment repairs and minor replacements.
Example EBCx measures include:
- Reducing equipment runtime;
- Optimizing economizer operation;
- Eliminating simultaneous heating and cooling;
- Optimizing supply air temperature;
- Optimizing zone/setback temperature set points;
- Eliminating unnecessary lighting hours;
- Optimizing ventilation rates;
- Optimizing static pressure/differential pressure control of fans and pumps;
- Adding/optimizing chilled water temperature reset; or
- Eliminate passing (leaky) valves.
Deadline to Apply
Applications for this program are accepted on a continuous basis.
Access More Energy Saving Grants
In 2024, the Canadian government is prioritizing the green economy. Energy savings is one such key initiative that aims to help meet Canada’s net-zero goals. We, at Mentor Works, A Ryan Company, can support your business in applying for your next energy-related grant application through programs such as the Low Carbon Economy Fund and the SCAP Ontario Agri-Food Energy Savings Program. Our cleantech funding directory also offers insight on up-to-date funding information and programs.
Did you know that grant programs can be stacked? Businesses can stack a provincial grant program with a federal funding program to achieve their maximum funding potential. Download our free guide on How To Stack Funding to achieve up to a 75% cost coverage.