The Yukon government is announcing a new addition to its popular suite of energy incentive programs, aimed at improving energy use in multi-family dwellings and commercial buildings.

“The Commercial Energy Incentive Program makes energy-efficiency upgrades in these larger buildings more accessible and affordable,” Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources Scott Kent said. “These upgrades will mean significant savings in energy and money – the bigger the building, the greater the savings.”

The new program targets two areas. The first component directly assists Yukon apartment and condominium owners in retrofitting their buildings to improve energy performance and reduce energy consumption, costs and emissions. The second targets the lighting efficiency of commercial buildings by encouraging owners to upgrade to energy-efficient and long-lasting LED lighting systems.

“This innovative program provides the means to realize deep and lasting energy, cost and greenhouse gas emissions savings across Yukon in the commercial and institutional sectors,” Kent added. “This rounds-out our suite of incentives offered through the Energy Solutions Centre that provides a valuable ‘one window’ approach to energy efficiency solutions in Yukon.”

The Commercial Energy Incentive Program will come into effect on May 1.

“The Yukon Chamber understands how important a program that promotes commercial building conversion to energy-efficient LED lighting systems can be for local businesses,” Yukon Chamber of Commerce chair Rich Thompson said. “It will have longer-term economic benefits for Yukon businesses both large and small. In a challenging economic environment this is precisely the type of program that the government should be focused on. We applaud this initiative.”

The Commercial Energy Incentive Program joins the Residential Energy Incentives Program pilot project and the popular Good Energy Rebate Program in providing sustainable energy solutions for Yukoners.

Anh Tuan