Clear answer, explained.
NRCan's Industrial Energy Management program covers a portion of the cost of an ASHRAE-compliant energy audit for qualifying commercial and industrial facilities. Eligibility is based on facility type, annual energy consumption, and audit scope. The program is available across all provinces — not limited to Ontario — making it the primary federal funding pathway for C&I energy audit costs in Canada.
In Ontario, the IESO saveONenergy program provides additional support for qualifying energy assessments. This program is administered through local distribution companies and has specific eligibility criteria around facility type, audit methodology, and the conservation measures the assessment is expected to identify. The Canada Greener Buildings Initiative provides funding for eligible commercial building assessments as the first step toward building retrofit funding — relevant for CRE owners and institutional building operators.
These programs can be combined on the same audit engagement where stacking rules permit — reducing the net audit cost below what any single program would cover alone. Program funding envelopes, eligibility criteria, and application windows change frequently. We identify all applicable programs and confirm current status as part of every initial project scoping conversation, before any engagement is signed.
What this means in practice.
- NRCan's Industrial Energy Management (IEM) program covers a portion of eligible audit costs across all Canadian provinces
- IESO saveONenergy supports qualifying commercial energy assessments in Ontario through local distribution companies
- The Canada Greener Buildings Initiative funds eligible commercial building assessments as a first step toward retrofit funding
- NRCan and IESO programs can be combined on the same audit where stacking rules permit
- Program eligibility depends on facility type, annual energy consumption, audit methodology, and audit scope
- Program funding envelopes and eligibility criteria change frequently — current status should always be confirmed before engagement
Best-fit environments.
- You are planning an energy audit and want to understand what federal or provincial funding can offset the cost
- Your facility is in Ontario and you want to confirm whether NRCan and IESO funding can be combined on the same audit
- You are preparing a capital budget that includes energy assessment and need to account for potential funding reductions
- You are a CRE owner or institutional building operator evaluating whether the Canada Greener Buildings Initiative applies to your assessment
