Commercial property owners and developers across Canada have access to a suite of federal and provincial incentives designed to offset the costs of deep energy retrofits, equipment upgrades, and new green construction. At the federal level, Natural Resources Canada’s Retrofit Hub serves as a centralized gateway to funding and support for energy‑efficiency and decarbonization projects in commercial, institutional, and industrial buildings, while the Canada Infrastructure Bank’s Building Retrofits Initiative offers low‑cost, long‑term financing to overcome upfront capital barriers. Provinces have programs, as well. British Columbia’s CleanBC portfolio provides streamlined rebates and energy‑coach support via the Commercial Express and Better Buildings streams; Ontario’s Save on Energy Retrofit Program covers up to 50% of project costs, including solar PV installations, through prescriptive and custom streams; Québec’s Hydro‑Québec Efficient Solutions Program backs energy analyses and equipment installations with up to 90% cost coverage; and Énergir’s Dual‑Energy Grants offset up to 80% of the premium cost for dual‑energy conversions. Manitoba rounds out the landscape with Efficiency Manitoba’s Commercial Deep Energy Retrofit Program, which supports major renovations achieving at least 20% energy savings.Federal InitiativesRetrofit Hub (Natural Resources Canada)Natural Resources Canada’s Retrofit Hub aggregates federal funding, incentives, and guidance tailored to commercial, institutional, and industrial retrofit projects, simplifying the search for appropriate programs and measures. This one‑stop platform is open for applications and allows users to filter opportunities by project type, retrofit measure, and funding source.Building Retrofits Initiative (Canada Infrastructure Bank)The Canada Infrastructure Bank’s Building Retrofits Initiative provides attractive, long‑term financing solutions that reduce the upfront capital burden for deep retrofit projects in commercial buildings, helping to modernize and decarbonize existing assets. By partnering with public and private sector entities, the initiative supports projects that yield significant energy performance improvements and greenhouse gas reductions.Deep Retrofit Accelerator Initiative (Natural Resources Canada)A targeted NRCan intake, the Deep Retrofit Accelerator Initiative commits approximately $8 million over 2025 to 2027 to pilot and demonstrate integrated, whole‑building retrofit solutions in commercial settings, fostering innovation in technologies and project delivery approaches.Provincial and Territorial ProgramsBritish ColumbiaCleanBC Commercial ExpressCleanBC’s Commercial Express stream offers capital incentives of up to $100,000 per project, enhanced by a $10/t CO₂e top‑up for northern applicants, through a streamlined application process that eliminates the need for energy studies. Participants also benefit from free energy coach support to guide measure selection and implementation.CleanBC Better BuildingsThe Better Buildings stream provides rebates for advanced insulation, high‑performance glazing, and electric HVAC systems, coupled with complimentary energy coach services to optimize project outcomes and lifetime savings.CleanBC Commercial New Construction ProgramThis program incentivizes fully electric “Part 9” buildings with a 10% electrification bonus up to $50,000 on top of baseline energy‑code rebates for projects exceeding provincial efficiency standards.OntarioSave on Energy Retrofit ProgramAdministered by the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), the Save on Energy Retrofit Program offers businesses incentives covering up to 50% of eligible project costs for energy‑efficiency upgrades, including lighting, HVAC systems, controls, and now solar PV installations under both Prescriptive and Custom streams.Enbridge Gas Commercial Custom Retrofit ProgramEnbridge Gas’s Commercial Custom Retrofit Program provides rebates covering up to 50% of incremental equipment and installation costs, capped at $100,000, supporting natural gas savings projects documented by October 31, 2025.QuébecHydro‑Québec Efficient Solutions ProgramHydro‑Québec’s Efficient Solutions Program tailors financial support to project needs, covering up to 90% of energy‑audit and equipment‑installation costs for commercial, institutional, and industrial buildings, with streamlined application via their OSE calculation tool.Énergir Dual‑Energy GrantsUnder Québec’s ÉcoPerformance framework, Énergir and the provincial government offer grants that cover up to 80% of the incremental cost of converting to dual‑energy heating systems, with custom offers available for large‑scale projects up to $6 million per site.ManitobaCommercial Deep Energy Retrofit Program (Efficiency Manitoba)Efficiency Manitoba’s Commercial Deep Energy Retrofit Program assists building owners with financial incentives of up to $12,000 for energy modelling and performance‑based funding ranging from $2.25 to $6.00 per square foot for achieving a minimum 20% energy reduction, supporting comprehensive, whole‑building renovation projects.Best Practices and ConsiderationsTo make the most of available incentives, it’s important to start with a clear understanding of your building’s energy use. An energy audit, many of which are subsidized, can help identify the best opportunities for upgrades and ensure alignment with program requirements. From there, careful planning and cost analysis can help prioritize measures that deliver strong returns while meeting eligibility criteria.That said, energy efficiency upgrades are worth considering even if your project doesn’t qualify for funding. Improvements like better insulation, high-efficiency heating and cooling systems, or modern controls can reduce operating costs, improve tenant comfort, and increase the value and resilience of the building over time. Incentives can help, but the long-term benefits of energy upgrades often stand on their own.