Funding Opportunities

For the most current list of available funding opportunities, click here

Energy Conservation/Efficiency & Climate Change

ecoNova Scotia for Clean Air and Climate Change Municipal Program

Efficient Lightbulb This program supports municipally run projects that target reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants. It aims to help municipalities reduce their costs by building capacity around energy and emissions management, and generating a greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions reductions. $7.5 million in funding is available over 3 years for the following three project categories: Category 1: Capacity Building Corporate Grants, Category 2: Action Corporate Grants and Category 3: There is no deadline for Category 1 applications. The following deadlines apply to Category 2 & 3 applications: April 30, 2009, July 31, 2009, October 31, 2009 and January 31, 2010. For full details on the Clean Air and Climate Change Municipal Program, visit econNova Scotia for Clean Air and Climate Change.

Commercial and Industrial (C&I) Custom Program

As part of their demand side management programs that were approved by the Nova Scotia Utility & Review Board, Nova Scotia Power introduced a new electricity savings program to help commercial and industrial consumers (including municipalities) become more energy efficient. There is no deadline for funding applications. For more information, visit Nova Scotia Power's Commercial & Industrial Custom Program , e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 1-800-428-6774.

Smart Lighting Choices

Conserve Nova Scotia is helping organizations make smarter lighting choices by offsetting the cost to upgrade from regular T8 systems to High Performance T8 systems. High Performance T8s, also known as Super T8s, are now being sold in Nova Scotia. High performance T8 lighting products offer energy savings between 20 and 30% compared to regular T8 systems and up to 40% over T12s. High performance T8 lighting products offer better performance. To participate, ask your electrical contractor to specify and purchase “High Performance T8 lighting”. Under this program’s structure, purchasers will receive a premium energy efficient product at standard product cost. For more information, visit Smart Lighting Choices.

ecoENERGY Retrofit Incentive for Buildings

Natural Resources Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency provides financial support to help Canadians implement energy saving projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Municipal government buildings are eligible for this program (this includes rinks, arenas, fire/police stations, recreation centres), if the building has a maximum floor space of 10,000 square meters. Buildings which are in the process of being retrofitted or have completed a retrofit in the past year are ineligible. Most energy-saving measures such as efficient lighting, building envelope, motors, controls, heating, ventilating and air conditioning are eligible, as are projects using renewable resources. Visit ecoENERGY Retrofit Incentive for Buildings for more information.

Renewable Energy

Solar Water Heating Rebate Program

Conserve Nova Scotia provides a 15 % rebate of the installed cost of a solar water heating system for residential, institutional, industrial or commercial use. The maximum provincial rebate is $20,000. Rebates that exceed $20,000 may be considered, and applicants may apply in advance with a detailed project description. Rebates exceeding $20,000 must be pre-approved, and will be provided based on available funding. For more information about solar heating rebates, call Conserve Nova Scotia's ENERinfo line toll free at 1-800-670-4636 or visit Conserve Nova Scotia .

Solar Air Heating Rebate Program

ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat (Active solar water and air heating systems)

This is a four-year, $36 million program to increase the use of renewable thermal energy by industry, commercial businesses and institutions; boost the amount of renewable thermal energy created for these sectors; and contribute to cleaner air by helping Canadian businesses use less fossil fuel-based energy for space and water heating in buildings across the country. Incentives are offered to the industrial/commercial/institutional sector to install active energy-efficient solar air and/or water heating systems and runs until March 31, 2011. For more information, visit ecoENERGY for Renewable Heat .

The Solar Gain Project

A partnership of Nova Scotia Department of Energy, Solar Nova Scotia, Environment Canada, the Harry P Kendall Foundation and the Ecology Action Centre, you can receive a free initial consultation, advice and contact with suppliers, and assistance in applying for rebates. Staff also provides information about heat recovery drain pipes and other energy-saving technologies. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. For more information on the Solar Gain Project, please visit the Solar Gain Project or contact the Ecology Action Centre by phone: (902) 442 0199 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Sustainable Communities

Green Municipal Funds

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) continues to offer GMF grants of up to $350,000 to cover half the eligible costs of sustainable community plans. Plans must consider environmental, social and economic objectives and include specific targets for environmental performance, and grants of up to $350,000 to cover half the eligible costs of feasibility studies and field tests that seek to demonstrate the potential of a project to improve the environmental effectiveness of municipal operations related to brownfields, energy, transportation, waste or water. For more information, visit FCM's Green Municipal Fund.

FCM launched a targeted GMF funding opportunity for capital projects that improve effluent quality from municipal wastewater treatment systems.

Solid Waste Management

RRFB: Research and Development Program Fund

The purpose of the program is to assist Research & Development initiatives in support of the Province’s Solid Waste-Resource Management Strategy and the mandates of RRFB Nova Scotia. Eligible projects include:

Projects which are comprised primarily of original work undertaken to acquire new knowledge with a specific practical application in view; or
Projects involving systematic work, using existing knowledge gained from research and/or practical experience that is directed to producing new materials, products or devices, or
Projects that install new processes, systems and services or improve substantially those already produced or installed.

Eligible applicants include municipalities, and private and/or public partnerships. The program will provide assistance to a maximum of 50% of eligible costs. Applications may be submitted at any time. For more details, contact Jeff MacCallum, Director of Programs and Business Development for RRFB (897-4360) or visit Value-Added Manufacturing Approved Program Funding Guidelines (12 kB) .

Alternative Transportation

Green Mobility Fund

Coming soon!

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities accepts applications for low interest Green Municipal Fund loans and grants for capital projects that facilitate shifts to sustainable modes of transportation. For more information, visit FCM's Green Municipal Fund.

Habitats & Species

Sage Environmental Program

The mission of the Sage Environmental Program is to protect, preserve and improve the ecological integrity of Nova Scotia's natural systems with an emphasis is on the ecological sustainability of forests, wetlands, coastal and marine regions. Funding applications are considered twice a year - May 1st and November 1st. A short project summary (2 paragraphs) is to be submitted by email ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), and if the project is suitable, they will solicit a full proposal. For more information visit Sage Environmental Program.

NS Species at Risk Conservation Fund

This fund was established under the NS Endangered Species Act to support projects related to species at risk. Organizations interested in helping with species at risk conservation, recovery and/or prevention in Nova Scotia are eligible to apply for funding. The average grant awarded is $10,000.00 and applicants are encouraged to have matching contributions. The next deadline for applications is June 1st, 2009. For more information visit NS Species at Risk Conservation, phone (902) 679-6091 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Others

EcoAction Community Funding Program:

Funding is available for projects that address Environment Canada’s priority issues of Clean Air and Climate Change, Clean Water, and Nature. Although municipalities are not eligible applicants, they are encouraged to partner with non-profit organizations to access this funding. The next application deadline is November 1st, 2009. For more information visit their website or contact an EcoAction Program Officer toll-free at 1-800-663-5755.

National Community Development Trust

The Province of Nova Scotia is calling for proposals for the National Community Development Trust to aid vulnerable communities experiencing difficulties due to the impacts of globalization, the economic slowdown in the United States and the rapid appreciation in the Canadian dollar. $34.9 million is available to Nova Scotian communities over the next three years. Funding applications will be accepted until March 2011. For more information, visit Community Development Trust Fund in Nova Scotia .

Environment Canada's Environmental Damages Fund (EDF)

This program helps ensure polluters take responsibility for their actions by giving courts a way to guarantee that the money from pollution penalties and settlements is directly invested to repair the actual harm done by the pollution. Groups who receive funding must carry out their projects in a technically feasible, scientifically-sound and cost-effective way. Municipalities are eligible to apply for funding projects that restore natural resources, preferably in the same area where the pollution occurred. There are 3 deadlines per year: March 31st, August 31st and November 30th. For more information, call 1 800 663-5755 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit Environment canada's Environmental Damages Fund .