All of the Yukon’s eight municipalities have signed agreements to participate in delivering the Government of Yukon’s Better Buildings program. This means all Yukon residential and commercial property owners throughout the Yukon can access low-interest funding to make energy-efficiency retrofits to their homes and businesses.
The Better Buildings program provides up to $50,000 for residential and $100,000 for commercial buildings for upgrades that reduce annual energy consumption. Eligible participants repay through local improvement charges added to their annual property taxes.
Since the program’s launch in October 2022, 30 homeowners from Whitehorse, Faro, Haines Junction and Dawson City have applied to the Better Buildings program along with five commercial building owners.
Supporting Yukoners in make energy efficient retrofits to buildings and homes is a commitment under Our Clean Future: A Yukon strategy for climate change, energy and a green economy.
We thank all eight municipalities for signing onto the Better Buildings program and opening the door for the Better Buildings program in their communities. We are grateful to the Association of Yukon Communities and their municipal representatives for their support and helping improve the program design. Now, all eligible Yukon property owners who otherwise could not afford an energy retrofit improvement can use this low-interest rate program to make energy retrofits to their homes and buildings.
Minister of Community Services Richard Mostyn
Yukoners are keen to reduce their carbon footprint and protect the environment. With all of the Yukon’s communities delivering the Better Buildings program, we are making it easier for all home and building owners throughout the Yukon to access low-interest funding for completing energy efficient retrofits and reducing their energy use. The Better Buildings program, combined with our Good Energy rebates, makes retrofits achievable, saves Yukoners money and reduces our collective greenhouse gas emissions.
Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources John Streicker
Climate change has demonstrably become one of the defining hurdles of our time; addressing and adapting to these climate challenges has shown itself to require partnership and the cooperation at all levels of government to succeed in meeting our collective, established goals. The Municipalities of Yukon Territory endorse the opportunity to partner with the Government of Yukon on tackling this multifaceted issue. We are looking forward to a collaboration of future success with the government and in improving the lives of Yukon citizens.
Association of Yukon Communities President Ted Laking
Haines Junction, Whitehorse, Watson Lake, Faro, Mayo, Dawson City, Teslin and Carmacks have signed agreements with the Government of Yukon to participate in delivering the Better Buildings program.
Similar to the Rural Electrification and Telecommunications and Domestic Water Well programs, the Better Buildings program provides up to 25 per cent of the property’s assessed value to a maximum of $50,000 for residential and $100,000 for commercial buildings.
Funding under the Better Buildings program is provided at the Bank of Canada interest rate and approved applicants pay a one-time $500 administration fee.
The municipalities levy and collect the local improvement tax along with property taxes and remit them to the Government of Yukon.
Property owners can also qualify for Good Energy rebates when implementing energy-efficient upgrades.
Renée Francoeur
Cabinet Communications
867-334-9194
renee.francoeur@yukon.ca
Bonnie Venton Ross
Communications, Community Services
867-332-5513
bonnie.ventonross@yukon.ca
Brigitte Parker
Communications, Energy, Mines and Resources
867-667-3183
brigitte.parker@yukon.ca