Start Smart Performance Path - New Commercial Buildings Incentive Program provides financial incentives of up to $60,000 to offset the costs associated with designing sustainable high efficiency buildings based on estimated annual energy savings.
The building must be modeled in reference to the Model National Energy Code for Buildings – 1997 (MNECB) to determine the estimated annual energy cost avoidance, and have achieved a performance of 30% or better than the minimum requirements.
The Start Smart Performance Path is best suited for buildings with a total floor area greater than 4646 m² (50,000ft²) and buildings that are being modelled as part of another program such as LEED®
How the Program Works
Available Funding
Up to two times the estimated annual energy savings to a maximum of $60,000 per eligible building.
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Conditions
Designs must meet or exceed the MNECB by 30% or more. All computer model simulations must be submitted and validated by NRCan through New Building Validation.
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Eligible Buildings
All new commercial buildings constructed in the province of New Brunswick are eligible provided that they follow the program steps. The Performance Path is best suited for buildings with a total floor area greater than 4646 m2 (50,000 ft2)
Some examples of eligible buildings are:
- Retail buildings
- Warehouses
- Hotels
- Restaurants
- Office buildings
- Grocery stores
- Institutional buildings (schools, colleges, universities)
- Large multi-unit residential buildings (footprint greater than 6,456 square feet or 600 square metres)
- Recreational facilities
- Small and medium-sized manufacturers
- Others
Will my building achieve 30% better than MNECB (1997)?
A Screening Tool for New Building Design is available at http://screen.nrcan.gc.ca/. This tool allows you to quickly estimate the energy performance of a proposed building design relative to the Model National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings (MNECB) and the rules established by NRCan New Buildings Validation. By conducting the preliminary screening, you can assess the impact of a single measure or a combination of measures to maximize the energy efficiency of your design. This is a great feasibility tool in order to decide whether a project will achieve 30% better or more than MNECB with an EE4 design simulation, thus reassuring your entrance into the Start Smart Performance Path program.
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Program & Time Frame
The current Program is available to all qualifying new Small and Medium Commercial buildings on a first-come, first-served basis. More specifically, requests for participation in the Program will be considered as they are received, and approval and payment of qualified incentive funds will occur on a first-come, first-served basis.
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Program Contribution Agreement
The Program Contribution Agreement is a binding document, to be entered into by both Efficiency NB and the Participant that is structured to facilitate the design and construction of small and medium commercial sustainable buildings.
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Performance Path and LEED®
Start Smart Performance path modelling corresponds very well with LEED® Canada NC. A building will meet the LEED® Energy and Atmosphere prerequisite 2 requirement of a 25% reduction relative to the energy consumption of the reference building designed to the Model National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings (MNECB) 1997 simply by following the Start Smart Performance path.
Since Start Smart Performance Path requires that your building achieves a 30% reduction relative to the consumption of the reference building designed to MNECB, your building could achieve additional LEED® points for Energy and Atmosphere Credit 1: Optimize Energy Performance. This credit offers points for reductions in design energy costs relative to the MNECB reference building. Additional points are awarded as energy cost savings increase.
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Get Started!
For program details, please contact Efficiency New Brunswick at 1-866-643-8833.
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