ecoACTION
Using Less - Living Better
Common menu bar links
EQuilibrium™ Communities Initiative
Quick Links
Communities across Canada will benefit from better energy efficiency and improved environmental conditions thanks to the selection of six development projects under the Government of Canada’s EQuilibrium™ Communities Initiative. A national competition was held to select projects that will work to improve community planning and develop healthy sustainable communities that are energy-efficient.
The EQuilibrium™ Communities Initiative will showcase the talents and innovation of Canadian residential developers, planners, designers and municipalities. The EQuilibrium™ Communities Initiative is led jointly and equally funded by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and Natural Resources Canada.
On August 4, 2010, the Government of Canada announced funding under the EQuilibrium™ Communities Initiative, for the Station Pointe neighbourhood development in Edmonton, Alberta, as the first of six selected projects.
To have your name added to a distribution list for new information and results, send an e-mail to equilibrium.communities@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca.
EQuilibrium™ Communities, launched on June 1, 2009, is a three-year, $4.2-million collaborative sustainable community demonstration initiative of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) under the Government of Canada’s ecoACTION initiatives. The EQuilibrium Communities Initiative will continue until 2012.
The EQuilibrium™ Communities Initiative provides financial assistance for technical and promotional activities of selected neighbourhood development projects, which through their planning, design, implementation and operation, will improve current approaches in the areas of energy and water consumption, protection of the natural environment, land-use planning and sustainable transportation. Capital construction costs are not provided through the initiative.
EQuilibrium™ Communities project submissions were chosen through a national competition and evaluated by an external panel of industry experts against the following criteria:
Energy – an energy-efficient community that balances energy supply and use to minimize greenhouse gas emissions.
Land Use and Housing – a compact community with a balanced mix of activities, housing choices and commercial, institutional, recreational and industrial land uses.
Water, Waste Water and Storm Water – a community that will minimize the use and disposal of water and negative impacts on watersheds.
Transportation – a community that reduces fossil-fuel use from personal vehicle travel and provides opportunities for energy-efficient and healthy alternatives.
Natural Environment – a community that protects, enhances and restores the natural environment.
Financial Viability – a marketable community that through its design, operation, integration and financing is economically viable over the long term.
The selection process for the EQuilibrium™ Communities Initiative projects and funding has been completed. Watch this Web site for announcements of projects.
