News release

Funding Helps Municipalities Reduce Emissions, Improve Air Quality

Environment (April 2008 - Feb. 2021)

NOTE: A list of projects receiving funding follows this release.


Four municipalities and a community arts centre will help fight climate change and improve air quality with more than $448,000 in provincial funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

The funding, from the ecoNova Scotia Fund for Clean Air and Climate Change, was announced today, June 24, in the Municipality of the County of Annapolis by Environment Minister Sterling Belliveau.

"Government is showing genuine leadership that is on the side of municipalities so that, together, we are making our environment healthier and our economy stronger," said Mr. Belliveau. "Each of these municipalities is making great strides toward a cleaner Nova Scotia for future generations."

The Municipality of the County of Annapolis is receiving more than $195,000 to install energy management control systems, energy efficient lighting, and insulation in up to 11 buildings.

"We have completed energy audits on all of our facilities. With the use of EcoNS funding, we will be investing in changes that will reduce our energy consumption," said Peter Newton warden of the Municipality of the County of Annapolis. "As we reduce our consumption to a sustainable level, we will look at alternate energy sources in order to reduce our dependence on external energy. This will reduce the impact of rising energy costs and enable us to have secure energy supply."

The Municipality of the District of Argyle is receiving more than $58,000 in ecoNova Scotia funding for two projects: a heat recovery system that will extract energy from wastewater which can be used to heat two new buildings at the wastewater treatment plant; and upgrades to the administration building, including insulation, energy efficient lighting, and an energy management control system.

The ecoNova Scotia Fund is also contributing more than $144,000 to the Town of Berwick to add energy efficiencies to its town hall. Insulation, window awnings, a solar wall and an energy efficient heating system will be installed.

Other projects in the Valley region are receiving amounts ranging from $23,000 to about $28,000 for energy efficiency upgrades and renewable energy projects. Projects include the installation of outdoor solar showers and a solar hot water system at the Ross Creek Centre for the Arts.

Mr. Belliveau said the projects are helping the province meet its commitment to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions to at least 10 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020, as well as significantly reduce air pollutants. He said ecoNova Scotia funding has helped many Nova Scotian businesses and municipalities contribute to meeting that goal.

The projects announced today will reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by 600 tonnes and air pollutants by 1,900 kilograms every year, and help municipalities reduce operating costs. These projects are the equivalent of taking more than 120 cars off the road.

More ecoNova Scotia funding announcements will be made soon. The ecoNova Scotia fund is distributing an original $42.5 million grant from the government of Canada. All funding is fully committed and no new applications are being accepted.


The following is a list of projects and programs receiving funding (total $448,488):

  • Municipality of the County of Annapolis: $195,479 toward installation of energy management control systems, energy efficient lighting, and insulation and weather stripping in up to 11 buildings
  • Municipality of the District of Argyle: $58,038 toward a heat recovery system that will extract energy that can be used to heat two new buildings at the wastewater treatment plant, and upgrades to the administration building, including insulation, weather sealing, lighting and energy management controls system
  • Town of Berwick: $144,043 to help green Town Hall through sealing, insulation, window awnings and lighting controls. The project also includes a solar wall and an energy efficient heating system
  • Town of Bridgetown: $23,120 towards the installation of insulation, energy management controls, lighting and low-flow faucets in the public works building and at town hall
  • Ross Creek Centre for the Arts: $27,808 towards insulation, energy efficient lighting, windows and doors for the farmhouse at the Ross Creek Centre for the Arts. The project also includes the installation of a solar hot water system and outdoor solar showers