The Federation of Canadian Municipalities has created the Sustainable Communities: Municipal Building Retrofit Guide (the MBR Guide) as a one stop resource for the municipal sector. Its purpose is to consolidate into one working document the templates, guides, and reference materials required to build a business case for a comprehensive retrofit program for your municipality.

How to navigate this section
Each section of the guide has been posted under a topic folder. Within the topic folder you will find all the documents related to that section. Feel free to download the PDF file or print each section to create your own binder. Several sections are composed of more than one file.

Organization of Guide
The guide is organized into eight sections, along with an Introduction, Resource Manual and Appendix, and accompanying guides to training, communications and community-wide retrofit programs. Each section corresponds to one step in FCM’s recommended eight-step process. This process is outlined in Section 1, Overview and Enrolment.

Each section is organized into three parts:

Introduction: describes the purpose of that step in the process as well as partners, information requirements, action items, templates, and next steps

Guide: describes the information required for each template, outlines alternatives, and makes suggestions based on other municipal examples

Template: provides an adaptable sample report or plan: the output that will be required to move the retrofit program forward to the next step

Additional Materials:

Resource Manual : This reference section provides detailed information to support the decisions that are required throughout the building retrofit process. The Resource Manual contains information on topics ranging from financing alternatives and data collection to renewable energy, measurement and verification, and community-wide retrofits. In addition to this, several model documents have been prepared specifically for municipalities. Material in the Resource Manual is referenced throughout each of the Guide’s sections.

Training Manual : The training guide provides information on FCM workshops designed specifically for municipalities, as well as other energy-related training opportunities available for municipal staff.

Communications Manual : The Communications Manual provides the rationale and tips for implementing an effective communications strategy. A Manager’s Guide to Creating Awareness on Energy Efficiency (the French version, Trousse D’Efficacite Energetique Pour Le Milieu Municipal, can be obtained from the Quebec Agence de L’Efficacite Energetique) outlines various methods for communicating the success of your own building retrofit program to municipal staff and members of your community. Techniques such as explanatory signage, feedback about results, recognition for achievements, and promoting financial incentives are provided, with accompanying templates, logos, and model documents. This manual can be obtained from FCM or Natural Resources Canada’s Efficiency and Alternative Energy Program.

Case Studies : The Case Studies section presents a series of municipal building retrofit case studies, as referenced throughout the MBR Guide. The case studies highlight some of the issues and barriers municipal governments need to address when retrofitting facilities.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Section 1 - Overview and Enrolment Guide and Templates

Section 2 - Green Leaf™ Assessment Guide and Templates

Section 3 - Post Assessment Review Guide and Templates

Section 4 - Action Plan Guide and Templates

Section 5 - Project Proposal Guide and Templates

Section 6 - Feasibility Study Guide and Templates

Section 7 - Project Implementation Guide and Templates

Section 8 - Monitoring and Verification Guide and Templates

MBR Resource Manual

MBR Training Manual

MBR Communications Manual

MBR Case Studies