Eligible Improvement Specifications

Product and equipment requirements for each CEIP improvement category

What Products and Equipment Are Needed

DRC administers CEIP financing for several categories of eligible improvements across all property types in Alberta. Each category requires specific products, equipment, and materials that meet defined performance standards.

As a registered supplier, your products and services are matched to active CEIP projects through the DRC contractor network. The specifications below outline the types of products and performance criteria relevant to each category.

Building Envelope

Upgrades to doors, windows, insulation, and air sealing that improve the thermal performance and airtightness of the building shell.

Products and Equipment Needed

  • Spray foam and rigid insulation products
  • Air barrier membranes and tapes
  • High-performance windows and glazing systems
  • Weather-resistant barrier (WRB) systems
  • Thermal break products and assemblies
  • Continuous insulation systems

Specification Notes

Products must meet or exceed National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings (NECB) requirements. R-values, U-factors, and air leakage rates will be validated against project energy models.

Mechanical Systems

High-efficiency heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and water heating equipment that reduces energy consumption.

Products and Equipment Needed

  • Condensing furnaces and boilers (95%+ AFUE)
  • Air-source and ground-source heat pumps
  • Energy recovery ventilators (ERV) and heat recovery ventilators (HRV)
  • Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems
  • High-efficiency rooftop units
  • Hydronic heating and cooling systems

Specification Notes

Equipment must be rated by AHRI, ENERGY STAR, or equivalent certification body. COP, SEER, and HSPF ratings will be verified against manufacturer specifications.

Lighting

LED retrofits and lighting controls that reduce electricity consumption while maintaining or improving light quality.

Products and Equipment Needed

  • Commercial LED fixtures and retrofits
  • Occupancy and daylight sensors
  • Lighting control panels and networked systems
  • High-bay and low-bay LED replacements
  • Exterior and parking lot LED systems
  • Emergency and exit lighting upgrades

Specification Notes

Lighting products must meet DLC (DesignLights Consortium) or ENERGY STAR certification. Lumens per watt, colour temperature, and CRI must be documented.

Solar and Renewable Energy

On-site renewable energy generation systems including solar photovoltaic arrays, solar thermal collectors, and other renewable technologies.

Products and Equipment Needed

  • Monocrystalline and polycrystalline PV modules
  • String and micro-inverters
  • Solar racking and mounting systems
  • Solar thermal collectors and storage
  • Small wind turbine generators
  • Grid-tie and hybrid inverter systems

Specification Notes

PV modules must be UL/CSA certified with published efficiency ratings. Inverters must comply with CSA C22.2 and IEEE 1547. Systems must meet Alberta micro-generation regulations.

Energy Management

Building automation and control systems that optimize energy use through monitoring, scheduling, and load management.

Products and Equipment Needed

  • Building automation system (BAS) controllers
  • Smart thermostats and zone controls
  • Electrical sub-metering and monitoring platforms
  • Demand response and load management systems
  • Battery energy storage systems (BESS)
  • Power factor correction equipment

Specification Notes

Systems must support open protocols (BACnet, Modbus, or equivalent) for integration. Energy monitoring must provide granular data for post-project verification.

Motors and Drives

Variable frequency drives and high-efficiency motors that reduce electricity consumption in commercial and industrial applications.

Products and Equipment Needed

  • Variable frequency drives (VFDs)
  • High-efficiency electric motors (IE3/IE4)
  • Motor starters and soft-start controllers

Specification Notes

Motors must meet or exceed CSA C390 premium efficiency levels. VFDs must be compatible with existing motor systems and include harmonic mitigation where required.

Commercial Kitchen

Energy-efficient commercial kitchen ventilation and equipment upgrades that reduce energy consumption in food service operations.

Products and Equipment Needed

  • Demand control kitchen ventilation (DCKV) systems
  • Temperature and vapour sensors for exhaust hoods
  • Variable speed exhaust fan controllers

Specification Notes

DCKV equipment must be installed in a dedicated commercial kitchen with an exhaust hood or rooftop unit. Equipment must demonstrate energy reduction compared to constant-volume ventilation.

Quality and Certification Standards

All products supplied for CEIP projects must meet applicable Canadian standards and carry appropriate certifications. DRC verifies product performance as part of the post-project energy audit process.

Key certification bodies include ENERGY STAR, DesignLights Consortium (DLC), AHRI, CSA, UL, and WaterSense. Products carrying these certifications receive streamlined approval within the DRC qualification process.

Suppliers are expected to provide technical data sheets, warranty documentation, and performance specifications for all products used in CEIP-financed projects.

Supply Products for CEIP Projects

Register as a DRC Approved Supplier to connect your products and services with funded energy improvement projects across Alberta.

Register as a Supplier