Delegation: Energy Efficiency Solutions for Office, Residential, and Commercial Buildings

We organize this delegation about Energy Efficiency Solutions for Office, Residential, and Commercial Buildings on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) together with our partner Renewables Academy (RENAC AG).

The Renewable Academy (RENAC) AG is a specialized Berlin-based training academy for renewable energies and energy efficiency with a global focus.

RENAC AG was founded in Berlin in 2008 and has since developed into one of the leading providers - internationally - of training and capacity building in the green energy sector. More than 30,000 participants from over 160 countries have taken part in its programs to date. The academy offers tailored educational programs along the entire value chain: from policy frameworks and project financing to planning, design, and installation, as well as operation, maintenance, and grid integration of systems.

The initiative serves as the central springboard for German enterprises in the energy sector looking to grow internationally, providing well-founded expertise, strong networks, and targeted funding programs to create the conditions for sustainable economic success and position climate-friendly energy solutions worldwide.

Canada offers attractive opportunities for German companies focusing on energy efficiency, driven by ambitious climate protection goals and a dynamically growing construction sector. In 2024, the Canadian construction industry recorded a market volume of around 284 billion CAD and is expected to grow to about 350 billion CAD by 2030. At the same time, the building stock – including the associated electricity emissions – accounts for around 18% of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions, making efficiency solutions a key player in climate policy.

The renovation market in Canada is proving to be particularly active: nominal investments in renovations amount to nearly 59 billion CAD between January and August 2024 – an increase of over 10% compared to 52.6 billion CAD in the same period last year – securing hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country. Political support is considerable: under the Canada Green Buildings Strategy, the government is providing a total of nearly 1 billion CAD for funding programs, including 800 million CAD for the Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program for energy-efficient renovations for low- and middle-income households, as well as additional resources for energy labeling and efficiency tools.

The initiatives of the provinces are equally significant: the expanded "Better Homes Energy Savings Program" in British Columbia offers incentives of several thousand CAD per household for energy-efficient upgrades, while Ontario has introduced new programs to reduce energy costs, including the "Home Renovation Savings Program”.

In 2024, Toronto introduced mandatory energy and water reporting for buildings with an area of more than 4,645 m². Starting in 2026, smaller buildings from 929 m² will also be included in this. The city is currently developing binding limitations on emissions and performance standards for buildings, which will be implemented gradually.

The CETA free trade agreement provides German companies with significant competitive advantages; nearly 98% of tariffs between the EU and Canada have been eliminated—particularly for industrial and construction products as well as energy-related technologies. At the same time, Canada’s population is growing, surpassing 40 million inhabitants, driven by an annual immigration of around half a million people with permanent residency status, which further increases the demand for housing and energy-efficient building solutions. Therefore, German technology leaders with expertise in energy efficiency, building technology, and renewable energies are well positioned to benefit from this expanding market. 

This delegation visit supports German companies in the energy efficiency sector to establish valuable business contacts and explore concrete market opportunities in Canada. Through its various modules, the delegation provides participants with a comprehensive market analysis including profiles of key market players, intensive pre-consultation by the CGCIC to identify potential partner companies and customers and carefully organized individual B2B meetings with prospective partners in both Toronto and Vancouver. 

The program includes a business breakfast where participants can pitch their solutions to a selected Canadian audience and engage in moderated dialogue, as well as networking events featuring presentations by Canadian experts and pitching sessions before potential business partners and industry representatives. Company site visits to relevant energy efficiency projects in office, residential, and commercial buildings provide firsthand insight into Canadian market conditions and help identify collaboration opportunities. Throughout the week-long program, participants benefit from the expertise of the CGCIC, which continues to serve as a long-term partner beyond the delegation, supporting companies in their ongoing market development efforts in Canada.

This initiative is part of the "Export Initiative Energy" funding program and specifically targets the remarkable opportunities in the field of energy-efficient building technologies – including insulating windows and doors, modern lighting, ventilation systems, heating and cooling technology, measuring and control systems, digital energy management solutions, and innovative insulating materials – in which German companies are considered global leaders.