The Nova Scotia government is investing $21.9 million to support net-zero construction and the affordable housing sector.

The province announced that it has committed funds to a pair of new programs and two existing ones to help build affordable, green housing.

“To meet our efficiency goals and increase the housing supply, we are building affordable, accessible, comfortable homes for Nova Scotians today and in the future. As we work towards our net-zero targets, we must prepare the building sector,” said John Lohr, minister of municipal affairs and housing.

“These investments will help us build more energy-efficient buildings, increasing the supply of homes for people who need them, and contribute to protecting our environment for generations to come.”

The province is investing about $6.4 million in the new Affordable Rental Construction (ARC) pilot program and 600,000 in the New Home Research Project. The government is also adding approximately $13.5 million to Efficiency One’s Affordable Multi-family Housing program.

Dartmouth, N.S.-based non-profit EfficiencyOne is an electricity-efficiency utility.

The province is also providing an additional $1.5 million to Building to Zero Exchange’s training program.

“This training will empower the building sector to retrofit and construct net-zero buildings, supporting the Province’s goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050,” said the province.

Photo: Communications Nova Scotia