Impact Investing
We invest in projects and enterprises that will directly reduce urban emissions in Calgary and Edmonton with the potential to scale across the economy.
We’re investing in the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Through our Climate Innovation Fund, we identify, invest in, and scale up solutions by supporting projects, organizations, and enterprises that align with Calgary and Edmonton's climate action plans.
What is Impact Investing?
It expands investment goals beyond earning financial returns, often including achieving positive social or environmental impacts.
Why do we do it?
The principal amount of our Climate Innovation Fund must be preserved. Instead of only keeping it in mutual funds, we use Impact Investing to earn revenue while tackling climate issues. This way, we can multiply our contribution to fighting climate change.
What are our priorities?
Investments and financing provided by the Climate Innovation Fund focus on three key areas:
Building Better & Retrofitting Wiser: The development of high-performance buildings in new construction and deep energy retrofits of existing building stock
Moving on Mobility: Facilitating the shift to active transportation as well as low-carbon or low-emissions vehicles
Decarbonization & Renewable Energy: Decarbonizing fuel sources and materials, new technologies for urban scale emissions reductions, machine learning and AI for energy management systems, and renewable energy
We invest a minimum of $100,000 directly in companies and projects in the buildings, transportation, and utility sectors that match our following requirements, up to a maximum of $1,000,000.
Our Investments
Kite Mobility
$250,000 invested in August 2023. Kite’s unique model offers electric vehicles, including electric cars, e-bikes and e-scooters for rent or monthly subscription within a centralized sharing platform located directly in multi-family buildings and available for the exclusive use of the building occupants. Expected GHG reduction over 20 years: Edmonton: 33,000 tCO2e Calgary: 59,000 tCO2e
Bluewaterhouse Capital
$500,000 invested in December 2023. A developer in the multi-family building market in Southern Ontario. Their focus on older, often neglected buildings creates the opportunity for significant value-add. Their renovations include energy efficiency through envelope improvements and they are leaders in electrification using heat pumps. Expected GHG reduction over 20 years: Edmonton: 91,000 tCO2e Calgary: 100,000 tCO2e
Astra Group
$900,000 invested in February 2024. A Calgary developer specializing in repurposing existing underutilized office buildings into residential units. The investment property is Place 800, a 17-story office building spanning 205,000 square feet in downtown Calgary. It will be converted into a dynamic mixed-use facility with residential rental units ready for occupancy by 2025. Expected GHG reduction over 20 years: Edmonton: 22,000 tCO2e Calgary: 100,000 tCO2e
QEA Tech
$500,000 in June 2024. QEA Tech uses drones and AI to perform building envelope audits, helping owners identify energy loss and structural issues. Their solution enhances energy efficiency, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and lowers operational costs. This investment will allow them to scale operations and improve technology. Expected GHG reduction over 20 years: Edmonton: 195,041 tCO2e Calgary: 787,093 tCO2e
Are we a match?
Financing Structures
We’ll work with you to design a structure to meet your needs, and we will invest via debt or equity instruments, or other flexible or hybrid financing solutions, so you can focus on being innovative.
Contact our investment team
About the Climate Innovation Fund
This program is possible with funding from Alberta Ecotrust's Climate Innovation Fund. The Climate Innovation Fund targets the major urban greenhouse gas emissions sources in Calgary and Edmonton.