$11 Billion in Energy Incentives: Are Developers Missing the Opportunity? ft. Jayden Haywood Ep. 25

“A major mistake right now is that a lot of money gets left on the table when developers don’t think about rebates and incentives early enough.”

In this episode of the BLD Financial Podcast, we’re joined again by Jayden Haywood, founder of PL Energy, an engineering firm specializing in energy modeling, CMHC MLI Select compliance, and helping developers unlock energy rebates and incentives across Canada.

 This episode covers CMHC MLI Select, energy efficiency incentives, real estate development strategy, and how Canadian developers can leverage government rebates to improve project economics.

With nearly two decades in the energy and building science space and experience working with everyone from small multiplex developers to Canada’s largest high-rise builders Jayden explains how energy efficiency, CMHC financing, and government incentive programs are increasingly shaping the economics of real estate development.

While many developers assume that “building green” automatically means higher costs, Jayden explains why that isn’t always true and how rebates, automation, and smarter building systems can dramatically offset construction costs. 

We break down:

✅ How developers are securing 30–40% rebates on major mechanical systems
✅ Why millions in energy incentives are being left on the table by developers
✅ Ontario’s aggressive push toward energy efficiency and $11B in incentive programs
✅ Why energy modeling and rebate planning must start before architectural drawings are finalized
✅ The upcoming CMHC changes requiring buildings to reach 60–70% above national building code
✅ How smart automation, building controls, and AI-driven systems are becoming the “silver bullet” for energy performance
✅ Why building green may actually reduce costs when incentives are properly structured

As construction costs rise and policy changes continue to reshape the development landscape, understanding how to integrate energy efficiency, incentives, and smarter building design is quickly becoming a competitive advantage.

Whether you’re developing missing middle multiplex projects, scaling multifamily developments, or trying to understand how CMHC programs influence project economics, this conversation provides practical insight into where real estate development is heading in Canada.

Follow & Connect with Jayden Haywood:
Pacific Light & Energy - https://www.pacific-le.com/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@PLEnergyRiverConsulting
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pl_energy/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/river.developments/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayden-haywood-80b96762
River Developments - https://www.riverdevelopments.com/

Follow & Connect with Josh & Ehren:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bldfinancial
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/BLDfinancial
YouTube -  https://www.youtube.com/@bldfinancial

DLC National License: 12360