CEA’s Retrofit Assist’s expert support puts sustainability within easy reach, because the home of the future could well be the one you’re living in right now

For many communities in Canada, there are two main sources of local greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions: transportation and buildings. New residential and commercial buildings can be built to new standards that greatly reduce the emissions associated with heating and cooling. But what about the buildings that already exist? It’s estimated that 70% of the buildings that will be around in 2050 already exist today. How can we reduce the emissions associated with those buildings, and improve their comfort and durability in the process?

The Community Energy Association (CEA) responded to this challenge by creating a program specifically designed to help homeowners navigate the sometimes-confusing process of home energy retrofits. Retrofit Assist provides clear, personalized guidance and accessible information while streamlining access to rebate programs, Certified Energy Advisors, and contractors. CEA’s Retrofit Assist staff also offer comprehensive support throughout the retrofit process to empower homeowners in making effective home energy improvements.

The results speak for themselves: since the program launched in 2022 in three BC communities – Squamish, Whistler, and Rossland – nearly 300 homeowners have participated in the program and those who have gone through the retrofit process to completion report average energy savings of nearly 30%. This is considerably higher than the national average of 22% energy savings as a result of a home energy retrofit.

A key component of Retrofit Assist is the relationship with local energy advisors who understand the local context and can explain what homes might need to become more comfortable and energy efficient. This builds homeowner knowledge of what their retrofit journey might look like so they can prioritize upgrades based on costs, timelines, and rebates. As one Retrofit Assist participant noted, “We feel much more confident and comfortable moving forward. As a result, we are also going to do other home energy efficiency projects that we may not have undertaken as we didn’t know how best to move forward. This is a fantastic service!”

CEA’s experience with Retrofit Assist proves that personal support, through a concierge-style program, works. Many homeowners have the will to retrofit their homes to lower their energy bills, reduce their GHG emissions, and increase the comfort of their home, but it can be difficult to know what to do, how much it will cost, what rebates would be available, and who would do the work. CEA designed Retrofit Assist to make this pathway easier, faster, and more impactful. It addresses three main barriers to deep energy retrofits: knowledge of technical options and funding, access to skilled tradespeople and contractors, and access to certified energy advisors. This solution didn’t happen overnight. The idea of a single point of expertise and contact emerged after a decade of pilot programs and through extensive research aimed at understanding the barriers and constraints that preclude action to drive down energy and emissions in homes. Funding from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) provided CEA with the critical resources to develop a detailed pilot program, which became Retrofit Assist.

For all of the benefits to homeowners, contractors, and energy advisors, Retrofit Assist also benefits the local governments partnering with CEA to deliver the program. It enhances their internal capacity, advances progress on their local GHG reduction targets, and bolsters economic opportunities for local companies. Collaboration with local governments is in CEA’s DNA and has been part of the organization’s ethos since it first emerged as a committee established by the Government of BC and the Union of BC Municipalities in the mid-1990s. CEA was incorporated as a non-profit in 2003 and registered as a charitable organization the year after.

Now more than two years old, Retrofit Assist is a proven solution and no longer a pilot. More communities are interested in the Retrofit Assist program and CEA is working with other organizations to expand the services available to homeowners. Certainly, Retrofit Assist is symbolic of an awareness that’s building around local climate action and the role of individual leadership. Could it be that the climate-friendly home of the future is the one you’re living in right now? CEA would answer that question with an emphatic “Yes!”