We’re excited to announce that EnviroCentre has received $2 million in funding from Natural Resources Canada’s new Green Neighbourhoods Pilot Project (GNPP) and the Toward Net-Zero (TNZ) Homes and Communities program.
This significant investment will accelerate the adoption of deep energy retrofits in social housing across eastern Ontario, making homes more energy-efficient, increasing household savings, and reducing emissions.
Yesterday, we hosted the official launch of Natural Resources Canada’s Green Neighbourhoods Pilot Project at Gloucester’s Carver Place neighbourhood, where EnviroCentre is already hard at work on deep energy retrofits. We are proud to be part of an initiative that will transform homes in underserved communities across Canada.
The Retrofit Accelerator project, a cornerstone of our efforts, will play a key role in advancing deep energy retrofits at scale.
Julie Dabrusin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Photo credit: Vita Sgardello/EnviroCentre
Tackling Climate Change, One Retrofit at a Time
Across Canada, seven projects are currently underway, all supported by a $4.3 million federal investment through the GNPP and the Energy Innovation Program (EIP). These projects are focused on enhancing the energy efficiency of our housing stock while cutting down on emissions and household energy costs.
At EnviroCentre, our goal for the GNPP is ambitious but essential: we’re working to reduce energy use in social housing by 50% and greenhouse gas emissions by 80%, all while keeping retrofit costs under $30,000 per unit. By setting these high targets, we aim to show that significant energy savings and emissions reductions can be achieved—without displacing tenants. This initiative is about more than buildings; it’s about improving lives and fostering a healthier, greener future for everyone.
Tim Tierney, Councillor, Ward 11 Beacon Hill-Cyrville, Julie Dabrusin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Mona Fortier, Member of Parliament for Ottawa–Vanier, and the 1Click Team of heat-pump installers. Photo credit: Vita Sgardello/EnviroCentre
The Road Ahead for Eastern Ontario
Our commitment to affordability and tenant well-being is at the core of this project. Over the next two years, our Retrofit Accelerator program through the GNPP will deliver retrofits to 1,050 homes in eastern Ontario. These efforts will not only improve energy efficiency but also enhance the quality of life for residents, ensuring that our communities become more resilient and sustainable.
Gloucester’s Carver Place neighbourhood, where EnviroCentre is coordinating deep energy retrofits to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy bills. Photo credit: Vita Sgardello/EnviroCentre.
Canada’s Retrofit Revolution is Just Beginning
Canada’s buildings sector is the third-largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and with more than two-thirds of the buildings that will be standing in 2050 already built, it’s clear that we need to act now. Retrofitting our homes and buildings is one of the most effective ways to cut emissions and lower energy costs for households.
“Retrofitting buildings in Canada provides us with the opportunity to make communities more resilient to climate-related impacts while reducing emissions and utility bills for households, increasing energy efficiency, and creating good-paying jobs in construction and maintenance,” said The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.
We’re grateful to our project contributor, Natural Resources Canada. We’d also like to thank our project partners—Green Communities Canada, GreenUP, Ottawa Climate Action Fund, Pepelea Consulting, JL Richards, and SOFIAC—for their continued support and expertise.
Funders for the Toward Net Zero project at Gloucester Housing include Natural Resources Canada, EnviroCentre, Gloucester Housing Corporation, and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Project contributors include Enbridge and the Independent Electricity System Operator. We’re also proud to work with project partners like the City of Ottawa, 1-Click, McGill University, Carleton University, and Great Northern Insulation.