Accelerating to net-zero

EnviroCentre Retrofit Accelerator

EnviroCentre’s Retrofit Accelerator supports eastern Ontario residents to bring their homes into the future of low-carbon energy efficiency. The Accelerator supports the path to net-zero through four project streams:

A home roof with solar panels on it.

EnviroCentre specializes in supporting low-income, social, and affordable housing to improve housing stock and lives through deep energy retrofits.

This Year…

Our retrofit team is bringing to life a mass retrofit at Gloucester Housing in Ottawa. We are using a standardized retrofit design and an innovative collaborative trades consortium delivery approach to deep retrofit 110 townhouse units.

We are ensuring our learnings can be shared across the country through detailed project outcome monitoring and on-site training with early stage or apprentice trades. This project is coming to life in partnership with ReConstruct (McGill University), CABER (Carleton University), Algonquin College, and Gloucester Housing Corporation.

This work is supported in part by the Government of Canada and the Ottawa Climate Action Fund.

Commercial Accelerator

Are you a commercial building owner with residential units for low and medium-income residents? Deep energy retrofits can upgrade your units, reduce costs and improve the comfort and health of your tenants.

A row of houses.

Home Retrofit Planner Service

If you are a private homeowner or landlord of small residential properties, this is the service for you. EnviroCentre’s Home Retrofit Planner service will accompany you through the planning process for your energy efficiency retrofit. From planning to completion, we’ll ensure you achieve the best possible outcomes from your home retrofit.

About the project

What is a deep home energy retrofit?

A deep retrofit is an energy retrofit that results in energy savings of 50% or more. Homes that have been deep retrofitted not only enhance living comfort but also create substantial cost efficiencies in operational expenses. These retrofits make a significant contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

To tackle the worst effects of climate change on our city, most of our current buildings need to undergo deep energy retrofits. In Ottawa alone, 98% of homes need to undergo deep energy retrofits by 2040. That’s about 26,000 homes every year starting in 2024. This is a big job that will require businesses, organizations, and residents to work together to find innovative solutions.

We can help

Demonstration Projects

The EnviroCentre Retrofit Accelerator has supported local residents to deep retrofit their homes right here in town. Through retrofit planning services, our Stepped Recommendation Report, and customized Energy Coach services, these homeowners have dramatically reduced their energy consumption and emissions and are sharing their stories.

Read more

Stepped Recommendation Report

How does a homeowner know what steps to take and when in order to move their home to net-zero energy?  What if the project is too large or expensive to take on today, and they want to break their retrofit down into smaller steps? Where do they start?

EnviroCentre developed the Stepped Recommendations Report to answer these questions.  Participants of the Home Retrofit Planner service receive an easy-to-understand report with Good, Better, and Best retrofit recommendations that show what is possible for your home, what to do first, and how to plan for future projects.

Efficient homes

The future is filled with better homes for everyone.

Homes that are efficient, comfortable, resilient and zero-emissions.

EnviroCentre’s Eastern Ontario Retrofit Accelerator project is working to make this future vision possible for residents, trades, and everyone who lives and does business in our region.

More resources for you

More resources for you

Home Energy Retrofits

Learn more about energy efficiency at home, and how to navigate the many rebates and financing opportunities available.

Information Sheet

Share everything you need to know about the Home Retrofit Accelerator with this handy two-page information sheet.