COMMUNITY-WIDE RETROFIT

Why Retrofits?

Image of Vancouver Special (Credit:: Vancouver Heritage Foundation)

Retrofits are enhancements and changes to existing buildings to make them more comfortable and energy efficient. Because most buildings starting today will be around in 50 years, increasing their efficiency is a crucial step to low-carbon resilience, lower energy bills, and meeting community GHG reduction targets.

Retrofit Scenarios:

• Scenarios of retrofit potential

Start the journey

Energy Demand Map:

• Exploring existing energy demand of a community or neighbourhood

Renewable Map and Examples:

• Estimating renewable energy potentials of a community

• Existing examples on retrofit projects

Even better maps

Tools, and Resources:

• Tools that can assist in the work

• Resources to support your work

These are amazing

See retrofit scenarios modelled in various cities across BC

As existing buildings continue to get older, building upgrades are an important consideration, especially with the changing climate that will increase summer heat waves. A lot of energy can be saved by bringing existing buildings up to new, more efficient standards, reducing long-term costs of energy use and the need to install air-conditioning for heating and cooling. Many individuals need to retrofit within a neighbourhood if a community is to reach addressing climate change.

Modelled scenarios to understand retrofits potential

RETROFITTING SUBURBIA WEST VANCOUVER, BC

RETROFIT CHALLENGE DELTA, BC

Existing retrofit projects

THERMAL IMAGING VANCOUVER, BC

COMMUNITY RETROFIT EAGLE ISLAND, BC

Visualize energy use for buildings

All of our buildings use energy, usually in the form of electricity and natural gas. Homes use different amounts of energy and have different energy costs. The energy demand map is useful to estimate which houses and neighbourhood use a lot of energy, based on house size, building age, and renovation date. Some homes may be very expensive to run and are therefore good candidates for retrofit.

cee-thumbnail — Energy Demand Map (Credit: Rory Tooke, PhD)

Energy potential calculation of a particular site

Other types of renewable energy layers

Existing energy demand of a particular site

Visualize renewable energy potential for deep retrofits of buildings

To reduce the carbon footprint of buildings, there are various low-carbon options for switching to renewable energy sources. The decision to diversify energy options and localize energy are key to more resilient buildings and neighbourhoods. Some common energy retrofits for homeowners include air-source heat pumps, solar, and geoexchange. Explore using the renewable maps to see the potential renewable availability of energy sources in each neighbourhood.

cee-thumbnail — Renewable Energy Map of Metro Vancouver (Credit: Rory Tooke, PhD)

Energy potential calculation of a particular site

Other types of renewable energy layers

Find tools and resources to help get you started in your community

Beginning a retrofit may not sound easy for homeowners. So after reviewing some of the information on on retrofit ideas for your home, have a conversation with your neighbours to share information and ideas. They may be in a similar situation. There are benefits to retrofit as a community over individually, where opportunities can include ideas like planting urban trees to provide heating and cooling, and connecting to a district energy system to share and reduce energy costs. These tools can assist in gaining access to resources and guiding your retrofit journey.

Tools that can assist your work

CITIZEN COOLKIT

INCENTIVE PROGRAMS

BC REBATE PROGRAMS

Resources to support your work

- Natural Resouce Canada Energy Guide

- BC Hydro Home Renovation Rebates

- Fortis BC Home Renovation

- City of Vancouver Incentives and Rebates

- Energy Save New West

- New Westminster Urban Forestry Management Strategy