New Retrofit Program Set to Accelerate Sustainable Buildings in Alberta

October 10, 2024

The Pembina Institute is pleased to announce its collaboration with the Alberta Ecotrust Retrofit Accelerator, a new retrofit program designed to bring affordable, energy-efficient solutions to support Alberta’s building owners and managers of multi-unit residential and commercial buildings, as well as municipalities, universities, schools and hospitals.

In collaboration with industry experts, practitioners, owners, tenants, utilities and governments, Pembina will undertake research and capacity building to support the decarbonization and adaptation needed to ready Alberta’s building stock for climate resiliency.

Alberta’s housing sector is at a critical crossroads with rising energy costs, increasing extreme weather events and aging infrastructure, owners and tenants are facing increasing pressures. Alberta’s experienced construction industry uniquely positions it to lead the nation in energy-efficient retrofits, cutting costs for owners and renters while making homes healthier, safer, and resilient.

In addition to research and capacity building, the Alberta Ecotrust Retrofit Accelerator program will deliver practical, hands-on support through concierge services that include energy coaching, development plans tailored to individual building requirements, supports for energy assessments, and guidance along the retrofit process. These service offerings will be matched with supply focused programs including public discovery sessions provided through the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, and a trade ally network hosted by Alberta Energy Efficiency Alliance. This work is funded by Natural Resources Canada under the Deep Retrofit Accelerator Initiative.

Deep retrofits go beyond standard upgrades and take a whole-building approach to optimizing a building to reduce its emissions, energy consumption, and operating costs. The majority of Alberta’s apartments and condos are more than 20 years old and we have a once-in a-generation opportunity to improve health, safety and resilience against worsening extreme weather events while ensuring heating and cooling is affordable.

Visit the program website for up-to-date information and to get in touch with a coach.

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