Decarbonize Existing Buildings

Where We Live and Work

Support deep energy retrofits and fuel switching Objectives

1. Improve energy efficiency 2. Encourage and enable fuel switching 3. Build industry capacity and increase demand

Overview In 2030, 90% of the all buildings in City of Penticton will be ones that are already standing today. Many buildings use more energy than is necessary. Owners of 20-yearold gas-heated homes can lower their energy bills by as much as 30% through energy efficiency retrofits and reduce about 1.8 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year. Homeowners can pursue various degrees of building energy retrofits—from replacing individual pieces of equipment to comprehensive overhauls of the whole building, known as deep energy retrofits.

Deep energy retrofits involve changes to the entire building, including insulation, windows and doors, and air barrier, as well as ventilation and space and water heating equipment. To ensure emissions reductions as well as energy reductions, the energy retrofit must include fuel switching, from fossil fuel sources to zero-carbon sources such as electricity or 100% renewable gas. Such projects usually rely on the expertise of an energy advisor, who conducts energy modelling and airtightness testing.

City of Penticton has limited jurisdiction over requirements for existing building retrofits but has an opportunity to influence and enable building owners to make investments in the energy efficiency of their buildings.

Looking Forward to 2030 – An Aspirational Target  460 homes (2.7%) each year will undergo deep retrofits (4,100 homes by 2030).  206 fossil fuel-heated homes (2%) each year will convert their fossil-fuel heating and hot water systems to zero emissions, powered by either electricity or renewable gas (1,850 homes by 2030).

Provincial Action

CleanBC Better Homes links homeowners and renovators to rebates and resources, and CleanBC Better Buildings provides funding and capital incentives to encourage energy efficient renovation in larger buildings. The Province is currently working on an Existing Buildings Renewal Strategy, which will enable increased energy efficiency retrofits in the existing building stock.

Federal Action

The Canada Greener Homes Grant provides grants for energy efficiency upgrades and up to $600 for pre- and post-retrofit EnerGuide assessments. The program also supports training Energy Advisors across Canada to meet increasing demand.