Edmonton homeowners are invited to apply for the net-zero retrofit program

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The City of Edmonton is looking for local homeowners who want to retrofit their homes to achieve net-zero emissions, offering a free energy audit and connections with newly trained contractors.

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Officials are hoping to sign up 10 to 15 homeowners across the city who are ready to pursue renovations. They’ll be provided with a consultation from a qualified net-zero energy adviser to make a plan for upgrades, but they’ll be responsible for the cost of any construction work.

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For this program, they’re hoping to attract a variety of different homeowners to explore the various challenges posed by houses built at different times, and with different materials.

“They’re really looking for the gamut across the city, because it’s really important to learn the different benefits or challenges with the different types of homes that we have across the city,” Ramirez said.

“Any particular home should be able to get to net zero. It’s just a matter of a difference in that process and the design that’s required.”

Edmonton declared a state of climate emergency in 2019 and released its first-ever carbon budget last year. The current goal is for the city to become carbon neutral by 2050, but the initial carbon budget shows that Edmonton isn’t on track to meet the target.

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Ramirez said cutting greenhouse gas emissions from residential homes is part of the necessary work to achieve carbon neutrality.

“The more interest that we gain from projects like this, that can really demonstrate that getting to net zero is possible … will then hopefully spur on industry, increase local job opportunities, as we get more and more homeowners interested in doing these retrofits. ”

Homeowners looking for more information, or who want to express interest in the renovation program, can email [email protected]. People who want to embark on a renovation get the benefit of a free consultation from an energy adviser, and contractors will work directly from that analysis.

“It is a collaboration,” Ramirez said.

“We’re probably going to have a relationship with the homeowner pre-construction, during and following construction, because CHBA is looking for some data that would come from this work — the efficiency gained, or where the home started.”

Details about how contractors can sign up for the free net-zero building courses are on the City of Edmonton’s Change for Climate website.

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@meksmith