Retrofitting our homes and buildings is a high-return investment for Canadians to enhance occupant health and safety and prepare for severe weather. We develop and advocate for policies that make Canada's homes and buildings—our third-largest source of emissions—healthier, safer, and more affordable to heat and cool.
Buildings
Retrofits play a role not only in reducing building emissions, but preparing our communities for increasingly severe weather
Energy efficiency creates more jobs than any other industry
An average of 9.5 jobs are created for every $1 million invested in a whole-building energy efficiency retrofit. (Data sources: Statistics Canada and Efficiency Canada; see Canada’s Renovation Wave (2021))
Key numbers
90%
of Canadians' time is spent indoors, on average.
80%
of the buildings that will exist in 2050 in Canada are already built.
20%
of households in Canada are experiencing energy poverty, and about half of those are also considered low-income.
Healthy Buildings in a Changing Climate
Our report, Healthy Buildings in a Changing Climate, underscores the urgent need to retrofit existing buildings to protect Canadians' health and safety.
Read the report and watch the highlightsResearch & Analysis
Why focus on buildings?
A practical, common-sense solution
Buildings are a major source of Canada’s emissions. The majority of apartments and condos are more than 20 years old and Canada has a once-in a-generation opportunity to improve health, safety, and resilience against worsening severe weather events while ensuring heating and cooling is affordable.
Many older buildings use inefficient boilers and furnaces to heat homes and there is a growing need for air conditioning throughout the country, increasing emissions and energy costs during an affordability crisis. As concerns about affordability and energy security grow, deep retrofits offer a practical solution that ensures Canadian homes and buildings are safe, healthy, and affordable to heat and cool.
What can a deep retrofit include?
- Modern technologies (like heat pumps)
- Air sealing, filtration, and ventilation
- Insulation and window upgrades
- Smart integration with electricity grids
Why focus on MURBs?
Canada invested in housing through the 1950s and 1960s when low-rise multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) were a popular building form and common throughout the country. Today, they continue to serve families, youth, seniors and low-income households, among other Canadians, because they often have affordable rent and foster community connection. Canada needs to protect this housing from declining both in condition and numbers.
Lower-carbon cement and concrete
Concrete is the foundation of our homes, highways, and hospitals—but its production accounts for 7% of global emissions. Our research shows we have a clear opportunity to lead in sustainable construction while creating local jobs and protecting regional economies through lower-carbon concrete.
Through purchasing policies that boost market confidence, leveraging performance-based targets, and investing in innovation and capacity building to scale up, we can future-proof our communities while protecting local jobs and driving economic growth. Read the latest report and watch the highlights
Spotlights on Buildings
Charging infrastructure in multi-unit buildings
As sales of electric vehicles (EVs) in the province of Alberta continue to grow, the number and location of EV chargers will need to increase accordingly to keep pace. This includes placing charging stations in apartments and condos where many Canadians live.
Reframed Initiative
The Reframed Initiative draws expertise from the construction industry, building owners, policy makers, and the financial sector to chart a path to scaling up deep retrofits. Reframed is an initiative led by the Pembina Institute, Metro Vancouver Housing Corporation, the BC Non-Profit Housing Association, and the City of Vancouver.
Contact our Buildings team
Manager, Buildings
Jessica McIlroy
c: 604-992-6462
e: jessicam@pembina.org
Media Contact
Sarah Snowdon (Eastern Time)
c: 416-838-3423
e: sarahs@pembina.org
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