In this episode of Renewing Homes, I explore the lessons from the CHBA’s Towards Net-Zero Renovation Initiative, a multi-year effort to demonstrate what is possible when building science, planning, and skilled teams come together to tackle residential retrofits.

The initiative brought together builders, energy advisors, designers, and other industry professionals to develop and implement deep energy renovations across existing homes. But the goal was about more than achieving a particular energy target. It was also about understanding the barriers to retrofits and developing a practical roadmap that could help homeowners and industry professionals make better decisions over the life of a home.

We discuss the importance of building science, the challenges of scaling deep retrofits, the role of asset management and long-term planning, and why effective retrofit projects depend on coordinated teams. We also look at how the experience of the initiative could help shift the conversation around energy efficiency and inform the next generation of residential retrofit programs.

• Building science provides an essential foundation for effective deep-energy retrofits.
• A long-term roadmap can help homeowners prioritize retrofit decisions rather than approaching improvements one project at a time.
• Successful retrofits need to consider the home, the occupants, and the long-term management of the asset.
• Workforce capacity, cost, complexity, and homeowner decision-making remain significant barriers to scaling retrofits.
• Coordinated teams bring together the different expertise needed to deliver successful renovation projects.
• Demonstration projects can provide valuable lessons for improving retrofit practice and developing better approaches at scale.
• Reaching net zero is not just a technical challenge—it also requires better planning, communication, and decision-making.

00:00 Introduction to Net Zero Renovations

03:56 The Importance of Building Science

11:36 Goals of the Net Zero Initiative

17:38 Barriers to Retrofits

25:35 Developing the Roadmap to Net Zero

32:05 Shifting the Conversation on Energy Efficiency

37:09 Understanding Asset Management in Home Renovations

43:37 The Role of Teams in Effective Renovation Projects

53:35 Future Directions for Net Zero Renovations

CHBA Net Zero Renovation Program
https://www.chba.ca/about-the-net-zero-renovation-program/

Building Knowledge Canada

https://www.buildingknowledge.ca/

CHBA Advanced Building Science Course https://hub.chba.ca/ap/Events/Register/eZF8XbmsYCWCq