Deep energy renovations of commercial and multi-unit residential buildings are critical if cities want to tackle their climate emissions on a large scale. Energy renovation could provide up to 55 percent of the Green House Gas (GHG) emissions reductions needed to meet 2030 targets, aligning cities with a 1.5 degrees C trajectory. Recently, federal leaders in both the United States and Canada have announced initiatives that will simultaneously help meet environmental protection targets as well as drive post-pandemic economic recovery.
Presently, renovation rates are 1 to 2 percent of the building stock per year, with an average energy use intensity (EUI) reduction of less than 15 percent; to make a significant impact, EUI reductions should be between 30 to 50 percent1. For these changes to happen, energy codes must add measures to strengthen energy reduction while not raising resultant emissions. Also, policy development around energy retrofits and the adoption of high-performance Net Zero buildings need to be accelerated. Where codes and policy changes are not enough, project teams and R&D investments require government support to enhance building technologies and materials.