Deep Energy Retrofit Pilot Program

Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from existing buildings plays a key role in helping B.C. meet its climate action goals. We developed the Deep Energy Retrofit Pilot Program to improve the building envelopes and mechanical systems of 20 homes and four multi-unit residential buildings across the province. The goal of this pilot is to reduce their energy use and associated GHG emissions by at least 50 per cent.

What’s a deep energy retrofit?

A deep energy retrofit aims to improve the energy performance of existing homes and buildings using a holistic approach that targets improvements in two major areas:  

1. the building envelope (including walls, windows, doors, and insulation)
2. mechanical systems (heating, hot water and ventilation)

Deep energy retrofits help make the whole building more airtight and well-insulated as well as upgrading mechanical systems to high efficiency. The goal is to reduce whole-building energy use by at least 50 per cent.

Why are deep energy retrofits a priority now?

Many existing homes and buildings in B.C. were not built for optimal energy efficiency, especially those built before the adoption of the National Energy Code for Buildings in the 1990s. These thousands of homes and buildings are expected to be occupied and used for years to come. And in response to climate change, we need to not only reduce their energy use and GHG emissions but also make them more comfortable and safer to live in through more frequent extremes of hot and cold weather.

Communities need to significantly lower GHG emissions from existing buildings to achieve net-zero climate action goals, and deep energy retrofits are a way to do that.

Customers who choose to sign up for low-carbon and renewable gases¹ such as Renewable Natural Gas² can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions even further.

Deep energy retrofit pilot participants 

The deep energy retrofit pilot involves 20 single-family homes and four multi-unit residential buildings across B.C., including the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, Okanagan and Kootenays. The pilot aims to:

• demonstrate a variety of energy reduction approaches and technologies
• verify energy use and emissions reductions
• identify any issues with implementation or customer acceptance in real-world, lived-in homes and buildings

We hope the information gathered through this pilot supports the development of a larger-scale deep energy retrofit program for all of our customers.

If you have questions about deep energy retrofits and other pilot programs, email [email protected] or call 604-592-7918.

¹FortisBC uses the term renewable and low-carbon gas to refer collectively to the low-carbon gases or fuels that the utility can acquire under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Clean Energy) Regulation, which are: Renewable Natural Gas (RNG or biomethane), hydrogen, synthesis gas (from wood waste) and lignin. FortisBC’s renewable and low-carbon portfolio currently includes only renewable natural gas. Other gases and fuels may be added to the program over time. Depending on their source, all of these gases have differing levels of lifecycle carbon intensity. However, all of these gases are low-carbon when compared to the lifecycle carbon intensity of conventional natural gas. The current burner tip carbon intensity of RNG is 0.29gCO₂e/MJ and the current RNG portfolio lifecycle emissions are -22gCO₂e/MJ. This is below B.C.’s carbon intensity threshold for low-carbon gases of 36.4 gCO₂e/MJ set out in the 2021 B.C. Hydrogen Strategy

²Renewable Natural Gas is produced in a different manner than conventional natural gas. It is derived from biogas, which is produced from decomposing organic waste from landfills, agricultural waste and wastewater from treatment facilities. The biogas is captured and cleaned to create Renewable Natural Gas (also called biomethane).