BUILDING REUSE IS CLIMATE ACTION – CANADA’S RETROFIT MISSION

The SJAM Building, Ottawa ON (Image: Doublespace)

The SJAM Building was an adaptive reuse of a 1930’s banking hall converted to an executive conference centre, a Hall of State for the House of Commons, across the street from Ottawa’s Parliament Buildings.

It was a “deep green rehabilitation” that transformed a Classified Heritage Building into a top-performing efficient facility that earned the highest rating, 5 Green Globes, on the GG Sustainability scale. Read more HERE.

Deep Green Retrofit

It is now a known fact that the rehabilitation, retrofit and reuse of existing and historic buildings is the most effective way to reduce GHG emissions in the building sector (see IPCC Reports).

We also know that retrofitting building systems can pay for itself through energy savings, and we have all the skills, knowledge, technology and carbon-storing materials needed to do it right, RIGHT NOW.

So what is the problem?

Well, did you know that at the current pace it will take 142 years to retrofit all low-rise residential buildings and 71 years to retrofit all commercial floor area now built?

We need to re-shape our market and policy environments to meet climate goals, make it easier to focus on and execute a massive ramp-up of building rehab and retrofit across the nation.

But how?

Enter Efficiency Canada’s “Retrofit Mission”!

Goals include, over the next 20 years:

*Eliminate fossil fuel use in buildings;

*Free up clean electricity to help decarbonize other sectors;

*Prepare our buildings for climate change, making them healthier & more resilient.

Learn More Here:https://www.efficiencycanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Canadas-Retrofit-Mission-At-A-Glance.pdf

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