by Raidin Blue, Senior Analyst – Pembina Institute

Successful projects show what it takes to make existing buildings more comfortable, safe and affordable.

A new report highlights key lessons from four noteworthy retrofit projects in Alberta and identifies the conditions needed to build a stronger retrofit market.

Whole-building retrofit projects in Alberta are becoming more common but continue to depend on favourable market conditions and, as Surfacing success: Learning from whole-building retrofit projects in Alberta shows, are often driven by the ambition and persistence of retrofit champions. However, as buildings are called upon to withstand more severe weather, meet evolving expectations in the finance, insurance and real estate sectors, and maintain long-term asset value, retrofits are a sound business decision.

Across Alberta, building owners face growing pressure from rising insurance costs, volatile electricity prices and increasingly severe weather. Building owners also face practical barriers when pursuing retrofit projects. Many struggle to access the right financing, incentives and technical support when major building systems reach the end of their useful life. Capacity constraints across permitting, design and construction can further delay projects or reduce project scope, causing owners to miss opportunities to combine energy savings, electrification and resilience improvements into a single investment.

Keep reading this blog on pembina.org

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