Calgary’s proposed Pathways to 2050 climate strategy sets out a goal of all new and existing buildings in the city to be net-zero in the next 30 years, but some members of the city’s construction industry are concerned about the scale of retrofitting every existing home and commercial building by 2050.

According to the climate strategy, 57 per cent of Calgary’s overall emissions come from energy used to heat, cool and power residential, commercial and industrial buildings in the city.

To reduce those emissions, the plan calls for the retrofitting of 19,000 homes and 317 commercial buildings to net-zero every year.

The Calgary Construction Association said that would require 52 home retrofits every day, seven days per week and about one commercial building per day — for the next 30 years.

It’s a concern construction industry representatives brought forward to city officials earlier this year.

“We were concerned the volume of retrofits that they were quoting was insurmountable,” Calgary Construction Association president and COO Bill Black told Global News. “Financially, for sure, but issuing permits at that rate, finding the resources, the labour, the materials, nevermind convincing 19,000 homeowners per year to be able to do that.”

Black said the Calgary Construction Association is overall supportive of having a climate strategy in place to send a signal to potential investors and talent that the city is moving in the right direction.

Retrofitting a home to meet net-zero standards is referred to as a “deep energy retrofit,” and is something 4 Elements Integrated Designs Ltd. helps homeowners and contractors achieve.

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