Amandeep Singh, founder of the HomeZero Collective Society
VERNON – The Government of Canada, and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) are tackling climate change, creating good jobs and reducing monthly bills with a pilot project in the Okanagan.
Through the Green Municipal Fund’s (GMF) Community Efficiency Financing (CEF) program, an investment of up to $500,000 to support HomeZero Collective Society’s home retrofitting pilot project in the City of Vernon was recently announced.
The project focuses on retrofitting 10 to 15 homes within Vernon, using lessons learned from a previously funded GMF study which looked at incentivizing whole neighbourhoods to participate in a home energy retrofitting financing program.
As part of the pilot project, the retrofit measures are expected to reduce home emissions by 85 to 99 per cent thanks to the installation of geothermal or air source heat pumps, solar PV, hybrid electric hot water systems, and electric vehicle charging outlets. Performance monitoring systems will also be installed to show energy and emissions reductions to homeowners.
If successful, the pilot could be scaled up to include more homes and neighbourhoods and could act as a roadmap for other communities.
GMF, administered by FCM, is funded through an endowment by the Government of Canada. GMF helps local governments switch to sustainable practices faster. Its unique mix of funding, resources and training gives municipalities the tools they need to build resiliency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“Initiatives like HomeZero Collective Society’s project could not come at a better time. With support from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund, funded by the Government of Canada, the project will help residents of 10 to 15 households in Vernon, British Columbia see their homes retrofitted. The retrofits will in turn lead to reduced emissions and energy use and bills and set a roadmap for other communities in Canada. Thanks to the federal government, municipal leaders, and their partners, Canada is on the path towards greater affordability and sustainability,” said Scott Pearce, FCM President.
“Governments, industry, and residents need to come together to address climate change. HomeZero’s pilot project aims to demonstrate that meaningful change is possible when we are all aligned,” said Amandeep Singh, Founder of HomeZero Collective Society.
HomeZero Collective Society is a not-for-profit group of local residents, renewable energy experts and contractors in the City of Vernon who received $174,500 to study the feasibility of a neighbourhood approach to home energy retrofit financing in Vernon from FCM in 2021. The Society was founded in 2020.
Business Examiner Staff