First Nations Housing Retrofit

in progress

This Project will make deep energy efficiency retrofits available to all band-owned homes on Mi’kmaq reserves in Nova Scotia. These buildings have stood outside traditional efficiency initiatives, which has left GHG reductions uncaptured, reduced livability and comfort benefits for residents, and these communities have missed out on employment and business opportunities. The project is for 4 years of a 10 year initiative that will be roll-out in a staged manner across the 13 reserve communities in Nova Scotia, with the goal of reaching up to 80% of the local building stock [~2,400 homes]. Work can be scaled up as local engagement and capabilities require, and learning will be shared across communities. This project will identify sources of heat loss, model upgrade options, assess air leakage rates and moisture issues, and estimate energy savings of upgrade options. These upgrades can include measures such as insulation, moisture mitigation and ventilation improvements, heat recovery and heating systems and solar installations. Individual homes expected to produce GHG savings of >3 tonnes per annum, and >$1,000 in annual bill savings to oil-heated homes. The project will stand as a powerful, and visible, step on the way to increased social equity and greater social inclusion of First Nations communities and show that climate change goals can be accomplished while furthering such equity. The key project objectives are to: reduce GHG emissions; increase comfort, health and quality of life in First Nations homes; build capacity and knowledge of building science and energy efficiency in First Nations communities; and reduce energy costs for communities. This project will see on-reserve homes receive a building assessment by a Certified Energy Advisor (CEA), who will identify sources of heat loss, model upgrade options, assess air leakage rates and moisture issues, and estimate energy savings of upgrade options.