Net Zero News News
CHBA gets $4.4 million to demonstrate various NZER approaches

April 15, 2022 – The Ministry of Natural Resources is giving over $4.4 million to the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) for a project that will fund “deep energy retrofits” in houses and low-rise multi-unit residential buildings.

The aim is to demonstrate various approaches that can be used to achieve net zero-energy-ready (NZER) performance in these units.

“Cost remains a barrier to make net zero a reality for every home, so projects like this are helping us find the best solutions, improve technologies, and build capacity across the industry to help to reach Canada’s 2050 goals,” said Kevin Lee, CEO, CHBA.

NZER buildings are designed and constructed to produce at least as much energy as they consume on an annual basis (“with the addition of renewable power generation”).

CHBA will focus on finding the most cost-effective solutions for up to 150 residential units to help find optimum approaches to net zero home retrofits and inform the development of energy codes for existing homes, targeting multiple building archetypes in various climate zones and varying business models.

Federal funding is provided through NRCan’s Green Infrastructure–Energy-Efficient Buildings Program, which supports the development and implementation of building codes for existing buildings and new NZER buildings through R&D and demonstration projects.