Retrofitting your home is an exciting step towards making it more energy-efficient, comfortable, and environmentally friendly. Whether you’re looking to save on energy bills or reduce your carbon footprint, there are practical solutions that can make a big difference.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started, but if you live in a community that offers Retrofit Assist, you can apply to participate in the program and our home energy experts will guide you through these steps!
Understanding retrofitting
Before diving into the process, let’s get to know what ‘retrofitting’ really means. When it comes to home retrofits, the term essentially refers to a renovation that has a high focus on energy and efficiency. It can include a wide range of upgrades, from installing insulation and sealing air leaks to upgrading heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. The goal is to reduce the amount of energy a home needs to perform well and, of the energy it does need, use it better!
The best part? This makes your home a more comfortable, healthier, and more environmentally friendly place to live, work, sleep, and play all year round!
Assess your home’s current condition
This is where you find out how your home currently uses energy, and which activities make the most sense in the near and long term. This is an important step so you know the current condition and where you’re starting from. This means:
Get an EnerGuide Evaluation done by a registered Energy Advisor to see where your home is wasting and losing energy. The evaluation will give you a clear idea of where improvements are needed, like drafty windows, moisture problems, or under-insulated walls.
Hot tip: if you live in a Retrofit Assist community and you are a registered participant, we will bring the cost of an evaluation down to only $99! Plus, we have dedicated Energy Advisors who are ready to assess your home.
Set clear goals & prioritize your projects
Once you’ve assessed your home, set clear goals for your retrofitting project. If you plan to make several upgrades, consider what you want to achieve, and in what order. Goals might include:
Improving your energy efficiency: do you want to reduce your energy bills?
Increasing the comfort of your home: are you looking to make your home less drafty and with more consistent indoor temperatures? Maybe you’re ready to add cooling?
Reduce your environmental impact: are you aiming to lower your carbon footprint?
Once you know your home’s current performance and have clear goals, you’ll be able to prioritize the retrofitting measures that will best meet your needs. Focus on what will give you the most immediate benefit.
We always advise approaching your retrofits from a ‘house as a system’ perspective and starting with your building envelope. Why? Think of it like this: if you change something major—such as your heating system or ventilation—without addressing cracks and leaks in your building envelope, you might end up paying for a system that is oversized and more expensive to run.
Create a budget
Retrofitting can range from minor upgrades to more extensive projects, so it’s necessary to have a budget. Consider:
Cost of materials and labour: research the cost of materials and whether you’ll need to hire professionals. Some retrofitting measures, like replacing bulbs for LEDs or sealing gaps, can be done as DIY projects, while others like heating/cooling system upgrades need to be left to the professionals, particularly if you want to access available rebates.
Rebates and incentives: look into government rebates and incentives that can help offset the cost of retrofitting. Many governments offer financial incentives for homeowners who make energy-efficient upgrades. Want to know more? Check out our LinkTree for a variety of links to BC rebate and incentive programs. These links are also helpful:
- CleanBC Energy Savings Program
- CleanBC Better Homes and Home Renovation Rebate Program
- Canada Greener Homes
Financing: Depending on the work you are planning, you may need to secure a loan or financing to help with upfront costs. Retrofit Assist participants have exclusive access to retrofit financing through the experienced team at Switch Retrofit Solutions.
Plan your retrofits
With your budget and goals in mind, plan the specific retrofits you want to implement. Common retrofitting measures include:
Air sealing: Up to 30% of heat loss in a home can come from a leaky building envelope. Plugging those gaps can make a really noticeable difference and it’s one of the most cost-effective upgrades.
Insulation: adding insulation to walls, attics, and floors to reduce heat loss, tightening the “blanket” around your house.
Windows and doors: installing energy-efficient windows and doors to minimize drafts, heat loss, and noise.
Heating, ventilation, and cooling systems: upgrading to energy-efficient HVAC systems to improve comfort and reduce energy consumption. Heat pumps are efficient and offer air cooling in the summer. Ventilation systems ensure your indoor air is healthy, this is particularly important as you seal up your building envelope.
Lighting: replacing old lighting fixtures with energy-efficient LED bulbs.
Renewable energy: installing solar panels or other renewable energy systems to generate your own electricity or lower your energy bills.
Find contractors
Although some retrofits are simple tasks that can be completed by the homeowner (e.g. LED lightbulb replacement), most large upgrades are best managed by professionals, due to both the skillset required and to be eligible for rebates. To find rebate-approved contractors, visit:
Get retrofitting!
Once you’ve planned your retrofits and teamed up with contractors, it’s time to start work. Schedule the retrofits at a time that works best for you and ensure the contractors understand your goals and budget.
Retrofitting your home is a worthwhile investment that can lead to significant energy savings, improved comfort, and a reduced environmental impact. By assessing your home’s current condition, setting clear goals and priorities, planning your retrofits, and connecting with professionals, you can embark on a successful retrofitting project. Of course, if you want to streamline the process even further, Retrofit Assist’s free concierge service can help you determine and organise your retrofit projects before, during and after the process.
