Regina executive committee gives thumbs up to housing retrofit program

A Regina committee has given its approval for a rebate program that will help residents retrofit their homes and create a more sustainable future.

On Wednesday, the city's executive committee voted unanimously to approve the proposed creation of the rebate program.

The proposed program would match funding offered in an existing federal program known as the Canada Greener Homes Grant, which offers as much as $5,600 for home evaluations and retrofits.

The maximum grant available to residents under the proposed rebate program in Regina would be $5,000 and individuals must already have applied for or received the federal grant.

The passage of the program by executive committee does not mean that the program has been created. 

A final decision will need to be made at a future meeting of Regina city council. 

Retrofitting can include improving elements of a home including insulation, air-sealing, windows, doors, thermostats and renewable energy to make them more energy efficient.

The cost of a retrofit can be significant, administration officials said on Wednesday, and if the city doesn't offer enough it would be unlikely to see wide adoption.

That's why administration is proposing a program that would allow for grant stacking — or the matching of funding offered by the Canada Greener Homes Grant.

"With grant stacking it allows people to cover the cost of the most meaningful work," said Greg Kuntz, manager of energy and sustainability solutions for the city. 

The proposal is meant to help the city reach its goal of becoming 100 per cent renewable and a net-zero carbon emission city by 2050.

"Not only do more efficient homes support long-term climate objectives, but retrofit investments also create economic and financial benefits," reads the report that went to executive committee on Wednesday.

An increased demand for energy efficient equipment and low-carbon materials will also help grow the green building product supply chain in Canada, the report reads.

City administration says about 61,000 residential homes require retrofits to meet Regina's goal.

Funding approved in Regina's 2022 budget would help launch the program. It budgeted for 80 people applying for the rebate program in its first year.

If more than 80 people apply, the city would randomly select from the prospective applicants.

Louise Folk, Regina's chief transformation officer, said the city is expecting more than 80 people to apply, but that it will allow for collection of data on the state of the city. 

Not everyone is onboard with the proposed program.

Jason Breker is the operations manager for NRG inspections and consulting, one of the few companies that do energy inspections in the province. 

 On Wednesday he told councillors that the proposed program would not do enough to cover the upfront costs associated with retrofitting a home.

He suggested that the city modify the program to allow for more people to get evaluations and knowledge about what is necessary to achieve net-zero greenhosue gas emissions from their home. 

"Instead of doing 80 homes for $5,000 a piece it would be better served to do 5,000 homes at $80 a piece, supplementing the evaluation cost," said Breker. 

Other organizations also chimed in ahead of Wednesday's meeting. 

In a letter submitted ahead of Wednesday's meeting, the Wascana Solar Co-op called for Regina council to implement a Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program rather than the proposed rebate program. 

A PACE program would help cover upfront costs, one of the biggest challenges to implementing energy-efficient retrofits, the letter from the Wascana Solar Co-op says. 

The Regina & Region Home Builders' Association says it supports the creation of the program. 

In a letter sent to council, the organization writes it has observed an uptake in the federal government's Greener Grant Program and that the proposed Regina program will only increase demand. 

It says Regina's program is a good start, but that a PACE program would "provide an even greater benefit to citizens."

Despite the objections, the executive committee approved the proposed program as is.

Folk said that the proposed program's main objective is to create an initial mechanism to incentivize a retrofit. 

Folk said that the program as-is would show immediate leadership from the City of Regina on climate action, and allow the city to assess the benefits of a retrofit program and of grant stacking. 

"What's in front of you is a first step toward a broader building retrofit approach," she said. 

"Other implementation mechanisms will continue to be recommended and implemented."