2024 AGENDA

DAY 1: Wednesday 12 June

Wednesday, June 12, 2024
7:30 AM - 8:50 AM
 
 
8:50 AM - 8:55 AM
 
Symon Rubens
8:55 AM - 9:05 AM
 
Xwechtaal Dennis Joseph
9:05 AM - 9:10 AM
 
Betsy Agar
Time Zone: (UTC-07:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) [Change Time Zone]

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: WHAT POLICY, CODES AND STANDARDS ARE IMPACTING THE RETROFIT MARKET AND HOW CAN THE INDUSTRY PREPARE?

Wednesday, June 12, 2024
9:10 AM - 9:20 AM
 
Hon. Josie Osborne
9:20 AM - 9:25 AM
 
Roberto Pecora
9:25 AM - 9:45 AM

•    An overview of what has already been approved and the ongoing work to expand those regulations
•    A deep dive into the support available to help stakeholders comply with those regulations
•    An insight into the emerging regulatory approach to indoor air quality and maximum temperature 

Micah Lang
9:45 AM - 10:15 AM

This fireside chat will cover the new building standard which incorporates recent building science technology and practices, including energy efficiency concepts, and reduced embodied carbon levels. The new designs featured in the Guide complement the cultural lifestyles of coastal communities. It is a powerful story on how grassroots movements benefit the Nation.
 

Richard Hall Sara Fralin Olaf Nielsen
10:15 AM - 10:20 AM
 
Terry Bergen
10:20 AM - 10:50 AM
 
 
10:50 AM - 11:35 AM

•    How are utilities planning for the scale of electrification needed to meet climate targets? 
•    Where will the additional electricity come from? 
•    How will peak loads be managed? 
•    How will the necessary infrastructure expansion be paid for?
•    What key technologies are being seen as the solutions?

Mariko Michasiw

MODERATOR: Mariko Michasiw, Zero Emissions Innovation Centre

 

Diana Stephenson Etienne St-Cyr Tam Wagner Alex Hill Danielle Wensink
Time Zone: (UTC-07:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) [Change Time Zone]

DEEP ENERGY AND DECARBONIZATION RETROFIT PROJECT CASE STUDIES

Wednesday, June 12, 2024
11:35 AM - 12:05 PM

Outcomes and Lessons Learned (so far) 
How can residential buildings be decarbonized while also addressing intersecting issues of occupant safety, comfort, energy equity and climate resilience? Hear an update on a B.C.-based deep retrofit pilot, a real-world case study of the effectiveness of driving down energy demand through implementing holistic solutions and improving mechanical systems instead of fuel switching. The pilot has now completed retrofits to 20 single family homes and has upgrades near completion on four multifamily buildings. What can we learn from these projects that can inform incentive and other support programs to achieve deep retrofits at scale?  

Jim Kobialko Christy Love
 
12:05 PM - 12:35 PM
  1. Case study - Nicholson Tower Deep Energy Retrofit, StFX University - Rick Buhr, Bird Construction
  2. Thermal Resilience and LCCA as a Retrofit Program - Al Mitchell, Phius
  3. Owner and occupant perspective of the HVAC System retrofit of the Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada Inc. headquarters building - Syed Abid, Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada
Rick Buhr Al Mitchell Syed Abid
 
12:35 PM - 12:40 PM
 
Sy Selick
 
12:40 PM - 1:40 PM
 
 
Lunch & Networking break, sponsored by Stantec
1:40 PM - 2:10 PM
  1. BONDI’s completed fuel-switching projects 
    Belinda Gilbey, BONDI Energy
  2. Energy & Sustainability Management: The journey from Portfolio to Asset
    Hannah Greinetz, Atrius
  3. How utilities, regulators and homeowners and builders can scale electrification while avoiding costly electrical panel service upgrades
    Brendan McEwen, Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors
Belinda Gilbey Hannah Greinetz Brendan McEwen
 
2:10 PM - 3:30 PM

 

Site Tour 1 - Building A - click here for more details

OR

Interactive Round Tables: Policy & Deep Energy Retrofits

Round 1
Each round table has a different topic and attendees can select the round table that they would like to participate in. Round table leaders will spend the first 15 minutes meeting the delegates and providing a case study/lessons learned log/industry update and then moderating a 30-minute discussion with the group where they can give feedback and ask questions. The final 10 –15 minutes will be spent on agreeing on 3 -5 industry recommendations regarding the topic. A selection of these recommendations will be shared with the whole audience and all of them will be summarized in the post-event report.

  1. Utility best practices in data sharing for building performance standards (BPS)
    Elyse Henderson, BC Hydro
    Trina Kennedy, Buildings Division of Office of Energy Efficiency Natural Resources Canada
  2. You Want to do What? Managing Retrofits with Tenants in Place
    Darla Simpson, Zero Emissions Innovation Centre (ZEIC)
    Natalie Douglas, Zero Emissions Innovation Centre (ZEIC)
    Jade Hume, Metro Vancouver Housing
    Ross Yalung, BC Housing
  3. What is needed to develop an Utility incentive program for Deep Energy Retrofits
    Sarah Herb, FortisBC Energy Inc. 
    Olivia Sieniewicz, FortisBC Energy Inc.
    Colleen Sondermann, FortisBC 
  4. Conversion retrofits: How and when it makes sense to perform retrofits from a financial and decarbonization perspective.
    James Burrow, BMO Capital Markets
  5. Shallow Energy Retrofits
    Bird Construction
  6. Municipalities leading the charge: Case studies on funding and implementing deep energy retrofit projects
    Jonathan De Luca, Federation of Canadian Municipalities
    Stephane Pressault, Federation of Canadian Municipalities
    Greg Dennis, P.Eng., Township of Langley
    Erin Desautels, City of Abbotsford
  7. From one to done: exploring the potential of area-based planning to scale-up decarbonization
    Matt Poirier, Building Decarbonization Alliance (BDA)
  8. Non-Profit Leadership in Sustainability & Building Retrofit
    S. Mwarigha, WoodGreen Community Services
  9. Cross-Border Insights: Leveraging Lessons from the United States for Advancing Mandatory Building Performance Standards in Canada
    Kevin Lockhart, Efficiency Canada 
  10. Retrofitting for Climate Adaptation and Resilience
    Gabriela Mercado, BC Housing
  11. The City of Calgary’s corporate and community initiatives for building decarbonization, climate resilience, and climate equity
    Brent Downey, The City of Calgary
    Grace Suri, The City of Calgary
  12. The blind spot in the energy transition: capacity building and its key role in getting the job done.
    Mathieu Côte, CIET
  13. Enhancing Business-to-Business Supply Chains for Low-Carbon Buildings in Canada
    Carla Heim, BDC
  14. Emerging Technologies - the advent and use of early-stage design assist tools to help inform the “best solution/value” direction for projects, resulting in a more holistic approach to retrofit solutions.
    Terry Bergen, RJC Engineers
Elyse Henderson Trina Kennedy Darla Simpson Natalie Douglas Jade Hume Ross Yalung Sarah Herb Olivia Sieniewicz, P.Eng. Colleen Sondermann James Burrow Jonathan De Luca Stephane Pressault Greg Dennis, P.Eng. Erin Desautels Matt Poirier S. Mwarigha Gabriela Mercado Brent Downey Grace Suri Mathieu Côte Carla Heim Terry Bergen
 
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
 
 
 
4:00 PM - 4:20 PM
 
Ali Hoss
 
4:20 PM - 4:40 PM
 
Mike Reimer Moises de Alba
 
4:40 PM - 5:25 PM

This session will welcome those running retrofit programs funded by the NRCan Deep Retrofit Accelerator Initiative (DRAI) to share program development updates on their accelerator initiatives, including:
•    Sharing unique program design features
•    Discussing early program successes and learnings
•    Exploring plans for the next three years
•    Sharing and learning of how equity is addressed

 

 

 

MODERATOR: Jérôme Bilodeau, Natural Resources Canada

 

Andrea Linsky Lorrie Rand Keith Burrows Darla Simpson
 
5:25 PM - 5:30 PM
 
Betsy Agar Roberto Pecora
 
5:30 PM - 5:40 PM
 
Warren Knowles
 
5:40 PM - 6:40 PM
 
 
Networking Reception  - Sponsored by RDH
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Limited tickets are available You must be registered for the conference to receive information and register for this social.

 
 Retrofit Canada Conference Social, Hosted by ZEBx
Time Zone: (UTC-07:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) [Change Time Zone]

DAY 2: Thursday 13 June

COMBINING DECARBONIZATION AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE TO
ACHIEVE FUTUREPROOF BUILDING STOCK

Thursday, June 13, 2024
8:55 AM - 9:10 AM
 
Chris Chopik, M. Des.
9:10 AM - 9:25 AM
 
Marzieh Riahinezhad
9:25 AM - 9:40 AM
 
Greg Moy
9:40 AM - 10:15 AM

This session aims to bring together some of Canada’s largest banks to discuss how banks are shifting their view of risk to incorporate climate risk into how they price their financial products.

 

 


MODERATOR: Thomas Mueller, Canada Green Building Council

 

James Burrow Aaron Berg Stephen Uwazota
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM
 
 
10:45 AM - 11:30 AM

•    What is involved in the pre-work required to create effective transition plans?
•    What should be included in the business case outside of energy (regulation, value, insurance premiums)? How can we assign dollar value to these potential market changes?
•    What are the key milestones being achieved to make progress in the direction towards NetZero?
•    How is NetZero Transition Financing helping to achieve equity in retrofits?

 

 


MODERATOR: Michael Jemtrud, McGill University

 

Malcolm Shield Scott Armstrong Karen Jalon
Time Zone: (UTC-07:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) [Change Time Zone]

PRIORITIZING EQUITY AND FINANCING TO SOCIALIZE ACCESS TO
ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES

Thursday, June 13, 2024
11:30 AM - 12:45 PM

 

Site Tour 2 - Building B - click here for more details

OR

Interactive Round Tables: Climate Resilience, Financing & Equity

Round 2 
Each round table has a different topic and attendees can select the round table that they would like to participate in. Round table leaders will spend the first 15 minutes meeting the delegates and providing a case study/lessons learned log/industry update and then moderating a 30-minute discussion with the group where they can give feedback and ask questions. The final 10 –15 minutes will be spent on agreeing on 3 -5 industry recommendations regarding the topic. A selection of these recommendations will be shared with the whole audience and all of them will be summarized in the post-event report.

 

  1. Scaling Alberta's low-income Residential Energy Efficiency Upgrades Program
    Yasmin Abraham, Kambo Energy Group
    Mike Mellross, Alberta Ecotrust Foundation
  2. What is success?​: What are the required ingredients to accelerate mass, deep retrofits in social housing?​
    Sharon Coward, EnviroCentre
  3. Advancing tenant’s rights to retrofits and energy efficiency
    Josephine Schrott, EcoTrust Canada
    Dylan Heerema, EcoTrust Canada
  4. How to plan effective staged retrofits if you can’t do it all at once
    Peter Amerongen, Retrofit Canada
  5. Structuring project financing for energy retrofits
    Ahsan Mirza, McMillan LLP
    Gregory Balycky, Canada Infrastructure Bank
  6. Retrofitting with Heat pumps - For Space heating, cooling, fresh air and domestic hot water applications
    Chanpreet Singh, Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada 
  7. Scaling the impact of residential efficiency financing programs with private sector investment
    Kathleen Heymans, FCM
    Jon Carrick, Vancity Community Investment Bank
    Robin Goldstein, Federation of Canadian Municipalities
  8. Enhancing local capacity - the role of increasing local capacity in rural communities to enable equitable access to healthy homes.
    Jessica Martin-Thompson, Community Energy Association
  9. Writing an RFP for the Retrofit You Want
    Sam Lane, Entuitive
    Shahrzad Pedram, Entuitive
  10. Solving for heat pumps in low-rise MURBs
    Shauna Sylvester, Urban Climate Leadership, a project of MakeWay
  11. Empowering transformation: centering people and culture in decarbonization strategies
    Sarah Smith, Prism Engineering
Yasmin Abraham Mike Mellross Sharon Coward Josephine Schrott Dylan Heerema Peter Amerongen Chanpreet Singh Ahsan Mirza Gregory Balycky Kathleen Heymans Jon Carrick Robin Goldstein Jessica Martin-Thompson Sam Lane Shahrzad Pedram Shauna Sylvester Sarah Smith
 
12:45 PM - 1:45 PM
 
 
Lunch & Networking Break, sponsored by Quantum Passivhaus
1:45 PM - 2:55 PM

The lightning round will showcase 6 case studies from a series of speakers who will each have 10 minutes to present their update on: Problem, challenge + solution. There will be a short group Q&A with the audience at the end.

  1. Lessons learned in accessing funding for energy efficiency upgrades across First Nation communities
    Ehsan Haghi, Community Energy Specialist, Musqueam Indian Band
  2. Financing Retrofits with Canada’s Impact Bank 
    Eric Visser, Director, Commercial Real Estate, Vancity Community Investment Bank
  3. Navigating the complexity inherent in retrofits
    Peter Amerongen, Retrofit Canda
  4. What role does the SOFIAC business model play in enabling building retrofits and could this increase access to funding and equity?
    Stuart Galloway, SOFIAC
  5. A Landscape View of Innovative Financing Approaches for Retrofits     
    George Benson, ZEIC
  6. Update: Building capacity through the First Nations Home EnergySave program
    Eliana Chia, Fraser Basin Council       

 

Ehsan Haghi Eric Visser Peter Amerongen Stuart Galloway George P.R. Benson Eliana Chia
 
2:55 PM - 3:45 PM

•    How holistic, cooperative community outreach approaches are helping to address both community needs and equity goals across stakeholders
•    Strategies for harnessing and stacking Federal, State, and Local Funding opportunities to maximize financial impact
•    How to ensure the low to moderate-income market can get access to funding and grants that enable them to democratize access to energy efficiency upgrades
•    Affordability as a framework for equal access - how to ensure everyone benefits
•    Building energy poverty, equity, and program design in the residential retrofit space    


MODERATOR: Abhilash Kantamneni, Efficiency Canada

 

Elizabeth Tang Chelsea Nicholson Miranda Riou-Green Trevor Norris
 
3:45 PM - 3:55 PM
 
Betsy Agar Corey Diamond
 
3:55 PM - 4:00 PM
 
 
 
4:00 PM - 6:30 PM

Continue the conversation and stretch your legs! Join a post-conference walking tour to visit two fascinating local projects, get some fresh west coast air and experience the unique Seabus passenger ferry across the Burrard Inlet (12-minute ride).

  • First-come, first-served
  • Maximum 25 participants
  • Must be registered for the conference to attend
  • Click here for more information
 
 
Time Zone: (UTC-07:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) [Change Time Zone]