Before a household electrifies its heating, the Council recommends addressing the building envelope. A well-sealed, well-insulated home reduces the heating load a heat pump must meet, lowering both emissions and equipment cost.
This briefing sequences the most cost-effective envelope upgrades: air sealing, attic insulation, and window improvements, and explains why a professional energy assessment should precede any major mechanical investment.
The CERC Research Office publishes peer-reviewed policy briefings on behalf of the Council's fellows across Canada.
Buildings account for roughly 13 per cent of Canada’s greenhouse-gas emissions, the majority of which stem from space and water heating in residential properties. As provinces…
Alberta's tightened energy code changed what a compliant roof looks like. We asked an Edmonton roofing contractor how that plays out on an actual job site.
Alberta's adoption of national energy codes has tightened the insulation and air sealing rules that apply to roofs. Here is how the standards work and what a compliant upgrade actually involves.
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