Visit Climate Friendly Homes in Richmond.
See first-hand what your neighbours are doing to make their homes more comfortable and to save energy.
Homeowners in your community are generously opening their doors to show you their climate-friendly homes. It’s your chance to learn see the technologies and innovative designs that can make BC homes (renovated or new) much more comfortable and energy-efficient. You’ll be able to ask homeowners about the experience of building or renovating, and how it’s all working out for them.
The Climate Friendly Homes Tour
Saturday, April 26, 2025
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Visits are free and doors are open for drop-in visitors. Please help us plan by registering for free on Eventbrite.
Climate Action in the City of Richmond
Below are some of the support programs and resources available in the City of Richmond, that support energy efficient buildings:
- Richmond Community Energy and Emissions Plan (CEEP 2050): Richmond’s existing buildings account for approximately 40% of the community's total emissions. The Richmond Community Energy and Emissions Plan (CEEP 2050) outlines multiple actions across eight strategic directions that will collectively set Richmond on a path to achieve a 50% reduction in community GHG emissions by 2030 and reach net zero emissions by 2050.
- Floor Area Ratio Exemptions are available for new high-efficiency homes that meet Energy Step Code levels 4 and 5 or are a Certified Passive House.
- Regular Builders’ Breakfast, which provides updates on new regulations, policies, best practices, and emerging technologies to builders, developers, and contractors.
- Subsidized Training for Contractors: The City offers subsidized training opportunities to contractors, in partnership with BCIT, to build capacity in high-performance building. The available micro-credential courses include:
- Essentials of Net-Zero and Passive House Construction
- Supervising Net-Zero and Passive House Construction
- Municipal Top-Ups: The City of Richmond offers additional incentives on top of CleanBC rebates for switching from fossil fuel equipment to space heating heat pumps and heat pump water heaters. Top-ups are also available for electrical service upgrades, if needed.
How the tour works
1. RSVP for free on Eventbrite and preview the homes.
You can select the homes on the map below for previews of participating homes. You can see some of the measures that make these homes more climate-friendly and start thinking about questions you’d like to ask the homeowners.
2. Plan your route.
Once you have found the places you would like to view, plan your route for the day. We recommend spending 20-30 minutes for each stop you’d like to make. Can you walk or bike to the tour stops? Neighbourhood parking may be limited so consider that if you’ll be driving. If using transit, we recommend using TransLink's Trip Planner.
3. Visit a climate-friendly home.
This is the exciting part! Bring all of your questions about the homeowner’s experience building or retrofitting. Ask how things are working for them and what they recommend. Local energy experts may even be in attendance at select locations so they can answer more technical questions.
4. Keep learning more.
After the tour, check out the resources at betterhomesbc.ca and figure out what you might do for your own home. There are thousands of dollars available in incentives for various upgrades, so now is the time to look deeper.
Note: Also showing a home in Vancouver.
What Makes a Home Climate Friendly?
A Climate Friendly Home:
- Uses an electric heat pump for efficient heating in the winter and cooling in the summer
- Has an induction stove for fast, safe and cleaner cooking
- Has an efficient electric hot water tank or heat pump hot water heater
- Is well-insulated and draft-free for greater comfort and the lowest possible energy bills
- Has no appliances or systems that burn fossil fuels, such as natural gas, propane or oil
Getting started with your own home
Regardless of where you are in your home retrofit journey, there are plenty of free support programs and available incentives to help you take the next step to reduce emissions and increase energy efficiency.
- Head over to the Canada Greener Homes page to find out about Federal incentives and options.
- Check out Clean BC to see the Provincial incentives
- BC Hydro also has a range of rebates that you may be eligible for