Visit Climate Friendly Homes in Squamish to see firsthand what people are doing to make their homes more comfortable and climate friendly.
What is a Climate Friendly Home? A Climate Friendly Home is an energy-efficient, all-electric, zero-emissions home that does not burn fossil fuels such as natural gas or oil for heat, hot water or cooking. A Climate Friendly Home can also have lots of other useful features that make the home more sustainable, comfortable to live in, cheaper to operate, and more!
Check out homes in Squamish and see which homes you would like to visit on the tour.
You can preview each home and learn about the measures that have been implemented to make the home climate-friendly by browsing the map and selecting each home.
Once you have found the places you would like to view, you can plan a route for your tour. Neighbourhood parking may be limited so it is encouraged that you get there by taking more sustainable modes of transport like walking, cycling, or public transit.
When you visit each home, please remember to ask the homeowner questions about their experience getting their upgrades and how they are working for them. Local energy experts may be in attendance at select locations to answer more technical questions.
Climate Action in Squamish
The Squamish 2040 Official Community Plan (OCP) is guided by five core goals. These goals represent community ambitions expressed during the OCP update process and build upon the social, economic, and environmental sustainability of Squamish. Check out the OCP Indicators.
In 2019, the District of Squamish declared a climate emergency and launched the Community Climate Action Plan (CCAP) with 122 actions to cut community greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030. Key strategies, known as the Six Big Moves, aim to cut emissions by 38,300 tonnes CO2e annually by 2030, equivalent to 2.3 million round-trip drives between Squamish and Vancouver. These strategies focus on waste management, reducing car dependence, decarbonizing transportation, improving existing buildings, constructing efficient buildings, and other organizational actions. One of the main areas where Squamish needs to reduce emissions is in existing homes. This led to the creation of the Retrofit assist program:
Retrofit Assist, launched in 2022, began as a program to help homeowners install electric heating and cooling systems. By June 2023, it expanded to offer a comprehensive range of home energy efficiency measures, aiming to enhance comfort, boost energy efficiency, and lower emissions. Participants can benefit from a free concierge service that includes expert guidance from energy advisors and contractors skilled in areas like air sealing, insulation, window, doors, and heat pump installation. This service supports homeowners from initial interest through to installation. The program also supports deep energy retrofits, which improve year-round comfort by addressing building envelope issues, sealing air leaks, and enhancing insulation before installing heat pumps. Click here to find out more.
What Makes a Home Climate Friendly?
A Climate Friendly Home:
- Uses a heat pump for heating in the winter and cooling in the summer
- Efficient electric hot water tank or heat pump hot water heater
- Well insulated/draft free
- Energy efficient appliances such as induction stoves
- Electric stove and appliances
- Has no appliances or systems that burn fossil fuels, such as natural gas, propane or oil
- Is generating its own renewable energy using renewable energy technologies
- Passive Design Construction
- Less carbon intensive material
- Installed water efficient Fixtures
Where to Start
Regardless of where you are in your home retrofit journey, there is plenty of free support programs and available incentives to help you take the next step to reduce emissions and increase energy efficiency.
If you live in Squamish you can take care of Retrofit Assist.
The process is outlined below and provides one-on-one guidance and support.
Step 1: APPLY – Register for the program online or onsite at a community event – simple and free.
Step 2: DIG DEEPER - Have a follow up conversation to highlight your needs and priorities, understand next steps and financing options available.
Step 3: UNDERSTAND YOUR ENERGY USE – Learn about how your home uses energy through an EnerGuide evaluation.
Step 4: MAKE A PLAN – We’ll help you sort out a plan based on your priorities, home energy use, budget and timelines
Step 5: GET THE WORK DONE - We’ll connect you with skilled contractors to support your project and then help you get a post-retrofit evaluation and maximize the loans and rebates available. *PLEASE NOTE, REBATES ARE ONLY ELIGIBLE FOR YOUR PRIMARY RESIDENCE.
Step 6: ENJOY – Sit back and relax in your more comfortable and climate-friendly home
For more information and to apply, visit the Retrofit Assist website.