Whitby, Ontario – Today’s launch of the Durham Greener Homes Program will make it easier and more affordable for Durham Region residents to make energy improvements to their homes.
By empowering residents to undertake home energy renovations, the Durham Greener Homes Program will help reduce our climate impact, save Durham residents money on energy bills and create jobs in the clean energy transition.
Program participants will gain access to a home energy coach who will provide impartial expert advice throughout the renovation process, including:
Durham Region has partnered with the Windfall Ecology Centre to administer the program and provide home energy coaching services. Windfall is a non-profit organization with decades of on-the-ground experience delivering home energy retrofits. The program is the first in Canada to feature partnerships with community-based financial institutions – Pathwise Credit Union and Rapport Credit Union - who are offering energy retrofit financing services to participating residents
The Durham Greener Homes Program is part of the Region’s Community Energy Plan, and is a key strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and respond to Durham Regional Council’s climate emergency declaration. Funding is provided through a $3.4 investment from the Community Efficiency Financing initiative, which is offered through the Green Municipal Fund and delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and funded by the Government of Canada.
For home energy upgrades, visit DurhamGreenerHomes.ca to access to a home energy coach, an interactive web-portal, financing incentives and more.
Quotes:
“Durham Region residents will benefit greatly from the Durham Greener Homes Program. This initiative will help our communities access expert advice from home energy coaches to decide which retrofits best suit their needs, how to find skilled contractors, and how to take advantage of available rebate programs to reduce costs. The program will make it easier for residents to implement energy improvements and help with Durham Region’s low carbon transition. We’re thankful for FCM and the Government of Canada’s support in addressing climate change.”
– John Henry, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer
“When Regional Council declared a climate emergency in 2020, staff were directed to focus on relentless implementation of our climate action plans. I am proud to see the results of our collective efforts today with the launch of the Durham Greener Homes program. This program knits together partnerships with credit unions, utilities, and skilled trades, and demonstrates the power of municipal governments acting as a catalyst for collaborative action in the face of the complex challenges. We hope that this program serves as a blueprint for other municipalities and communities across Ontario and Canada as we work together to respond to one of the greatest challenges of our time.”
– Elaine Baxter-Trahair, Chief Administrative Officer, Durham Region
“Windfall Ecology Centre has been helping Durham residents retrofit their homes for over 20 years. We are proud to combine all we have learned in that time to Durham Greener Homes, a best-in-class home retrofit facilitation service designed to ease renovation anxiety and help homeowners get the most from their energy efficiency investments.”
– Brent R. Kopperson, Founder and Executive Director, Windfall Ecology Centre
Quick Facts
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Read this press release on the Region of Durham's website.
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