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The number one challenge we face for retrofitting our existing buildings for better energy efficiency is minimal disruption to the lives of the occupants. How do we perform this very necessary work without completely upsetting the homeowners?

Construction and renovation activities may disrupt the lives of buildings occupants in a number of ways:

• Noise and dust;
• Loss of access to parts of a building;
• Vehicle and heavy equipment traffic;
• Unanticipated problems with the existing structure or other building elements;
• Financial constraints to a complete retrofit.
  

To facilitate deep energy retrofits in cities and towns across Canada, contractors, energy advisors, municipalities and community groups will need to cooperate and get creative.

For example...in some neighbourhoods, an Energy Retrofit Concierge could act as a community facilitator, answering questions and informing homeowners about how and why the energy retrofits are being done. They would be a friendly, knowledgeable member of the project team whose job is to act as a conduit between contractors and homeowners.

Another example, in the case of MURB and high-rise retrofits, is a Tenant Liaison. Very similar to an energy concierge, a Tenant Liaison would work with community groups, tenants associations and contractors to ease the way for energy efficiency upgrades in older multi-unit buildings and apartments. A Toronto, Ontario based group called Tower Renewal Partnership is promoting the Liaison role as a helpful and measurably important role in these types of project.

The physical work involved with energy retrofits may involve creative solutions such as temporary housing, exterior panel applications and phased neighbourhood improvements.

Further Resource: NRCan - Energy Efficiency in Existing Buildings: Retrofitting