Oakville seeks public input on potential home energy improvements program

Tue, 08 Mar 2022

Survey for homeowners online until March 27 

The Town of Oakville is exploring the feasibility of a home energy retrofit program and wants to hear from you. A home energy retrofit program would provide access to financing for homeowners to complete home energy retrofits that could potentially improve their home’s energy efficiency and reduce energy costs. The town is currently gauging interest in a program, and invites Oakville residents who own detached, semi-detached and townhome properties to take the new home retrofit survey and provide their input.

As one of the priority projects from the Council-endorsed Community Energy Strategy (CES) (pdf), this collaborative initiative between the Town of Oakville and Oakville Hydro aims to reduce energy consumption and cost of residential properties, which accounts for 33 per cent of the town’s total energy use and represents the second largest source of the town’s GHG emissions at 27 per cent. 

The potential program would consider the use of local improvement charges (LICs), an existing tool available under the Municipal Act, 2001. This financing tool would give homeowners easier access to the upfront capital cost to complete energy retrofits, with the amount paid back gradually through property tax payments.

The home retrofit survey is available on the town website until March 27. It seeks input on residents’ interests, experiences and goals related to home energy retrofit improvements. Input collected from the survey will be used for a feasibility study on developing a potential home energy retrofit program. As well, residents can sign up to join a focus group on March 25 to share their input.

Key highlights  

• In 2020, the Town of Oakville endorsed the CES to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 per cent by 2041 and 80 per cent by 2050.  
• In 2021, the Oakville Energy Task Force initiated the creation of Future Energy Oakville to oversee the implementation of the CES. The development of a residential energy retrofit program is one of the priority projects from the CES. 
• An energy-efficiency retrofit could include wall/roof insulation, lighting changes, window upgrades, improved temperature control, high efficiency furnaces, air conditioning or hot water heater upgrades, low-flow faucets and more.

Learn more on the program and the Community Energy Strategy, take the survey, or sign up for the focus group, by visiting the Community Energy Planning page.

Quote:

“We are creating a more sustainable and livable Oakville. By addressing residential energy consumption and making energy improvements more accessible to homeowners, we can reduce our overall carbon footprint. I encourage homeowners to take the home retrofit survey to help shape a potential home energy retrofit program for our community.”  

Mayor Rob Burton