Uploaded January 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
Canada has 2.85 billion square metres of inefficient buildings that make up 13% of our national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Transitioning the buildings off fossil fuels will require ambitious energy retrofits on an unprecedented scale. A ten-year, phased-in program for thermally retrofitting and electrifying 60% of Canada’s homes would reduce GHG emissions by 45% and, at current rates, annual fuel and electricity costs by $12.7 billion annually. For commercial buildings stock, the combination of thermal retrofits and conversions to heat pumps will enable energy costs to drop by a third ($7.3 billion), and GHG emissions to drop by 50%, or 22 Mt CO2e. This session details the public investments and policy measures needed to decarbonize this sector on our ambitious timeline
Moderator:
Toby Heaps
CEO, Corporate Knights
Opening Remarks:
The Honourable Ahmed Hussen
Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion
Panelists:
Jamie Gray-Donald
SVP Sustainability, QuadReal Property Group
Leona Humchitt
Member of the Heiltsuk Tribal Council
Julia Langer
CEO, The Atmospheric Fund
Steve Mennill
Chief Climate Officer, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Reza Nasseri
Founder, Landmark Homes
Akua Schatz
VP Market Engagement and Advocacy, Canada Green Building Council
Kent Taylor
Global Director of Workplace, Technology & Design, IBM
Catherine Thorn
Senior Director, Community Energy Planning, Enwave
Ralph Torrie
Director of Research, Corporate Knights
Canada has 2.85 billion square metres of inefficient buildings that make up 13% of our national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Transitioning the buildings off fossil fuels will require ambitious energy retrofits on an unprecedented scale. A ten-year, phased-in program for thermally retrofitting and electrifying 60% of Canada’s homes would reduce GHG emissions by 45% and, at current rates, annual fuel and electricity costs by $12.7 billion annually. For commercial buildings stock, the combination of thermal retrofits and conversions to heat pumps will enable energy costs to drop by a third ($7.3 billion), and GHG emissions to drop by 50%, or 22 Mt CO2e. This session details the public investments and policy measures needed to decarbonize this sector on our ambitious timeline
Moderator:
Toby Heaps
CEO, Corporate Knights
Opening Remarks:
The Honourable Ahmed Hussen
Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion
Panelists:
Jamie Gray-Donald
SVP Sustainability, QuadReal Property Group
Leona Humchitt
Member of the Heiltsuk Tribal Council
Julia Langer
CEO, The Atmospheric Fund
Steve Mennill
Chief Climate Officer, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Reza Nasseri
Founder, Landmark Homes
Akua Schatz
VP Market Engagement and Advocacy, Canada Green Building Council
Kent Taylor
Global Director of Workplace, Technology & Design, IBM
Catherine Thorn
Senior Director, Community Energy Planning, Enwave
Ralph Torrie
Director of Research, Corporate Knights
