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For these groups of homeowners who did home energy retrofits, getting the rebate wasn’t the end. It was just the start. Across the city, local groups are popping up to share what they learned and encourage others to jump in — here’s how you can get in on the act.
On January 7, the Ontario government announced a new rebate program designed to save homeowners up to 30% on energy-efficient renovations, including heat pumps, smart thermostats, rooftop solar panels, updated insulation, and new windows and doors.
The financial incentives included in the Home Renovation Savings Program are welcome news for homeowners trying to reduce their carbon footprint by retrofitting their houses. But many Torontonians still have question marks around a sustainable retrofit. Where to start? Can I trust the technology? Will it keep my house warm? It’s what Jake Miller, executive director of Toronto Home Retrofits (THR), describes as a “fear of the unknown.”
Local community groups are trying to figure out how to educate neighbours on the environmental benefits of a home retrofit and the resulting heating-bill savings, but many feel ill-equipped to help navigate the rebate system. To help, THR provides support to community groups across Toronto that help homeowners electrify their homes and reduce emissions. Founded in 2023, the non-profit grew out of the Pocket Change Project, a community group in Toronto’s east end that began a mentoring program among neighbours back in 2017. The program provided insight on installing heat pumps and other energy-efficient tools. Realizing this information could appeal to all Torontonians, members of the group founded THR.
THR has since worked to create a network of associations, drawing on knowledge from long-standing groups, such as the Pocket Change Project and Harbord Village’s Net Zero committee, while supporting newer groups like the Parkdale-High Park Home Retrofits program. By sharing resources, THR is making the idea of a home retrofit more accessible.
But that doesn’t mean it’s not a daunting project, especially for communities not yet on board with the idea of more energy-efficient homes. To help get neighbours involved, the experts have a few suggestions.
Julia Morgan, the communications lead for the Pocket Change Project, says that one way they appeal to neighbours is by throwing eco fun fairs in the community. “That’s a day where we take over our local park and we have all kinds of exhibitors doing everything from selling native plants to kids’ activities to running a heat pump demo,” she says. “It’s quite festive and fun, but also very informative.”
The Pocket Change Project also connects neighbours by setting up heat pump parties. A member of the community who’s successfully installed a heat pump opens their home to neighbours showing them how it works and letting them experience it firsthand.
Once a neighbour’s hooked on the idea, the Pocket Change Project helps guide them towards a qualified energy advisor, an expert in green retrofits who can perform an audit of the neighbour’s home, pointing them in the direction of where to start. (Read our interview with Toronto-based energy advisor Sarah Grant here.)
Tim Grant, chair of Harbord Village’s Net Zero committee, takes a hands-on approach, knocking at neighbours’ doors to educate them on energy efficient tech and surveying how many neighbours have undergone a retrofit. The Net Zero committee has also taken the time to vet contractors and broker deals with local retailers, establishing discounts on equipment. Graciously, the committee has made this information and its discounts available to anyone in Ontario through its website.
“When we negotiate discounts, we then publicize them by putting flyers in the doors of the nearest 10,000 houses,” Grant says. “ Even if the discount is only $200 people pay attention to that.”
Both the Pocket Change Project and Harbord Village’s Net Zero committee maintain extensive newsletters emailed out to subscribers. If a community wanted to start their own retrofit-focussed group, Grant recommends starting a newsletter in partnership with their local residents’ association, sending out resources on retrofits through them. The group should also sign up to the Net Zero committee’s newsletter. Grant says their newsletter goes out to 53 smaller associations across the province, providing information on discounts, government updates, and retrofit resources.
Many Torontonians still have question marks around a sustainable retrofit. Where to start? Can I trust the technology? Will it keep my house warm? It’s what Jake Miller, executive director of Toronto Home Retrofits, describes as a ‘fear of the unknown.'
Finally, Jake Miller at THR says that to win neighbours over, you need to give them the “I-want-that experience.” It’s why the Pocket Change Project’s heat pump parties are so successful, he explains. “They need to go into a home and be like, ‘Oh, this is so comfortable. There are no drafty places here. I don't hear the furnace clicking on and roaring down in the basement and then clicking off.’ People need to have those kinds of experiences,” he says.
Until someone sees how effective — and reliable — the new technology is and how easy it was to install, it’s hard to convince them to ditch their fuel-burning furnace.
Miller also suggests being open and available to neighbours. They’re going to have questions, like is this a good quote? How long did the heat pump take to install? Where did you buy yours from? By being a sounding board for neighbours, it can help smooth the process.
“I do think that neighbour-to-neighbour connection, that word of mouth, is really important,” Miller says.
If you’re a homeowner just trying to grasp where to start, Miller recommends looking into whether there’s a retrofit group in your neighbourhood — or even an adjoining neighbourhood. They’re always happy to share resources. If there isn’t a group, try to track down a neighbour or someone you know who’s completed a retrofit. Then you can pick their brain about energy advisors, rebates, contractors, tech, and more. Maybe together, the two of you can even plant the seeds for your own community group.
To see Jake Miller’s list of suggested resources for getting started with retrofits, click here.
