Beyond Sustainability: The Power of Indigenous Healthy Energy Homes

The report examines how substandard housing in Indigenous communities in Canada contributes to poor health outcomes and energy poverty. It proposes 'Healthy Energy Homes' as a holistic solution to reduce healthcare costs, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and improve affordability. The authors argue that overcoming current governance and funding barriers requires a national, Indigenous-led approach to housing.

• Substandard housing is a primary driver of poor health outcomes for Indigenous Peoples in Canada, with high rates of mould contributing to respiratory issues. In 2013, 50.9 per cent of Indigenous adults reported mould in their homes, and among First Nations adults, 43 per cent of those with asthma and 52 per cent with chronic bronchitis lived with mould.
• Overcrowding in Indigenous housing is significantly more prevalent than in non-Indigenous housing and is linked to severe mental and physical health issues, including a tuberculosis transmission rate at least 20 times higher than among non-Indigenous people.
• Energy inefficiency leads to 'energy poverty' and 'heat or eat' trade-offs, where residents must choose between basic nutrition and home heating. This is exacerbated in rural and remote communities reliant on expensive and polluting diesel generation.
• Indigenous housing faces a severe infrastructure gap and chronic underfunding. As of 2023, it is estimated that $135 billion is required to close the housing gap, far exceeding the $918 million allocated in the 2024 federal budget.
• Governance challenges, specifically jurisdictional siloing between health and housing departments, impede the ability to implement holistic solutions that could reduce overall government expenditures.
• Healthy Energy Homes can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For example, switching one home in Bella Bella to a heat pump could eliminate over 2,000 litres of diesel annually, avoiding 5.7 tonnes of emissions per home per year.
• Widespread adoption of energy efficiency in Indigenous homes could lead to substantial economic savings, with estimated annual operating cost savings of at least $185 million if all communities completed retrofitting.
• Implementing Healthy Energy Homes supports reconciliation and Indigenous self-determination by aligning housing with cultural values, such as stewardship of the Land and the principle of using only what is needed.

APA

Canadian Climate Institute (n.d.). Beyond Sustainability: The Power of Indigenous Healthy Energy Homes. https://climateinstitute.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Beyond-sustainability-power-Indigenous-Healthy-Energy-Homes.pdf

Chicago

Canadian Climate Institute. Beyond Sustainability: The Power of Indigenous Healthy Energy Homes. n.d. https://climateinstitute.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Beyond-sustainability-power-Indigenous-Healthy-Energy-Homes.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Canadian Climate Institute |title=Beyond Sustainability: The Power of Indigenous Healthy Energy Homes |url=https://climateinstitute.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Beyond-sustainability-power-Indigenous-Healthy-Energy-Homes.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{canadianclimateinstitutendbeyond, author = {{Canadian Climate Institute}}, title = {{Beyond Sustainability: The Power of Indigenous Healthy Energy Homes}}, institution = {Canadian Climate Institute}, url = {https://climateinstitute.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Beyond-sustainability-power-Indigenous-Healthy-Energy-Homes.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }