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This policy brief from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) outlines the economic and social imperatives for decarbonizing Canada's building sector. It emphasizes the need for deep energy retrofits (DERs), the adoption of higher building code standards, and innovative financing to reach net-zero targets while addressing housing affordability and public health.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) outlines a strategy for decarbonizing Canada's building sector to reach net-zero emissions. It emphasizes the need for deep energy retrofits of the existing residential housing stock, the adoption of higher building code standards, and the implementation of innovative financing to address high upfront costs and energy poverty.

The report 'Manitoba Builds Green' explores the potential for scaling a deep energy retrofit (DER) industry in Manitoba to decarbonize the building sector, create sustainable employment, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

This case study examines how the Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation (CDC), a nonprofit affordable housing owner in Boston, is implementing deep energy retrofits (DER) across its portfolio to eliminate fossil fuel combustion and reduce energy consumption.

This report by RMI examines the role of low-embodied-carbon and carbon-storing materials in deep energy retrofits to reduce total building emissions and transform existing structures into climate assets.

This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) details eight case studies of deep energy retrofits implemented via Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs) in federal and municipal settings. It identifies six best practices for achieving significant energy reductions—averaging 58% across the highlighted projects—without upfront capital costs or Congressional appropriations.

The Energy Retrofit Guide for Caribbean Hospitals, published by RMI in August 2015, provides a framework for healthcare administrators in the Caribbean to reduce operating costs and improve facility resilience through deep energy retrofits. The guide outlines a three-step process—Find, Finance, and Follow-through—and introduces a complementary online tool to help facilities benchmark performance and identify energy efficiency measures (EEMs).

The GSA Net Zero Renovation Challenge is an initiative by the General Services Administration (GSA), the Office of Federal High Performance Green Buildings (OFHPGB), and the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) to achieve deep energy savings in 30-35 federal buildings using Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs). A workshop held in October 2011 by RMI and GSA identified structural, contractual, and technical barriers to achieving net zero energy, proposing a shift toward integrative design, streamlined procurement, and shared risk to move beyond conventional shallow retrofits.