Search Climate Insights Directory

The report examines the financial and energy impacts of the US Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Agriculture (USDA) proposing to adopt the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). It highlights that transitioning to the 2021 IECC could reduce energy consumption by 27% and save $14,536 in life cycle costs per single-family home. The analysis emphasizes that all-electric homes are cheaper to build and operate than gas-powered homes, and that the Inflation Reduction Act's 45L tax credit—offering up to $5,000 for Zero Energy Ready Homes (ZERH) and $2,500 for ENERGY STAR certification—makes high-efficiency construction financially viable, particularly in the Southeast US.

The document outlines strategies for US states to implement the Home Efficiency Rebates and Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates programs. It emphasizes prioritizing low-income and disadvantaged communities, stacking various financial incentives to reduce upfront costs for whole-home retrofits, and developing complementary state policies such as workforce training and building envelope efficiency to scale residential decarbonization.

A coalition of over 30 Canadian businesses, unions, and research organizations is urging the government to accelerate the transition to a carbon-neutral electricity grid by 2035. The signatories argue that clean electricity is essential for attracting global investment, supporting low-carbon industrial production (such as steel and batteries), and reducing energy costs for households through technologies like heat pumps and electric vehicles. While noting that Canada's electricity is already 83% clean, the letter emphasizes the need for reliable and competitively priced carbon-neutral grids to avoid losing jobs and investments to the United States, which shares the same goal.

A coalition of over 30 Canadian businesses, labour organizations, and research entities argues that transitioning to a net zero electricity grid by 2035 is a competitive necessity to attract global investment and create high-skill jobs. The letter highlights that Canada's current 83% clean electricity provides a head start over G20 peers, but warns that the country must accelerate its transition to avoid losing investment to the US. It further asserts that a net zero economy will reduce household energy costs through technologies like heat pumps and electric vehicles.

The document argues that clean electricity is essential for Canada to reach its climate targets, noting that switching from fossil fuels to clean electricity alone could contribute 37 per cent toward the 2050 net zero goal. It highlights that Canadians are projected to spend 12 per cent less on energy by 2050 due to the efficiency of electric vehicles and heat pumps. The text asserts that a net zero electricity grid by 2035 is achievable and necessary for economic competitiveness, particularly relative to the United States. Furthermore, it notes that the federal government has allocated over $30 billion to support provinces and territories in upgrading grids, with solar and wind already being competitive or cheaper than natural gas in Alberta and Ontario.

The Canadian Climate Institute asserts that a clean electricity grid is essential for Canada to reach its climate goals, noting that transitioning from fossil fuels to clean electricity alone would achieve 37% of the 2050 net-zero target. The document highlights that Canada's grid is already 84% clean and that wind and solar are becoming the cheapest options in provinces like Ontario and Alberta. It emphasizes that federal investment, including over $30 billion for provinces and territories, is critical to maintaining competitiveness against the United States, which also aims for net-zero electricity by 2035.

Heat pumps are identified as a cornerstone for sustainable buildings, capable of significantly reducing CO2 emissions by replacing fossil fuel heating. While technologically mature and often cheaper over their lifetime than gas boilers in several major economies, their rollout is hindered by high upfront costs, poor building insulation, and a shortage of skilled technicians. The document highlights that meeting 2030 climate pledges will require tripling the global heat pump workforce to over 1.3 million and implementing strategic policies such as financial incentives, building codes, and innovative business models like heat-as-a-service.

Climate Central reports that 97% of 240 analyzed U.S. locations saw an increase in annual cooling degree days (CDD) between 1970 and 2022, with the most significant rises in the Southwest, South, and Southeast. Projections suggest U.S. household cooling demand will increase by 71% by 2050, while global demand is expected to more than triple. The document highlights that rising demand can strain power grids, increase greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and HFCs, and exacerbate urban heat islands. It also notes a disproportionate energy burden on low-income and minority households, who may delay cooling use due to cost. Proposed solutions include transitioning to renewable energy, adopting high-efficiency heat pumps, and implementing building retrofits.

The policy brief outlines how the EPA's $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) can be leveraged to overcome market failures in clean energy financing for underserved US communities. It proposes three primary strategies: mobilizing additional public and private capital to potentially reach $250 billion over 10 years, prioritizing financial products that build long-term borrower wealth rather than just protecting lenders, and centering the role of community development financial institutions (CDFIs) and credit unions in the decarbonization process.

The document highlights the dangers of extreme heat in Canada, noting that 619 people died during the 2021 B.C. heat wave, with 93% lacking functional home cooling. It advocates for a combination of mechanical cooling (heat pumps, air conditioners) and urban greening, noting that in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, these could reduce heat-related hospitalization costs by 30% by mid-century. The text also recommends implementing occupational heat standards, earlier public heat warnings, and flexible workplace schedules to protect workers and maintain productivity, citing that schedule adaptations in B.C. could save $4 million annually in GDP losses by the 2030s.

The document examines the impact of the 2021 heat wave on five First Nations in British Columbia, highlighting how colonial housing policies increased vulnerability while community solidarity and traditional knowledge provided critical protection. It details specific regional impacts—from urban challenges in the Tsleil-Waututh Nation to the infrastructure dependencies of the Haíɫzaqv (Heiltsuk Nation)—and argues for resilience planning rooted in Indigenous rights and localized data.

The document examines the 2021 extreme heat emergency's impact on five First Nations in British Columbia, categorised as urban (Tsleil-Waututh), rural (Kanaka Bar, Adams Lake, and Líl̓wat), and remote (Haíɫzaqv). It highlights how colonial housing policies created systemic vulnerabilities, while Indigenous kinship and cultural values provided protective resilience. Key findings include the severe disruption of food sovereignty, the failure of traditional water-based cooling due to rising temperatures, and the success of fuel-switching to heat pumps in remote areas. The report argues for trauma-informed, site-specific heat planning that moves beyond hazard-specific silos and integrates Indigenous knowledge.

The report argues that federal funding from Budget 2023 can help provinces modernize electricity grids and reduce the cost of transitioning to net zero. While electricity rates may rise modestly, the shift to more efficient electric technologies like heat pumps and electric vehicles is projected to lower average household energy spending by 12% by 2050. The authors emphasize that provinces should adopt targeted policy tools, such as means-tested fixed charges, to ensure energy affordability for low- and middle-income households.

The report argues that federal investments in clean electricity will lower overall energy expenses for Canadians by 2050, despite modest increases in electricity rates, provided that provinces implement targeted affordability measures for low-income households.

The Midway Christian Church in Kentucky implemented a series of energy efficiency measures and solar installations between 2004 and 2018. These efforts included replacing an old HVAC system with heat pumps, installing LED lighting, and adding a 4.5-kW rooftop solar system. The church's journey was supported by the Green Chalice Program and Interfaith Power and Light, leading to its certification as a Green Chalice Congregation in 2014 and a commitment to reach carbon neutrality by 2030.

The Clean Air Task Force asserts that while the Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA) strengthens the EU's manufacturing capabilities for net-zero technologies, the slow pace of infrastructure deployment—such as power lines and pipelines—could become a "fatal bottleneck." The authors propose three primary adaptations of NZIA policies for infrastructure: integrating clean energy infrastructure into spatial planning and mapping, implementing upper limits on permitting timelines for non-renewable net-zero technologies like advanced nuclear, and establishing "one-stop shop" administrative agencies to streamline permitting processes, citing Denmark as a potential model.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment advocates for the Clean Electricity Regulations to ensure a net-zero electricity grid by 2035, emphasizing the need for interim targets and the removal of exemptions for emitting assets. The statement highlights that Canada's electricity sector was the sixth largest source of domestic greenhouse gas emissions in 2020, particularly in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia. It links the phase-out of coal and gas to significant health benefits, noting that coal causes severe respiratory and neurological issues, while gas plants are associated with adverse birth outcomes and increased hospital admissions for the elderly.

The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) took the unusual step of rejecting Enbridge Gas's $123.7 million Saint-Laurent Ottawa Nord pipeline project, citing the City of Ottawa's electrification plans and a projected decline in natural gas demand. The document explores how this decision challenges traditional utility business models—where returns are often based on pipeline mileage rather than gas volume—and highlights the risk of 'stranded assets' if new infrastructure is built despite decarbonization goals. It further discusses Enbridge's five-year plan, which advocates for a 'diversified' scenario including low-carbon gas and hydrogen, contrasting this with the City of Ottawa's preference for integrated energy planning to meet climate targets.

The report examines the 'Maritimes anomaly,' where New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island have achieved significantly higher heat pump adoption rates than the rest of Canada. It attributes this success to a combination of high energy poverty, a moderate Atlantic climate, existing institutional commitments to energy efficiency, and aggressive financial incentives. The document highlights the importance of 'stacking' provincial and federal grants and warns against the rise of unreliable installers.

The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) denied Enbridge Gas's $123.7-million St. Laurent North pipeline project, citing Ottawa's community electrification plan and reduced future gas demand. This decision highlights a tension between traditional utility business models—which reward infrastructure ownership—and the shift toward net-zero emissions. The case underscores the need for integrated resource planning (IRP) and raises concerns about the risk of stranded assets being passed on to ratepayers as Ontario transitions away from fossil fuels.