Empowering homeowners for a sustainable and resilient future

Durham Greener Homes is a Durham Region program, developed and delivered by Windfall Ecology Centre. It was designed to support homeowners in completing energy retrofits and improve climate resilience. The initiative is part of Durham Region’s commitment to building sustainable communities and achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Rooted in the Durham Community Energy Plan

Durham Greener Homes was launched as a direct response to Durham Community Energy Plan, which outlines a bold low-carbon pathway for the region. This plan calls for deep energy retrofits in nearly all of Durham’s 200,000 homes by 2050 and serves as a roadmap for reducing greenhouse gas emissions while creating local economic opportunities. Durham Region has declared a climate emergency and is committed to reaching net-zero emissions by mid-century. Durham Greener Homes is a key implementation tool in this strategy, helping to translate policy into action at the household level.

Energy-efficiency program

Durham Greener Homes helps homeowners navigate the retrofit journey with independent expert guidance and financial supports. Through partnerships with local lenders and utilities, the program simplifies the retrofit process while stimulating the local renovation economy.

Benefits include:

• Reduced energy consumption
• Lower utility bills
• Increased home value
• Improved comfort and indoor air quality

All while contributing to a healthier, low-carbon environment.

Weather-Ready: Climate resilience for homes

The Weather-Ready Home Assessment Protocol is a new component of Durham Greener Homes that helps residents prepare for the increasing risks of extreme weather events. Developed by Windfall Ecology Centre, this first-of-its-kind protocol in Canada offers a comprehensive evaluation of home vulnerabilities across multiple climate hazards.

Climate hazards include:

• Heavy rainfall and flooding
• Extreme heat
• Winter storms and extreme cold
• High winds and severe storms

The assessment provides tailored recommendations to improve safety and resilience, covering features such as grading, drainage, ventilation, backup systems, and emergency preparedness and is performed on-site at your home.

By integrating climate adaptation into home improvement, the Weather-Ready component sets a new standard for residential resilience in Ontario.

Why this matters

Canada is experiencing a surge in climate-related disasters. According to the Canadian Climate Institute, the annual cost of weather-related damage has risen from $400 million in the 1970s to over $3.1 billion in 2023. Preliminary estimates for 2024 suggest insured losses may exceed $4 billion, making it one of the costliest years on record. Ontario residents have been among the hardest-hit in Canada, facing increasingly frequent and severe floods, wildfires, and windstorms.