Better Homes Peterborough
Peterborough Case Studies
Learn more about how Peterborough homeowners have improved their homes energy efficiency.
Madeleine Endicott and Steve McMurtry have lived in a century home near Bonaccord park since 2021.
They took stock of their carbon emissions and realized that heating their home was having the largest impact.
Pre-retrofit energy use and GHGs
146 GJ
5.6 tonnes GHGs
Upgrades completed
- Blown in cellulose wall insulation
- Attic insulation top up
- 17% airtightness improvement
- Heat pump with electric backup
Financing/rebate programs used
- Home Efficiency Rebate Plus
Post-retrofit energy use and GHGs
83 GJ
0.8 tonnes GHGs
Energy use down 43%, GHGs down 86%
Lessons learned
Lowered costs (but increased effort!) by doing some of the work for the wall insulation themselves
Some very impactful upgrades end up being almost completely invisible!
Michael and Norma Doran bought their west-end home to retire in when it was nearly new.
Seventeen years later, it was ready for some upgrades.
They took stock of their carbon emissions and realized that heating their home was having the largest impact.
Pre-retrofit energy use and GHGs
105 GJ
4 tonnes GHGs
Upgrades completed
- Attic insulation top up
- Heat pump and electric backup
- Heat pump hot water heater
Financing/rebate programs used
- Home Efficiency Rebate Plus
Post-retrofit energy use and GHGs
60 GJ
0.6 tonnes GHGs
Energy use down 43%, GHGs down 85%
Lessons learned
Electrical panel upgrade was the most difficult part of the process
Home is now quieter and more comfortable – no real downsides
When Deanna VandenBroek bought an 800 square foot 1940s bungalow in the south end of Peterborough, it had an unfinished basement and an oil furnace.
Pre-retrofit energy use and GHGs
115 GJ
5.3 tonnes GHGs
Upgrades completed
- Basement insulated to R24
- Attic upgraded
- Heat pump with electric backup
Financing/rebate programs used
- Canada Greener Homes Grant
Post-retrofit energy use and GHGs
57 GJ
0.6 tonnes GHG
Energy use down 50%, GHGs down 90%
Lessons learned
A gas connection was available in the neighbourhood, but VandenBroek opted not to connect and instead leapfrog straight to an all-electric home. Deanna’s home is now quieter and more comfortable
John Louis Arbour’s home was built in the 1940s, with a more recent addition. The older part of the home lacked insulation, and heat and hot water was powered by natural gas.
Pre-retrofit energy use and GHGs
150 GJ
6.2 tonnes GHGs
Upgrades completed
- Basement insulation
- Blown in cellulose wall insulation
- Heat pump with electric backup
- Heat pump hot water heater
- 10 kW solar system
Financing/rebate programs used
- Home Efficiency Rebate Plus
- Canada Greener Homes Loan
Post-retrofit energy use and GHGs
27 GJ
0.4 tonnes GHGs
Energy use down 82%, GHGs down 93%
Lessons learned
Home is almost completely off gas, apart from gas fireplace and gas stove
Retirees Susan and Jim Blakelock moved into their southeast Peterborough home in 2020, built in the late 1980s.
They were aiming to reduce their home’s energy use and greenhouse gas emissions as much as possible.
Pre-retrofit energy use and GHGs
135 GJ
5.5 tonnes GHGs
Upgrades completed
- Basment insulation to R20
- Attic insulation to R60
- Heat pump added to existing high efficiency gas furnace
- Heat pump hot water heater
- Solar panels
- Electric vehicle and EV charger
Financing/rebate programs used
- Home Efficiency Rebate Plus
- Net metering for solar
Post-retrofit energy use and GHGs
36 GJ
1.1 tonnes GHGs
Energy use down 73%, GHGs down 80%
Lessons learned
Costs for basement insulation were kept lower as they did not intend to finish the basement for living space