Renewing Homes
How do we improve existing homes in ways that are durable, practical, and built for long-term performance? Renewing Homes is a long-form podcast about residential retrofits and the real-world complexity of improving existing homes. Hosted by Ben Hildebrandt, the show features thoughtful conversations with builders, designers, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders working across Canada and North America. Episodes explore building science, retrofit strategy, house-as-a-system thinking, workforce challenges, policy, and the practical trade-offs involved in improving homes for comfort, durability, efficiency, and long-term performance. Whether you work in construction, design, research, or program delivery, Renewing Homes is a space for deeper conversations about what it takes to create better homes through better retrofits.
Episodes
In this episode of Renewing Homes, I explore the lessons from the CHBA’s Towards Net-Zero Renovation Initiative, a multi-year effort to demonstrate what is possible when building science, planning, and skilled teams come together to tackle residential retrofits.
The initiative brought together builders, energy advisors, designers, and other industry professionals to develop and implement deep energy renovations across existing...
In this episode of Renewing Homes, I’m joined by Nathan Horton of One Click Energy Solutions and Jason Rowley of BC Hydro to explore one of the biggest barriers to residential electrification: electrical service capacity.
As more homeowners look to install heat pumps, EV chargers, and other electric technologies, many are told they need costly electrical service upgrades before they can move forward. But is that always the cas...
In this episode of Renewing Homes, I sit down with Peter Darlington of Solar Homes and Cooper Le of 4 Elements to explore Peter's journey from stucco contractor to one of Canada's leading residential retrofit specialists.
What began as curiosity about net zero homes led Peter to undertake one of Canada's first CHBA Net Zero labelled renovations on his own home… Several years before the label even existed! That experience tran...
In this episode of Renewing Homes, I sit down with Michael Ridler, Stephen Magneron, and Fellipe Falluh to explore where hydronic systems fit within residential retrofits. We discuss hydronic heating and cooling, distribution methods, air-to-water heat pumps, thermal storage, zoning, and how hydronics compare to conventional forced-air systems.
The conversation also examines the role hydronics could play in an increasingly electrifi...
Most people think comfort comes down to the number on the thermostat. In reality, it's a lot more complicated than that.
In this episode, I’m joined by Allison Bailes and Nate Adams to explore what actually makes a home comfortable.
We discuss thermal comfort, mean radiant temperature, humidity, air movement, HVAC system design, and why two homes set to the same temperature can feel completely different. Along the way, we dig i...
The conversation delves into the significance of the Integrated Design Process (IDP) in residential retrofits, emphasizing its role in project management, planning, and the avoidance of poorly managed and executed projects. The value of IDP in residential renovations is highlighted, along with the quantification of its benefits. The conversation emphasizes the importance of investing in the plan and continuous communication through...
This episode introduces the complexity of residential retrofits and the fragmented nature of conversations in the retrofit industry. It outlines the purpose, goals, content, and format of the podcast, emphasizing a focus on real projects, challenges, and industry growth. The podcast aims to provide valuable insights and perspectives for professionals in the residential retrofit industry.
Takeaways
- Residential retrofits are comple...
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