The ReCover Initiative Canada

10/27/2026

ReCover is heading to STEER 2026 as a Gold Sponsor.

On October 28, energy professionals from across the region will gather in Dartmouth for the Strategic Transition to Electrification and Emissions Reduction Conference, with conversations spanning energy efficiency, deep retrofits, electrification, decarbonization, and the transition to lower-carbon buildings and communities. ‏

These are conversations closely connected to ReCover’s work across Atlantic Canada, and we’re looking forward to connecting with our partners in the sector.

If you’re attending STEER, come find the ReCover team. Whether you want to talk deep retrofit planning, research, tools, building-owner challenges, or simply compare notes on what’s happening across the region, we’d love to chat.

See you at STEER.

10/26/2026

How do we build the energy management workforce Atlantic Canada needs?

It starts with making career pathways more accessible and connecting training to real employment opportunities.

That’s why ReCover partnered with the Canadian Institute for Energy Training (CIET) to offer Certified Energy Manager training at no cost to participants. Fourteen participants have completed Energy Management Professional 101 (EMP 101), building foundational skills they can apply in the workplace. Today, they begin the next stage: Certified Energy Manager (CEM) training to prepare them for the CEM exam.

One of the strengths of this pathway is that it creates more ways for people to see themselves in energy management. They can build practical, employer-relevant skills and work toward a certification recognized across the energy management sector.

The goal is to turn training into opportunity, helping more people build careers in energy management while strengthening the workforce needed to advance deep retrofits across Atlantic Canada.

10/20/2026

Free retrofit training opportunity in Colchester County

Blue House Energy is offering two free training opportunities for people who live and/or work in Colchester County and surrounding areas and want to build practical skills for the energy retrofit sector.

Whole House Energy Retrofit
A six-week online program exploring how homes use energy and how to improve their efficiency, comfort, and performance. Registration closes Oct. 25 at noon.

Blower Door Testing
A two-day, in-person training focused on using blower door equipment to measure air leakage and improve building performance. Training takes place Dec. 2 and 3 in Colchester County.

Training is free, but spaces are limited. Learn more and register: https://ow.ly/JrVn50ZYr89

Know a contractor, renovator, tradesperson, or someone looking to build skills in the retrofit sector? Please share this opportunity with them.

10/19/2026

What do you see as the biggest barrier to scaling deep retrofits in your province?

Research from our Retrofit Roadmap indicates that 65% of Atlantic Canada’s building stock needs to undergo deep retrofits by 2050 to meet climate targets. There are huge energy savings and societal benefits that could be happening if we implement deep retrofits at scale.

So, what would that take?

• A repeatable pathway. Every project shouldn’t have to reinvent the process from scratch.
• A workforce ready to deliver. The region faces a shortfall of about 12,600 construction workers by 2034.
• Funding continuity. DRAI renewal is a step in the right direction, but long-term, reliable implementation funding is needed to support building owners’ capital planning.
• Public buildings that lead. Governments are already spending on schools, long-term care and housing. Including deep retrofits in that work sets the pace for everyone.

None of this happens alone. Please reach out if you're interested in collaborating on scaling deep retrofits in our region. https://recoverinitiative.ca/contact/

10/16/2026

ReCover and CIET’s no-cost energy management training is underway.

This week, 14 participants from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island, began EMP 101, the first stage of the Certified Energy Management (CEM) Pathway with the Canadian Institute for Energy Training (CIET) .

The first session covered energy fundamentals, energy consumption and demand calculations, and a systematic approach to building energy conservation.

But the learning was not happening in the abstract. Participants brought local examples into the discussion and shared how they hope to use these skills to better support their communities and customers.

That practical connection matters. Building Atlantic Canada’s energy management and decarbonization workforce means helping people develop skills they can apply to real buildings, real decisions, and real local needs.

The pathway continues over the coming weeks with Certified Energy Manager training, coaching, and exam support.

10/15/2026

ReCover’s co-founder and retrofit expert, Lorrie Rand, appeared as a witness before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development (ENVI), presenting four key recommendations drawn from the Atlantic Canada Deep Retrofit Roadmap. https://ow.ly/k9Uj50ZXVwJ

“There is no question that home energy retrofits and adaptation measures represent a meaningful opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make energy more affordable for Canadians,” Rand told the committee. “Across all the housing archetypes we studied, energy savings of 50 to 80 percent, along with substantial emissions reductions, are technically viable.”

Watch the full ENVI committee meeting recording linked here. https://ow.ly/L0yv50ZXVwH

10/13/2026

Last week’s federal announcement of renewed support for the Deep Retrofit Accelerator Initiative (DRAI) is encouraging news for Canada’s retrofit sector. While we look ahead to what renewed federal support may bring, don’t miss the opportunity to access current funding!

Funding is available through our Building Transformation Program for feasibility-stage work, but the window for projects supported in this fiscal year is closing. October 15 is the deadline to connect with ReCover about feasibility study funding as eligible projects must be completed by March 31, 2027.

If your building needs major upgrades, now is the time to explore how a deep retrofit could fit into your capital plans. ReCover supports owners of eligible pre-2000 commercial, institutional, and 4+ storey multi-unit residential buildings across Atlantic Canada with engineer-led feasibility studies that assess technical and financial viability and help build an investment-ready business case.

Learn more and connect with our team:https://recoverinitiative.ca/building-transformation-program-2/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=organic_social&utm_campaign=btp_fall_2026&utm_content=funding_round_closing

10/09/2026

The ReCover Initiative welcomes the Government of Canada’s announcement of $110 million over three years, beginning in 2027-28, to renew the Deep Retrofit Accelerator Initiative (DRAI).

DRAI provides funding to third-party accelerators, like ReCover, that help building owners tackle complex retrofits by guiding them from planning through to implementation. Accelerators also work to build a knowledgeable and innovative retrofit sector through training activities, tools and resources to meet growing deep retrofit demand.

With support from DRAI, ReCover has helped lay the groundwork for scaling deep retrofits across Atlantic Canada, including developing the region’s first Deep Retrofit Roadmap.

Renewed federal investment offers an opportunity to build on this foundation. This is a significant step for the deep retrofit sector, helping it build momentum and keep Canada’s building stock resilient. Other notable initiatives from the landmark announcement include:

💡National Heat Pump Rebate Program: $2 billion over eight years to help up to 820,000 households install eligible electric heat pumps with a 24 hour approval process.
💰CMHC Multi-Unit Mortgage Loan Insurance: Financing support for energy-efficiency retrofits in up to 250,000 additional rental housing units.
🏦Canada Infrastructure Bank Building Retrofit Initiative: Support for retrofits in an additional 30,000 multi-unit residential units.

We look forward to continuing to work with our accelerator partners to help scale deep retrofits across Canada.

https://ow.ly/5njZ50ZWpWO

Landmark Federal Investment Announces $110 Million in DRAI Funding Renewal Halifax, NS — October 09, 2026 — The ReCover Initiative attended Honourable Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure’s event in Dartmouth, NS, welcoming the Government of Canada’s investment in retrofi...

10/06/2026

Aging building. Major upgrades ahead. Not sure where to start?

ReCover’s Building Transformation Program helps owners understand which upgrades make sense before committing to major capital spending.

BTP uses engineer-led feasibility work to assess the technical options and financial considerations for your building and develop an investment-ready business case to support better-informed decisions.

Limited funding remains available for eligible pre-2000 commercial, institutional, and 4+ storey multi-unit residential buildings across Atlantic Canada under the 2026–27 funding period.

The deadline to indicate your interest for this funding window is Oct. 15, 2026. Eligible feasibility work must be completed by March 31, 2027.

Learn more and connect with our team: https://ow.ly/xpwg50ZUq9m

10/05/2026

We recently sat down with ACOA to learn more about the $76M of funding available to support community infrastructure, including retrofits, through the Build Communities Strong Fund – Local Impact Stream. Swipe through to see what we learned!

With contributions of up to $1 million per project, this could be an opportunity for community buildings that are approaching major capital renewal to consider a broader retrofit or building improvement project.

If you’re responsible for a community building and have a project in mind, it may be worth exploring whether this funding could help move it forward.

Learn more and apply here: https://www.canada.ca/en/atlantic-canada-opportunities/services/build-communities-strong-fund.html