Co-Creating Co-Benefits through Tenant Engagement

Engaging tenants in building energy efficiency retrofits just got easier, thanks to the best practices developed by ACORN Canada, a leading non-profit focused on low-income tenant engagement. Research findings indicated early engagement of tenants in the retrofit design process, as well as ongoing communication and support, help to maximize co-benefits for tenants and improve building performance due to changes in tenant behavior. In speaking to tenants in Hamilton, Peel Region, and Toronto, the project team found co-benefits like local jobs, training opportunities, and better indoor air quality can help to increase public support; other recommendations include increasing tenant protections to prevent above guideline increases. Following the project, ACORN worked with Toronto’s Tower Renewal team to explore scaling up its tenant engagement model. TAF’s own Retrofit team has learned from these findings to best engage tenants through our own retrofit activities.