B5.3Develop a retrofit strategy for existing buildings

Buildings are the second-largest source of Surrey’s carbon pollution, accounting for 42% of total emissions, primarily due to burning gas for space and water heating. The majority of the City’s current building stock will still be in use in thirty years and will need to be retrofitted to be zero-carbon and climate-resilient by 2050. Given the scale of this challenge, a comprehensive strategy is needed to identify actions the City can take, in coordination with leadership and support from senior levels of government, to scale up retrofits in Surrey. This strategy needs to be informed by community building stock data and reflect the tools available to the City to influence energy and emissions from existing buildings.

While resilient, zero-carbon building retrofits will require significant investment, they offer improved comfort, indoor air quality and utility bill savings to residents.