Assessing the Potential to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Waterloo Region House: Is the Kyoto Target Possible‪?‬

Abstract A standardised home energy rating system (EnerGuide for Houses) is used to evaluate the current energy profile of 1,035 houses in Waterloo Region, Canada. Many opportunities exist to upgrade furnaces, water heaters, attic insulation, wall insulation, foundation insulation, air tightness, doors and windows. However, rather than consider the house separate from its social context, the homeowner is asked to consider the potential upgrades to reduce the list from those that are technically possible to those that homeowners are willing to consider. Potential energy savings averaged over 30% of total consumption for houses built before 1940, but even the more efficient single detached houses built in the 1980s and 1990s had potential energy savings of 20% and 12%, respectively. Increased efficiency can be complemented with fuel substitution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Emissions from oil, natural gas and electricity consumption could be cut by 67%, 27% and 8%, respectively. Row houses are more energy efficient than single detached dwellings, but the consistent improvements achieved in newer detached houses were not found in newer row houses. Instead, the row houses built in the 1990s were highly variable as large air leaks and inconsistent construction among adjacent buildings made their average energy consumption higher than that of row houses built in the 1980s. This variability highlights the need for evaluations of each individual building to identify areas for potential improvements. The socio-technical potential to cut GHG emissions averaged 21% for single detached dwellings and 8% for row houses. To achieve the 20% reduction needed to meet Canada's Kyoto Protocol target (6% below 1990 baseline levels), all homeowners would have to undertake all recommended actions. This level of action is considered highly unlikely, so programs are needed to encourage broad participation, changes in social norms to encourage efficiency and substitution to `greener' energy sources.