WELLINGTON COUNTY – The county is collaborating with the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) to make its Home Energy Tool Kits available to other municipalities and Home Builders’ Associations across Canada.
“Our collaboration with CHBA will enable communities nationwide to adopt our proven tool kit,” stated county planning committee chair James Seeley.
Wellington County created the tool kit to help homeowners better understand their energy use, save money, lower their carbon footprint and create healthier, more comfortable homes.
Using hands-on tools, tips and a step-by-step workbook, the kits guide users through eight comprehensive activities ranging from mechanical systems to lighting efficiency.
“We developed the [kit] to put practical knowledge directly in homeowners’ hands, empowering them to make informed decisions about their energy use,” said climate change and sustainability manager Karen Chisholme. “With support from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, we spent nearly a year developing the comprehensive workbook that forms the heart of the tool kit.”
She said “Making our tool kit available to other municipalities truly reflects the spirit of collaboration – municipalities helping municipalities.
“There’s no need for every community to reinvent the wheel when tested, proven solutions already exist. This collaboration exemplifies how local innovation can scale to create national impact, with our research and development investment now benefiting communities across the country.”
Since launching in March 2023, the 14 Home Energy Tool Kits available through the Wellington County Library system have had 115 loans recorded and a four-star resident satisfaction rating.
For more information about Wellington County’s Home Energy Tool Kit programme, visit wellington.ca/energykit.
