Ask the Feds to make new homes fossil-free!
The federal government is about to decide how to move forward a key piece of climate policy – and they need our support to make it as strong as possible.
Right now, ministers are developing the contents of a brand-new Green Buildings Strategy – and if enough of us raise our voices, we could convince them to include requirements for buildings to use electric heat pumps instead of fossil fuels for heating.
If the government moves forward on this, it would be HUGE – tackling climate pollution right across the country while making new buildings safer, healthier, and more affordable to heat.
Send a message to Prime Minister Trudeau and key ministers to ensure new buildings are fully electric!
We already have the technology to heat the air and water in our homes using super efficient electric heat pumps, rather than “natural gas” (more accurately fossil gas) or other fossil fuels like oil. Heat pumps, which run on electricity, are much cleaner and provide lower monthly energy bills for residents. They can heat homes even in the coldest climates while also purifying the air. What’s more, heat pumps also act as cooling devices and quite literally save lives during extreme heat events. This constantly evolving technology is quite remarkable!
As governments at all levels are making plans to tackle the housing crisis by building millions of new homes across the country, it’s a key opportunity to ensure that, rather than adding to greenhouse gas emissions, these new buildings will help bring emissions down.
If we are to meet Canada’s emissions reduction targets, we have to make the switch to heat pumps in existing buildings too. Right now fossil fuel heating systems in homes account for 13 percent of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions – and they’ve been growing.
A strong Green Buildings Strategy would be a massive step forward in phasing out fossil fuels and accelerating the clean energy transition. And with this year’s devastating and record-breaking wildfire season from Halifax to Yellowknife to Kelowna, it’s become abundantly clear that we need to get fossil fuels out of our communities – now.
Will you take a minute to ask federal officials to ensure all new buildings are built fully electric, while providing more funding and support for retrofits in existing buildings?
Many municipalities and some provinces are courageously making efforts to decrease building emissions. But these efforts lead to a patchwork of policies and take a long time to win and implement. The Federal government could, with a stroke of the pen, require new buildings be zero carbon across the country and virtually eliminate building emissions.
Let’s make sure they do this.
Thank you for being part of the Stand.earth community of more than a million people and growing. Together we’re accelerating bold climate action by pushing our leaders to build healthy and resilient communities, accelerate the transition to renewables, and protect ourselves from the toxic threat of fossil fuels. The challenges posed by the climate crisis and fossil fuels may seem daunting, but I believe that if we raise our voices together, we can achieve transformative change.
Lana Goldberg (she/her)
Safe Cities Climate Campaigner
Stand.earth
Stand.earth challenges corporations, industries, and governments to prioritize the well-being of people, our environment, and our climate by creating long-term, effective solutions. None of this work is possible without your support.
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