Encouraging and supporting deep greenhouse gas reducing retrofits in commercial, institutional, and industrial buildings as well as large multi-unit residential buildings throughout the City of Ottawa.
Better Buildings Ottawa
Better Buildings Ottawa is a comprehensive resource for building owners and property managers wanting to retrofit their properties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and minimize operating costs.
Better Buildings Ottawa is a City of Ottawa initiative.
Who we are
In Ottawa, existing buildings are the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions. To reduce our greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050, private building owners will need to take action. Retrofitting buildings both reduces emissions and makes buildings more resilient, healthy, and economical to operate.
Why is retrofitting so important?
Where to start
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Sometimes, retrofitting a building to net zero might seem out of reach. However, there are likely to be others who have found creative solutions to the same problems you are facing, and more often than not they are willing to share their learnings.
Events & Resources
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The technical pathways to net zero emissions exist for most buildings. The City has invested in what these pathways look like for some of the most common building types in Ottawa.
Deep Retrofits
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The retrofit economy in Ottawa is growing every year, with an increasing number of actors providing building owners with financial resources to undertake comprehensive building improvements.
Financing & Incentives
What we offer
Understanding where you are and where you are going is the secret to making a difference. Explore our performance map to see how other buildings stack up and how you can take charge of your environmental footprint. Sign up today to be part of the data revolution.
Benchmarking
& Auditing
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Wondering why you’re here? The Better Building Strategy is the City of Ottawa’s plan to help accelerate retrofits of existing industrial, commercial, institutional, and multi-unit residential buildings. Comprehensive and action-oriented, this plan is designed to reach climate goals of net zero emissions by 2050. Find out how you can get involved.
What is the Better Buildings Strategy?
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Large mixed-use
8%
$60/ft2
Large mixed-use
Large mixed-use buildings for commercial and institutional purposes with an average construction around 1980 and an average gross floor area (GFA) of approximately 79,000 sq.m.
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Low-rise office
20%
$19/ft2
Low-rise office
Low-rise office buildings for commercial and industrial purposes were mostly built around 1970. There are an average of 35 suites in this archetype with a gross floor area of approximately 2,452 sq.m.
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Large multi-unit residential
25%
$33/ft2
Large multi-unit residential
Large Multi-Unit Residential Buildings (MURBs) were built in the 1990’s. There are an average of 80 suites in this archetype with a gross floor area of approximately 11,622 sq.m.
