By its second program year (2013 to 2014), total C-Returns green retrofits are expected to result in 3.04 million kg of life-cycle CO2e emission reductions, and  $438,034 in reduced utility costs for the owners. In the first two program years, C-Returns has completed 132 residential and commercial carbon and energy assessments, and 18 retrofit projects. In addition to over a dozen home retrofits, C-Returns has assisted the Community Leagues of Alberta Avenue, Meadowlark and Riverdale to upgrade their buildings to the latest in efficiency technology, including high-efficiency hockey rink LED lights, draft proofing and weatherstripping, condensing furnaces, fridges exceeding ENERGY STAR rating by 30%, and replacement of air conditioning condensing units with SEER of 18 or better.

In the first program year, nearly 100 homes have already been assessed by C-Returns, and the first 12 homes have been retrofitted at an average incremental cost of $7,220 each, and are expected to save an average of $20,515 per house over the measures’ lifetime. At the same time, the retrofits are expected to prevent the emissions of 1.2 million kilograms of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, or about as much as 796 compact cars would emit in one year of average driving in and around Edmonton. “I was quite amazed to get the assessment back. I already knew that switching to CFL light bulbs could save money, but I never ran the numbers. I can save $50 per year on the electric bill with CFLs (more with LED lights), but more importantly I can reduce my carbon footprint by 320kg CO2/year. We found some trouble spots in our home too. Keaton’s room has always been cold and with the auditor’s infrared camera, we figured out that when the house was built, they missed insulating a section of Keaton’s floor that overhangs the front door. The missing insulation meant major heat loss through the winter,” says Gene Chan, whose home was assessed by C-Returns. Check us out on our Twitter page @CReturnsgreen