Homeowners know — or quickly find out — that buildings are full of surprises.
Most of Peterborough’s housing stock is more than 30 years old and, in general, the older the home, the more surprising it gets. Dealing with these surprises often requires significant investment on the part of the homeowner.
It may be finding out during a heat wave that a formerly reliable air conditioner is no longer up to the job, discovering that some or all of the walls or ceiling have no insulation or are insulated with unsafe materials, learning that pests are entering the home through unexpected pathways, or dealing with sky-high utility bills in the winter.
The City of Peterborough has recently launched a program to assist residents dealing with these common surprises of homeownership, both through financing and trusted advice.
Better Homes Peterborough offers low-interest loans to Peterborough homeowners (including landlords) for improvements that result in significant energy savings in the home.
Beyond the loans available, the program also offers customized, local support to help Peterborough residents navigate the complicated prospect of upgrading their homes.
Better Homes Peterborough’s newest staff member is Heather Ray. Ray has years of experience working with Peterborough community members to make positive impacts.
As a former director of programs at GreenUP, Ray successfully worked with neighbourhoods, schools, and residents to promote collaborative hands-on climate action. She is now program coordinator for Envirocentre, which has been engaged by the city to run the Better Homes initiative.
“I am excited to see this program available to City of Peterborough homeowners and landlords,” Ray says. “With similar programs successfully transforming homes in other communities, we have an opportunity really make an impact to minimize climate change and costs.”
“As program coordinator, my role is that of support and guidance. I am here to help homeowners understand the ins and outs of the program, help them determine if the program is a good fit, help with the application, answer questions along the way, and ensure a positive and smooth experience.”
GreenUP home energy program manager and registered energy advisor Clara Blakelock is also engaged with Better Homes Peterborough as an energy coach.
“The energy coach is there to be a resource for Peterborough homeowners on energy efficiency,” explains Blakelock.
As part of the program process, participants are offered the opportunity to book a free appointment with the energy coach to speak over the phone, online, or in person.
“I may spend a coaching session sorting through the available financing and rebate programs with a homeowner to find the best fit,” Blakelock says.
“I may help a homeowner understand their energy audit reports. I can review heat pump quotes to help a homeowner understand them. Or I may provide advice on best practices for insulation based on building science principles. It’s really about trying to meet the homeowner’s needs as much as I can.”
Better Homes Peterborough is also testing out a new energy coaching service, in which an energy coach will visit with the homeowner at their property and conduct the session there.
“This is unique to Peterborough’s program,” says Blakelock. “While it doesn’t take the place of a full energy audit, an in-home session can make it easier for me to provide advice about next steps because I’m actually seeing the issues first-hand.”
Peterborough residents can feel free to reach out, even if they’re not sure if they’ll take advantage of the financing available through the program.
“The goal of Better Homes Peterborough is to help homeowners reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save money on energy bills,” explains Ray. “It’s a key piece of the recently passed Climate Change Action Plan. Staff are available to support homeowners in achieving these goals by working together. Homeowners and landlords don’t need to do this work alone.”
Learn about the resources offered by Better Homes Peterborough by visiting betterhomesptbo.ca, where you can also register for a free online information session being offered at noon on Thursday (July 24).
