These program components and benefits are discussed in more detail, below.

Standardized Energy Retrofit Packages

The current energy efficiency retrofit market for both homeowners and contractors is relatively unattractive. From the perspective of the contractor, the effort to prepare customized proposals is high and the closing rate is low. Low volumes and the fact that every project is specific to each household means that material costs are expensive and performance guarantees are risky. From the homeowner’s perspective, obtaining understandable bids from various contractors is burdensome. They are responsible for finding their own sources of funding based on their individual credit rating. Finally, the low volumes result in retrofit costs that typically exceed the value of the energy saving, even over many years.

The R-DEER product solution to address this market problem is to offer standardized energy retrofits to homeowners at high volumes. Contractors benefit from increased project predictability, improved margins and vastly higher project volumes. Homeowners benefit from a simplified transaction, guaranteed pricing, lower cost pre-financed retrofits and a simple billing and payment mechanism.

Standardized retrofit packages would be designed to deliver annual energy savings of 30 to 50%, and 20% water saving to homeowners. Modelling for the R-DEER Business Case demonstrated these savings could be achieved with existing, proven, technologies. The package cost would be dependent on home size, age and type. Using pricing based on a fixed index per specific area ($ per m2) depending on home category minimizes transaction costs and complexity.

The delivery of standardized retrofits at high volumes to Windsor homeowners is an essential feature of the Business Case and has been designed to drive market transformation. The business model aims to reduce the cost of the average retrofit by 33%. This would be achieved through efficiencies in:

Significant concerns were expressed during the engagements from some stakeholders as to whether enough homeowners would be interested in a standardized retrofit valued at $25,000 to $30,000. Additionally, many Windsor residents have already completed partial retrofits through previous government and utility programs and may not be eligible for the full program. These concerns must be addressed during the final