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Energiesprong Phase 2 Report

The Energiesprong Integrated Design Workshop Report outlines the efforts of Sustainable Buildings Canada (SBC) in advancing the Energiesprong initiative within Ontario. Building on the success of the Energiesprong program in Europe, this project aims to retrofit existing social housing to achieve net-zero energy performance through integrated, large-scale solutions. The report focuses on an industry engagement workshop held in June 2019, where participants explored innovative technologies and methodologies for implementing whole-home retrofits.

At its core, this report details the collaboration between industry professionals, architects, panel manufacturers, and energy experts who worked together to develop technical solutions for building envelope improvements, mechanical system integration, and renewable energy adoption. Through a “hackathon” format, interdisciplinary teams addressed various design challenges, from the prefabrication of building components to optimizing thermal performance and air tightness. The workshop also emphasized the importance of quick and efficient on-site construction, aiming for retrofits that can be completed with minimal disruption to tenants.

This report offers valuable insights into the technical discussions and proposed solutions for achieving net-zero energy retrofits. It highlights the energy modeling results, which show the potential for significant reductions in energy consumption. Readers will also find detailed information on the different systems and approaches tested during the workshop, including wall assemblies, mechanical closets, and modular heating solutions. This document serves as a key resource for stakeholders interested in the future of sustainable housing retrofits in Ontario.

Read Full Report Here

Natalia Ortiz Moreno

3. Natalia Ortiz_Photo

Natalia Ortiz, student of Project Management Environmental (PME) program in Seneca Polytechnic, has an Environmental Engineering background completed at Universidad El Bosque in Colombia. She has always been involved in sustainability roles and projects that included Environmental Management Systems implementation, Water Treatment Systems’ design and operation, Hazardous and Conventional Waste management and minimization practices, as well as Ecosystem’s Conservation and Energy
Efficiency programs.

For the PME – Applied Project Management Course, Natalia developed a Green Roof Assessment Tool for Seneca Polytechnic’s Office of Sustainability, with the aim to provide green roof technology recommendations best suited to a particular scenario, taking into consideration multiple aspects of green roofs and buildings; infrastructure, design, materials, environmental factors, and costs, as well as the Toronto Municipal Code – Green Roof bylaw. Natalia also has a scientific journal publication as the main author of the project “Selection and sizing of industrial wastewater treatment units required at the
new maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) aircraft facility owned by Avianca S.A. in Rionegro Antioquia” in the El Bosque University Journal of Technology.

Natalia strongly believes there are several research topics left to be developed, and the importance of
working towards Sustainability from different backgrounds, knowledge, and cultures to build strong, productive, and resilient communities.
With the vision of growing cities and infrastructure along with nature, always preserving and respecting the ecosystems’ attributes and services, Natalia would like to keep researching and acquiring more experience in Sustainability roles.



Emily Smit

Emily Smit photo

Emily is a second-year PhD student in Geography at the University of Toronto, and a co-operator of a small home renovation company, Magnus Home Improvements. Her research seeks to determine how single-family homes can quickly and best be retrofit to achieve Toronto’s emissions reductions targets – including net-zero by 2040 – as part of the TransformTO climate action plan. Specifically, she will assess the impact of municipal home energy reporting and disclosure programs, as well as produce recommendations for growing the retrofit labour force in ways that attend to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Further, her research seeks to understand how home retrofit activities can be regenerative and produce net-positive impacts for humans and the environment towards transformative, place-based sustainability. When not at her computer, Emily can be found cycling with her kids to and from school or making funky sounds on her analog synthesizer.

Bofa Udisi

Headshot_Bofa Udisi (2)

Bofa is a sustainability professional with over seven years in the energy and environment industry. He has a Bachelor of Science in Energy and Petroleum Studies from Novena University in Nigeria and graduate certificates in Energy Management and Environmental Project Management from Seneca College in Toronto. In 2020, he graduated from the University of Waterloo with a Master of Environment and Business degree. He is currently a Ph.D. Candidate in the Building Science program at Toronto Metropolitan University, researching whole-life carbon reduction in new construction and building renovations.

Bofa‘s work experience is primarily in the built environment, working in the private and public sectors in roles that involve structural and environmental assessment of building structures, HVAC engineering design and sales, and facilities management. Bofa is a member of several industry associations, such as the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), the American Society for Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), and the Project Management Institute (PMI). SBC’s bursary will go a long way in supporting Bofa‘s research and his desire to learn.

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