ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the three home retrofit programs such as Australia's Home Insulation Program, the ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program in Canada, and the Weatherization Assistance Program in the US. Energy usage by homes is a prominent issue in these three countries. The chapter demonstrates the significant government interest in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis in funding home retrofit measures to support economic and energy-efficiency goals. It achieves economic benefits, including temporary job creation and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Notably, despite the ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program, emissions from residential buildings in Canada are predicted to rise to 2 million MT CO2-e over 2005 levels by 2020. Targeting low-income households tackles free riding without abandoning the idea of subsidized energy efficiency. The chapter describes that the focus on low-income households appears to be something that more actors are now embracing.
