How Deep Retrofits Are Energizing Nova Scotia’s Gathering Spaces
Across rural Nova Scotia, aging community halls are being transformed into vibrant, energy-efficient hubs through the Pictou County Net Zero Retrofits Pilot. Led by Navigate Energy, this initiative is cutting emissions, lowering costs, and preserving the cultural heartbeat of local communities—ensuring these spaces remain active and welcoming for years to come.
Pictou County Net Zero Retrofits for Community Buildings Pilot
In the heart of rural Nova Scotia, a transformative initiative is breathing new life into community centres that have long been the cornerstone of their communities. This story highlights the Pictou County Net Zero Retrofits for Community Buildings Pilot, managed by Navigate Energy, and the profound impact it is having on these vital communal spaces.
Navigate Energy operates in the clean energy space. The organization aims to simplify the deep retrofit process. According to Liam Cook, the owner of Navigate Energy, while there are many incentives and momentum behind deep retrofits, there remains a lack of “wraparound services” to help smaller organizations implement their upgrades. That’s where Navigate Energy comes in—”simplify clean energy upgrades or deep retrofits to reduce the environmental burden on future generations.”
Improving Rural Community Buildings
The Pictou County deep retrofit project is a comprehensive initiative that seeks to deep retrofit over 20 community centres across Pictou County, Nova Scotia to reduce energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Unlike many projects driven primarily by environmental goals, the project’s main objective is to ensure rural community assets are maintained and available for use by the community.
The project is a collaborative effort involving multiple stakeholders. Plymouth Recreation Association serves as the lead applicant for grants, while Efficiency Nova Scotia provides free energy assessments and funding through their Affordable Multifamily Housing Program and Solar for Community Buildings Program. The project is also supported by grants from the Province of Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities, which are used for upfront contractor payments.
Sunny Brae Community Centre before the deep retrofit
Photo credit: Navigate Energy
Sunny Brae Community Centre after the deep retrofit
Photo credit: Navigate Energy
The Risk of Closures and Rising Costs
These community centres, located in rural areas and serving residents who may live 20-30 minutes away from the nearest town, are the lifeblood of the community and serve as essential gathering places. Many buildings, often over 50 years old, are old halls and schoolhouses converted into community centres. They were initially built with minimal insulation and large heating systems that are now costly. Due to rising energy costs, many of these centres face the risk of closure as they struggle to pay their heating bills, often using fundraising dollars that would otherwise be invested in programming for local residents.
Other challenges these community centres face include a lack of in-house technical expertise and capacity to manage deep retrofits and difficulty securing the upfront capital needed for retrofits despite significant rebates from Efficiency Nova Scotia.
Hive relocation from the Sunny Brae Community Centre
Photo credit: Navigate Energy
Apart from the collective challenges, each community centre has unique challenges and stories. For instance, the Sunny Brae Community Centre had a hidden bee colony, which required careful relocation.
Cook reflects, “The insulators encountered a colony of over 2000 honey bees at Sunny Brae. Before proceeding with insulating the attic and walls, it was essential for us to relocate the hive, making it safe for the contractors to proceed.”
The Opportunity
Navigate Energy overcame these challenges by providing comprehensive project management and technical support. They helped the communities to secure a revolving fund where rebates and grants go back into a central pool to support future projects. They also aggregated multiple projects to attract contractors willing to support the smaller and more remote community centres.
Notable outcomes from this project are:
- Energy Savings: An estimated $120,000 in community energy costs are saved annually.
- Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Reduction: Approximately 6,000 tons of emissions reduced over the lifetime of the measures installed.
- Job Creation: Direct and indirect job creation because of clean energy investments.
- Community Resilience: Enhanced resiliency of community centres, many of which serve as warming centres during emergencies.
Their bills are lower than ever, the spaces are more comfortable, and, most importantly, they are being used more than before. Buildings that couldn’t host events are now vibrant gathering places once again.
Additional Retrofits in Pictou County
These community centres also benefited during the pilot phase:
- Garden of Eden Community Centre: Formerly a church, now a vibrant community space that generates surplus clean energy while hosting multiple weekly gatherings.
- East River Valley Recreation Centre: The first to be deep retrofitted. It received extra insulation, LED lighting, a cold climate heat pump, and a 3.8kW solar array.
- Blue Mountain Fire Department: Electrifying their fossil fuel heating system with heat pumps and renewable energy.
Garden of Eden Community Centre
East River Valley Recreation Centre
Blue Mountain Fire Department
A Bright Future
The Pictou County Net Zero Retrofits for Community Buildings Pilot serves as a model for how deep retrofits can revitalize essential community assets, making them sustainable and resilient for future generations.
Navigate Energy aims to scale this initiative to other rural communities across Atlantic Canada. Cook advises that “for organizations looking to step into this role, it’s crucial to meet communities where they are and address their priorities, whether financial or environmental. Simplify the process for them and ensure that you provide comprehensive support.”
About Navigate Energy
Navigate Energy helps Nova Scotian commercial and multifamily property owners by prioritizing clean energy solutions, coordinating contractors, accessing preferred programs, and securing higher rebates.
