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Deep retrofit pioneer Peter Amerongen shared his extensive experience designing and executing net-zero retrofits, presenting five case studies and answering audience questions. Ben Hildebrandt from the Green Building Technology Access Centre (GBTAC) at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology explained basic building science principles behind effective deep retrofits.This webinar was for anyone interested in energy-efficient renovations that put homes on the path to net-zero-ready. It was particularly relevant for professionals with technical backgrounds in building science, construction, renovation, energy auditing, energy modelling, and other fields related to energy-efficient buildings.
Ben Hildebrandt
Principal Investigator, Green Building Technology Access Centre, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
Ben received an Architectural Technologies diploma from SAIT in 2013 and worked for several years as a building science technologist. During that time, he diagnosed and oversaw the repair of building envelope issues in dozens of single and multi-family buildings. He has also served as a building envelope consultant on multiple multi-family and commercial construction projects in Calgary and Fort McMurray. Currently, Ben is a principal investigator with SAIT's Green Building Technologies division, overseeing building science-related research. He also supports curriculum development to help increase the adoption of green, high-performance building design, construction, and retrofit concepts.
Ben also serves on the Board of Directors for Retrofit Canada, furthering his commitment to sustainable construction and retrofitting initiatives.
Peter Amerongen
President, Retrofit Canada
Peter Amerongen is one of the fathers of Net Zero Energy construction in Canada. Peter’s 45+ year career in construction has been celebrated with awards and accolades for his many accomplishments in the high-performance building sector. Peter is an inexhaustible collaborator, sitting on the boards of numerous non-profit organizations, and presenting at conferences across the continent.
Peter designed and built Canada’s first net zero energy, affordable multi- family project and Canada’s first net zero energy church in the Edmonton neighbourhood of North Glenora. His interest in affordable housing goes back a long way. He was at the founding meeting of the Edmonton Inner City Housing Society and subsequently renovated Projects 1 and 2. He went on to serve as society president and then chair of the Project Development Committee for several years. Combining that long-neglected interest in affordable housing with his commitment to sustainable building in the North Glenora project was so deeply satisfying that he sold his shares in Habitat Studio and joined Butterwick projects to work full time on affordable housing.
As a partner in Butterwick Projects Ltd, Peter led the deep energy retrofit of the 59-unit Sundance Housing Co-op in Edmonton. He is also consulting on a 40-unit net-zero affordable housing project for Alberta Seniors and Housing that is under construction in Morinville, Alberta. Peter is an original member of Edmonton City Council’s Energy Transition Advisory Committee and of the CHBA Net Zero Council Management Committee. He is also a Certified Passive House Consultant (PHIUS and PHI) and consults on near zero emissions solutions for other projects. As an active member of NRCan’s Panelized Energy Efficient Retrofit (PEER) Industry Working Group he is deeply embedded in a national effort to bring this technology to market.
