Resilient Home Retrofits
Empowering homeowners to protect themselves from the risks of flooding.What are resilient home retrofits?
Resilient Home Retrofits can help increase a home’s ability to withstand and recover from weather events and climate related emergencies through resiliency upgrades made inside and outside of the home. Our goal is to empower homeowners to protect themselves from climate risks by sharing information about home retrofit solutions. Check out the resources for homeowners below and learn our Resilient Home Retrofits Pilot Project.
Flood Resilient Residential Retrofits Handbook
A practical guide for implementing flood resiliency measures in existing structures.
This handbook is designed to support homeowners or contractors in understanding and
implementing measures to enhance the flood resilience of single-family residential
properties. Drawing from expertise in flood resilience and practical knowledge from
experienced contractors, this handbook provides a step-by-step guide to improve the
resiliency of single-family residential properties against flooding.
Prepare for climate related emergencies
We’ve collected resources from industry experts to help you prepare your home for climate related emergencies. These resources include retrofit ideas, big and small, to help protect your home from climate related emergencies including severe wind, flooding, fire and heat and winter weather.
Before looking for event-specific resources, we recommending being familiar with these general guides:
Featured Resource: Intact Centre: Home Flood Protection Check-Up
Intact Centre: Three Steps to Cost-Effective: Home Flood Protection
Intact Centre: Basement Flood Protection Checklist
Intact Centre: Seasonal Flood Protection Maintenance Record
Intact Centre: Understanding Water Damage Insurance Coverages
Intact Centre: Flood Home Protection Checklist for Landlords and Tenants
IBC: A Guide To Residential Water Damage and Flood Insurance
Extreme Heat
Intact Centre: Three steps to a cost-effective home heat protection
Intact Centre: Three steps to a cost-effective apartment and condo heat protection
Government of Nova Scotia: Staying Healthy in the Heat
Government of Nova Scotia: Safety Tips: Extreme Heat
Wildfires
Intact Centre: Three Features of a Wildfire-Ready Community
Intact Centre: Three steps to a cost-effective FireSmart home
Understand your insurance coverage
Damages caused by flooding are expensive. The average cost of fixing a flooded basement is $43,000. Insurance can help, but many Canadians struggle with understanding the type of coverage they need.
No insurance provider is the same. Each insurance company offers different plans with varying levels of coverage. With no industry-wide terms, even the definitions of water damage can change from one company to the next.
Follow the steps below and download the resources prepared by the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation’s Home Flood Protect Program to better understand your insurance coverage and protect your home.
“Less than 50% of Canadians understand what their insurance policy covers.”
– Insurance Bureau of Canada, 2016, IBC Flood Analysis
Know the risks
Understand the type of coverage you want and need.
Talk to a professional
Learn how to ask your insurance provider for the proper coverage.
Prepare your home
Find opportunities to reduce your risk.
Resilient Home Retrofit Pilot Project
Helping homeowners prepare for the impacts of flooding.
In 2023, Clean Foundation began working with homeowners from specific communities within the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) and the Town of New Glasgow to participate in a pilot project designed to help address overland flood risks to homes in both urban and rural areas of these regions.
Selected participants received a FREE flood risk assessment and a FREE home energy assessment. Based on these assessments, upgrades will be made to increase their home’s resiliency at no cost to the homeowner.
Applications to participate in the Resilient Home Retrofit Pilot Project are now closed.
Contact us
Have a question about the Resilient Home Retrofits Pilot Project?
Email us at: RHR@cleanfoundation.ca
Resilient Home Retrofits Pilot Project is supported by:
