The energy inefficiency in our homes is one of the biggest barriers to meeting our climate targets. Heating and electricity make up a huge portion of our greenhouse gas emissions, and those emissions are rising. At the same time, millions of people live in housing that’s drafty, expensive to heat, unhealthy, or even unsafe. Could retrofitting homes at scale be a climate solution that also improves health, lowers energy costs, and promotes housing justice? We spoke with Abhi Kantamneni, the Director of Action Research with Efficiency Canada, an organization that studies the technology, governance, and business systems influencing Canada’s energy future. Abhi has a decade of experience helping communities across US and Canada use clean and efficient energy to achieve local priorities including improving housing, increasing ‘good jobs’ and reducing poverty. In this conversation, Abhi highlights how much energy is wasted in our homes — often without us realizing. From drafty windows to aging heating systems, many people only make upgrades when something breaks, often in moments of crisis. Abhi makes the case for a coordinated, government-led retrofit strategy that supports renters and homeowners alike — not just to reduce emissions, but to lower energy bills, improve health, and address poverty through climate action.

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