Where We Live and Work

Icon of a City, represented by a two dimensional building

Natural gas is driving greenhouse gas emissions from buildings which contribute 30% of emissions from fossil fuel sources in the County. With Ontario’s clean electricity grid, electrification will be key to reducing these emissions.


Residential buildings

Line art

Residential buildings contribute 81,500 tonnes of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) to Wellington County’s emissions from buildings. Of this, 77% is from natural gas. 

Home Energy Efficiency Transition

Wellington County partnered with Dunsky Energy and Climate Advisors to better understand the needs of our residents when it comes to retrofitting their homes for comfort, health and greenhouse gas emissions reduction.

The Home Energy Feasibility Study prepared for Wellington County includes the following:

  • Market potential assessment for a home energy efficiency programme
  • Programme audience identification
  • Industry capacity to respond to demand
  • Financial models assessment to support homeowners undertaking energy retrofits
  • Projections of local benefits – social, environmental, economic

Want to get started on energy efficiency retrofits now? We recommend connecting with an energy advisor or energy auditor to assess your home's needs. These credentialed professionals can provide objective advice and explain how your home works as a system to keep your family healthy, comfortable and efficient.

Find a service provider in your area here: Find service organizations for existing homes (nrcan.gc.ca)

Funding may be available to support your home energy efficiency transition, including energy audits. See the Funding Opportunities below for more information.

Home Energy Feasibility Study

Hi, I’m Welly, the Energy Detective! Check out the Home Entergy Tool Kit today from your local Wellington County Library.

Home Energy Tool Kit

Are you curious about your home’s energy efficiency? 

Check out a Home Energy Tool Kit from your local Wellington County Library. The kit will have tools, activities, and information to help you better understand your household energy use, complete with a follow along book of activities. 

Downloadable and Printable Home Energy Tool Kit Activity Book 

Quick Wins

Quick wins are easy, do-it-yourself actions that reduce the use of fossil fuels in your home. Not only will these actions reduce greenhouse gases, they will also improve indoor air quality through reducing fuel combustion in the home.Person pressing a button on an induction cooktop with a pot on burner

  • Replace natural gas hot water tank with electric or electric heat pump hot water tank. Water heating is the second highest energy user in the home next to space heating. Heat pump water heaters are two to three times more energy efficient than conventional electric water heaters and more than three times as efficient as gas water heaters. A great advantage to electric heat pump hot water tanks is they don’t need to be vented outside, reducing noise from exhaust fans and increasing options for their placement in the home.
  • Replace natural gas stove with electric. Induction cook tops are the most efficient (84% efficiency) electric options on the market. Ref: Induction Cooking Technology Design and Assessment (aceee.org)

  • Replace natural gas dryer with electric. Heat pump clothes dryers are 30-50% more energy efficient than gas and conventional electric models.

  • Replace natural gas fireplace with electric. Electric fireplaces are 100% efficient. That is, all heat that is produced is released to the room. Up to 10% of heat from natural gas fireplaces is lost through the chimney or flue.

Whole Home Electrification

Person caullking a window pane

Whole home electrification considers the house as a system. Based on building science, a plan is developed to increase air tightness and insulation in order to reduce the heating load. This is followed up by right-fit low-emissions home heating upgrades. With increased air tightness, the plan also includes actions for improved ventilation and air exchange. Not only will the plan result in a more efficient home, it will also improve home comfort.

Whole home electrification is not something that can be undertaken as a do-it-yourself project.

Additional information can be found here:

Funding Icon Funding Opportunities

Government and utility programmes have been set up to support homeowners as they invest in improving their homes efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.


Industry, Commercial, InstitutionalContinuous Line Art of a horizon that includes a transmission tower, commercial building, factory building and wind turbines

Companies and institutions are recognizing the need to integrate climate action into all aspects of their business. This sector contributes 118,300 tonnes CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) to the County’s emissions from fossil fuels sources. Similar to homes, actions to reduce emissions need to focus on reducing the use of natural gas in equipment and heating.

Funding Icon Funding Opportunities

Government and utility programmes have been set up to support business owners as they invest in improving their buildings’ efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions as well as training for energy auditors and managers.

Energy Efficiency For Business & Industry | Save on Energy

Energy Efficiency for Small Business | Save on Energy

Energy Training & Support for Contractors & Allies | Save on Energy

 

 

 

© 2023 County of Wellington, 74 Woolwich St. Guelph, Ontario N1H 3T9, T 519.837.2600, TF 1.800.663.0750, F 519.837.1909