Virtual Retrofit Explorer
Retrofits are complex. Move from retrofit uncertainty to clarity with practical guidance shaped by Alberta Ecotrust's real-world experience supporting building owners and operators.
Open the guided workspace and begin with building and portfolio questions.
The assistant combines AI support with Alberta Ecotrust retrofit knowledge so you can orient, prepare, and access resources across the entire retrofit journey.
- The Virtual Retrofit Explorer uses generative AI. Information you enter, including answers to questions, notes, chat messages, and uploaded attachments, may be sent to third-party AI model and infrastructure providers for processing.
- AI outputs can be incomplete or inaccurate. Verify outputs with trusted sources and qualified professionals; this tool does not provide technical, engineering, legal, financial, tax, contract, or other regulated professional advice.
The Retrofit Journey
The Virtual Retrofit Explorer will help you understand what to expect during each step and provide fundamental information for your consideration. It does not perform analysis or make decisions for you.
Design, Implementation, and Measurement & Verification form an iterative cycle. Each stage can feed back into the other two.
Gathering Information
Collect essential building information, assess eligibility for retrofit programs, and establish project goals and timelines. This tool is designed for building owners and operators in Alberta managing properties such as office buildings, multifamily residential complexes, retail spaces, and institutional facilities. This tool is not intended for individual homeowners or smaller residential complexes such as quadplexes.
Benchmarking
Track energy performance using ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager (ESPM), an energy management information system, or your own tools and consolidate reliable whole-building utility data.
Desktop Assessment
Work with industry specialists to build upon benchmarking data to understand the retrofit potential of a single building or compare the retrofit potential of buildings within a portfolio to guide your approach for future steps.
Building the Retrofit Value Stack
Understand the value of your retrofit. Explore how funding and financing mechanisms, incentives, energy savings, and non-energy benefits layer into the business case.
Energy Assessments & Deep Retrofit Planning
Engage with professionals to conduct energy and engineering assessments, understand the opportunities and trade-offs, and develop a detailed retrofit plan.
Design & Tendering
Work with qualified professionals to move your retrofit planning through the different stages of design.
Implementation
Navigate the process of tendering work, selecting a construction team, initiating construction, commissioning new systems and training staff.
Measurement & Verification
Track actual energy savings, continuously monitor building performance, and optimize systems for long-term results.