Case Study: Virtual Home Energy Evaluation in Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS)

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS), a vibrant urban-rural region in southern British Columbia, needed an innovative solution to improve home energy efficiency across its 14 municipalities. With 38,000 diverse homes to service, RDOS partnered with Properate to overcome challenges in trade availability, retrofit education, and rebate accessibility. This case study explores how Properate’s advanced mapping and homeowner engagement tools transformed RDOS’ energy efficiency efforts, delivering faster outcomes, deeper insights, and greater participation.

• 38,000 homes mapped within just three months, speeding up project timelines dramatically.

• 200,000 tCO₂e in potential GHG emission reductions identified annually.

• 2x increase in homeowner engagement with energy efficiency programs.

40% boost in retrofit awareness across the community.

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) is a mixed urban-rural area in southern British Columbia, home to 14 municipalities and 50,000 properties. RDOS sought to improve the energy efficiency of these homes but faced several challenges that required an innovative solution.

Despite the region’s ambitious energy efficiency goals, several roadblocks hindered progress:

1. Limited Trades Availability
   RDOS had only five energy assessors to cover 38,000 homes, making it impossible to complete assessments within a reasonable timeframe. The traditional approach would have taken over five years and cost $21 million.

2. Addressing "Sticker Shock"
   Homeowners had varying budgets and energy goals, and the sheer diversity of housing stock made it difficult to recommend one-size-fits-all solutions.

3. Rebate Pre-Qualification Confusion
   Programs like energy retrofit loans and heat pump rebates were underutilized, as homeowners struggled to understand eligibility and requirements.

4. Knowledge Gaps and Engagement Barriers
   Educating a diverse population—ranging from rural communities to urban centers—on the benefits of retrofits was a complex task, given the varying levels of energy literacy.

To address these challenges, RDOS launched a pilot program in collaboration with Properate, focusing on the following objectives:

• Map all district buildings to centralize housing data and streamline decision-making.

• Identify homes with high retrofit potential to target energy-saving actions.

• Increase homeowner awareness and participation in retrofit programs.

• Ensure equitable access to virtual home energy assessments, particularly for rural residents.

Organize properties by age and type for better insights into energy efficiency.

Properate leveraged its technology to deliver tailored solutions for RDOS:

• Maps AI-powered mapping tools analyzed the district’s housing stock, identifying areas with the highest retrofit potential.

• Homes: Customized energy reports provided homeowners with retrofit recommendations, upgrade costs, return on investment (ROI), and incentive eligibility.

• Community: Dedicated resident website and targeted campaign across multiple medias increased program awareness, streamlining access to rebates and services.

The partnership between RDOS and Properate yielded impressive outcomes within a short timeframe:

Reduced Trades Challenges

• In under three months, Properate mapped 97.5%  homes.

• Aggregating homeowner demand led to an 83% decrease in wait times for essential trades in rural areas.

Enhanced Cost Transparency

• 95% of website visitors accessed free home energy reports with personalized upgrade paths, ROI calculations, and incentive information.

Increased Trust and Engagement

• Partnering with Properate to build a unified program brand boosted homeowner engagement by 200%—from 0.8% to 1.6%.

• RDOS’s website and newsletter engagement outperformed industry averages by 5x.

• Energy awareness among homeowners rose by 40%, creating a foundation for long-term sustainability efforts.

Identified Upgrade Potential

Building on the program's initial success, RDOS planned to focus on full rebate pre-qualification in the next phase. However, these plans were put on hold with the rollout of the BC Home Energy Planner.

Preliminary assessments revealed significant potential:

• Average GHG reduction potential: 37.5% per home

• Average rebate eligibility: $7,500

• Average energy retrofit cost: $25,000

These insights will allow RDOS to target future actions more effectively, scaling its impact and encouraging deeper community participation.

Building on the program's initial success, RDOS will focus on full rebate pre-qualification in the next phase. Preliminary assessments revealed significant potential:

• Average GHG reduction potential: 37.5% per home

• Average rebate eligibility: $7,500

• Average energy retrofit cost: $25,000

These insights will allow RDOS to target future actions more effectively, scaling its impact and encouraging deeper community participation.

RDOS’s partnership with Properate exemplifies how innovative technology can overcome resource limitations and unlock new possibilities for energy efficiency programs. In just a few months, the district mapped tens of thousands of homes, reduced trade bottlenecks, improved access to incentives, and dramatically increased community engagement. By continuing to build on these insights, RDOS is well-positioned to lead the way in sustainable home energy retrofits, driving both environmental and economic benefits for its residents.

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