2009 Annual ReportTen Years of REEP

REEP Waterloo Region 2009 Annual Report 2

REEP reaches ten years: 12,000 homes evaluated and 11,300 tonnes of C02 reduced!■ Homeowners, community partners, contractors and

former staff join us at our Tenth Anniversary Celebration.

■ REEP House construction gets underway and brings $400,000 of project funding to Waterloo Region.

■ Our first Earth Day Eco-Showcase is held in partnership with the University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Environment.

2009 Highlights

Local FundersThank you to our valued local partners!

Our 2009 resultswere made possible byyour funding and support.■Region of Waterloo■City of Kitchener■City of Cambridge■Kitchener Utilities■Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro ■Waterloo North Hydro

Peggy Stevens of the Region of Waterloo, Steve May of the Waterloo Stewardship Network and Dan Meagher of the Region of Waterloo with Beth Anne Currie of Riversides at our Stormwater Management Tour.

Councilor Berry Vrbanovic speaks on behalf of the City of Kitchener at our Celebration.

Rene Gatien, President of Waterloo North Hydro, and Paul Parker, chair of REEP’s Board of Directors at our Tenth Anniversary Celebration.

Jennifer Mansel of Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro and Sarah Colvin of Waterloo North Hydro at our Solar Information Night organized in partnership with CREW (Community Renewable Energy Waterloo).

Loraine Bailargeon accepts Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of Kitchener Utilities from Kate Neff, REEP board member, also at our Celebration.

Photo: Aaron Schwab Photography

Photo: Aaron Schwab Photography

Photo: Aaron Schwab Photography

Photo: Julian van Mossel

Photo: Cheryl Evans

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One Thousand Audits in Waterloo Region Each YearIn 1999, Dan Scott and Paul Parker discussed starting a local initiative under Canada’s new Climate Change Action program. They soon connected with Ian Rowlands, another professor in the Faculty of Environment at the University of Waterloo and Don Eaton at the Elora Environment Centre. These four: Dan, Paul, Ian and Don were our first management team.

Don said of the Climate Change Action program: “They did 1200 evaluations across Canada last year, but we have 12 million households in this country!” And his solution: “one thousand audits in each community every year.” By the end of our first year we were on target, with an operation run by co-op students. Our next step: hire full-time staff and build up the organization.

Many forget that when REEP started there were no incentives. Homeowners paid money just to learn how to make their homes more energy efficient. The incentives were added in 2003.

Ten Years

Responding to the Needs of Our Community.In 2005 we started getting calls from members of church building committees who wanted to make their buildings more energy efficient. We developed a specialized audit for this purpose.

After years of providing residential energy assessments, we realized that we could do more to remove barriers to energy conservation. In 2007 we started planning REEP House, our hands-on demonstration project.

Our focus has remained healthier homes and sustainable communities and most importantly, working together with our local funders, partners and the many community participants.

- Excerpts from Tenth Anniversary Celebration remarks by Paul Parker, Don Eaton and Mary Jane Patterson.

Left: Rhonda Moreau of Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro and Kitchener Mayor, Carl Zehr at an early REEP event.

Below: REEP co-op student Paul Wisken (left) at a home energy assessment.

REEP’s founderswith Executive Director Mary Jane Patterson. From back left: Ian Rowlands, Don Eaton, Dan Scott and Paul Parker.

When the program was first cancelled in 2006, our municipalities urged the federal government to reinstate it. Our electric utilities stepped in with funding to help us continue to evaluate homes. We were one of the few organizations still doing home energy assessments at the time.

REEP Waterloo Region 2009 Annual Report 4

A community labour of love: Our many partners and sponsors brought layers of expertise and ideas to help REEP House emerge on Mill Street in downtown Kitchener.The Regional Municipality of Waterloo is like family. Receptive to the concept from the very beginning, the Region offered us two century-old houses, generous in-kind staff support and funding for energy retrofits.

The Kresge Foundation made it possible for us to hire innovative green architect Graham Whiting who has produced two award-winning designs:

■ The 25/50 House at 24 Mill Street: At a cost of $25,000 we reduced energy consumption by 50%. Payback, including reduced bills and increased property value? Four years.

■ REEP House at 20 Mill Street: Canada’s first LEED Platinum renovated century brick home, clocking in at a 90% energy reduction with a $200 heating bill.

Where Old is New AgainThe City of Kitchener was an early adopter of REEP House. Through their Local Environmental Action Fund, they are providing a three-year commitment to help us take our message to the public, including website development.

Sustainable Inside and OutThe Ontario Trillium Foundation staff helped us develop a financially sustainable business model that places REEP House at the centre of the green renovation movement. Our services will connect residents with contractors, suppliers, lenders, designers and real estate agents.

The Ontario Power Authority’s Conservation Fund will support public tours of REEP House, our online Sustainable Home Action Plan software and a learning document that will make it a snap for other communities to replicate our one-stop-shopping approach.

Visionaries Innovators

REEP House for Sustainable Living

Photo: Graham Whiting

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Creating Local Green JobsBall Construction are midwives to this birth of Canada’s first LEED Platinum renovation. It takes community contacts, technical expertise and tender loving care to preserve and restore a century brick home while upgrading to near-net zero performance. Site supervisor Scott Moody has mastered the balance of old and new.

Canada’s Economic Action Plan hit us a home run, touching each base on the way. First base: immediate local construction employment. Second base: green technologies and products on display at REEP House, purchased through local suppliers. Third base: our Green Retrofit Workbook connecting homeowners with local businesses. And home plate:

More jobs and carbon reductions to come ashomeowners complete REEP House-inspired green renovations.As 2009 drew to a close, our team of local contractors and suppliers was preparing to raise the roof at REEP House. We thank them in advance for all of their donated time and materials, extra care and dedication.

InlineFiberglass

MadawaskaDoors

Builders Supporters

BRC MechanicalBrown’s Concrete Products Ltd.Drain PowerEcoShiftFinishing TouchFred Hunsberger PhotographyGolden WindowsHeritage StoneworksHydroFlowCanada

Lutron Electronics Co.Mark Machel and AssociatesMerlyn PowerRadiant RoofingReitzel Heating and Air ConditioningSteve’s TVThe Timeless Materials CompanyVanguard Electric

Photo: Julian van Mossel Photo: Dorothy McCabe

Photo: Ben Barclay

REEP Waterloo Region 2009 Annual Report 6

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Cumulative tonnes of C02 emissions reduced by REEP customers from 1999 to 2009.

Note: There were few follow-up evaluations done in the early years of the program, which made it difficult to assess results during that time.

Current Year

Past Years

Number of Evaluations 2009 1999-2009

Initialevaluations 2,240 12,018

Follow-upevaluations 1,329 3,958

Total 3,569 16,003

Economic Benefits 2009 1999-2009

Grantsreceived $3,553,580 $5,935,748

Energysavingsperyear* $996,750 $2,988,750

Localspendingonretrofits* $7,974,000 $18,282,000

Environmental Benefit 2009 1999-2009

Carbonemissionsreduced** 4,359tonnes 11,395tonnes

ecoENERGY

Contractor installing spray foam insulation.

Energy Advisor Joern Roehl examines a gas furnace at a home energy assessment.

*based on estimates by Natural Resources Canada.**based on estimates by Ontario Ministry of Energy.

Photo: Anne Marie Wetter

Expert Advice on Deep Home Energy Savings We provided 2,240 home energy evaluations under the ecoENERGY program and 1,329 follow-up visits for those who had completed their retrofits and wanted to access government grants. This represents a 30% increase in initial evaluations and a 99% increase in follow-ups over 2008!

Breaking RecordsTwo economic stimulus measures contributed to this year’s boom: the Home Renovation Tax Credit and the 25% increase in both federal ecoENERGY grants and matching provincial Home Energy Savings Program grants.

REEP’s participants invested $7.9 million on retrofits, or $6,000 per home*. The average homeowner reduced energy consumption by 22%*, totalling $1 million in local savings each year. In 2009 our customers received $3.5 million in federal and provincial incentives. That’s more than in all previous years combined.

Best of all, participants reduced 4,359 tonnes of carbon. Congratulations Waterloo Region!

**

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Derek Satnik of Mindscape Innovations discussing the Green Energy Act at the 2009 Solar Information Night organized in partnership with Mennonite Central Committee.

Greening Sacred SpacesA Broad Community Base for ConservationAt the end of 2009 our mailing list grew to 104 faith communities from Waterloo Region, and Wellington and Dufferin counties. Of these, 51 have actively hosted events and conducted energy and water audits of their buildings.

Solar PartnershipsGreening Sacred Spaces attracted 120 hom-eowners, business owners and faith community representatives to its first annual Solar Infor-mation Night, organized in partnership with Mennonite Central Committee. Results: at least five residential solar installations in 2009, and more on the way for 2010. Hillcrest Mennonite Church in New Hamburg made the decision to install a 10KW ground-mounted photovoltaic array with tracker.

Gary Howell, Maintenance Manager at St. Francis of Assissi Church with a new water heater in the kitchen. It previously took four minutes to get hot water from the boiler room.

Audits of All SortsOur October networking meeting attracted representatives from 21 faith communities. Dave Klassen of REEP detailed our energy audit services for faith buildings. We featured speakers from the Power Savings Blitz, Region of Waterloo Water Services and Central United Church of Stratford, which recouped 100% of their lighting retrofit costs through the Electricity Retrofit Incentive Program (ERIP) program.

Sharing Global MessagesIn 2009, faith communities got on board with Earth Hour, Earth Day and 350.org and timed their environmental messages accordingly to strengthen impact and broaden appeal of their local campaigns.

REEP’s faith building energy audit was featured in the Mennonite Central Committee’s Creation Care DVD which launched in November of 2009.

Photo: Julian van Mossel

REEP Waterloo Region 2009 Annual Report 8

Well AwareOur Water Guides Helped Owners Assess 80 WellsIn 2009 the Well Aware program reached 80 properties and hundreds more Region residents with practical resources that empowered people to maintain their wells and septic systems, thereby protecting their families and our com-mon groundwater resources.

Helping Rural Residents Protect Our WatershedWe provided additional opportunities for the public to interact directly with knowledge-able staff at community forums, displays at fall fairs and presentations to community groups. We sent our message across Waterloo Region through television coverage, newspapers, newsletters and internet magazines.

Over the last three years Well Aware has been funded by the Ontario Ministry of Environment. The Grand River Conservation Authority and the Region of Waterloo Public Health Department have generously donated print materials and staff support.

Brendan Schaefer, Certified Water Guide and Harold Albrecht, Member of Parliament for Kitchener-Conestoga, discussing the well cap on Mr. Albrecht’s property.

Anne Loeffler of the Grand River Conservation Authority speaking about septic system upgrades at our 2009 Well Aware Community Forum.

Watching Urban WatersIn the fall of 2009 we brought together part-ners for a pilot stormwater education program through Green Communities Canada, funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Stakeholders were invited to a stormwater tour of Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge, followed by a brainstorming session on how to best educate the public on urban runoff, water conservation and water quality.

Our first public event, held at Kitchener’s GTO Car Wash, showed customers the ecological benefits of commercial car washes with proper filtration systems.

Stormwater Education

Stakeholders included:■ Brown’s Concrete Products Ltd. ■ The Canadian Car Wash Association ■ The cities of Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo■ The Grand River Conservation Authority ■ The Region of Waterloo ■ The Waterloo Stewardship Network■ Yellow Fish Road

Photo: Susan Bryant

Photo: Cheryl Evans

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Our 10th AnniversaryOn December 3rd, 2009 our commemorative bash was held at Victoria Park Pavilion. The eve-ning was complete with live band and delicious food. Presentations included: awards for eight REEP Star Homeowners who made exemplary home energy retrofits; the “Our Green Commu-nity” panel discussion; and recognition plaques for our valued local funders. These proceedings were made possible thanks to support from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

Our First Annual Earth Day Eco-ShowcaseOn April 22 at the Kitchener City Hall Rotunda, local residents learned how to make their homes more energy efficient from our guest speaker Don Eaton, REEP founder and building science expert. We also featured contractors, eco-service providers and community organizations at our information fair. This event was held in partnership with the Faculty of Environment at the University of Waterloo.

Outreach to 6,000 Throughout the RegionREEP-organized Events• Earth Day Eco-Showcase• Tenth Anniversary Celebration• Energy Saving Renovation Workshops• REEP House Contractors Open House• Well Aware Information Provider Workshop• Well Aware Community Forum• Stormwater Management Community Car Wash• Solar Information Night in partnership with CREW

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Presentations and Lunch ‘n’ Learns:• MCC Solar Energy Information Night• YNCU Should I Stay or Should I Go Green event• Region of Waterloo ECO FEST• ReThink Waterloo workshops and conference• KidSpark children’s festival• Canada Revenue Lunch ‘n’ Learns and Eco Fair• Your Kitchener Market Lunch ‘n’ Learn• COM DEV Lunch ‘n’ Learn• GRCA Water Forum, Water Conservation Workshop and Lunch ‘n’ Learn• Beechwood Park Housing Association presentation• Probus Club presentation• Western Ontario Municipalities Conference• Regional Heritage Advisory Planning Committee• The Working Centre New Green Economy panel• UW Environment and Business Conference• UW Staff Conference• WLU “Reaching In” workshopsCommunity Events:• Preston High School Environmental Expo• Woolwich Healthy Communities Green Tech Fair• Festival of Neighbourhoods Kitchener Finale• Maplesoft Environmental Fair• CREW Solar Energy and You forum• City of Cambridge City Green Workshop• KW Community Foundation Celebration of Giving• Chamber of Commerce Energy & Env. Forum• Your Kitchener Market Blooming Earth Festival• Waterloo Earth Day• Energy Conservation Week with Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro & Waterloo North Hydro• Cambridge Home Depot event with Union Gas• WLU Commuter Challenge event• Alternatives Journal concert with Bob Wiseman• GRCA Rural Routes Heritage River event• Laurel Creek Headwaters Association meeting• KW Twin City Home and Garden Show• KW Home and Garden Show• KW Twin City Fall Home and Leisure Show• Wellesley Home and Garden Show• Wellesley Fall Fair• Fresh Ayr Festival• Peter Benninger Coldwell Banker Concierge Show• Heffner Spring Garden and Activities Show

Photo: Aaron Schwab Photography

Photo: Aaron Schwab Photography

REEP Waterloo Region 2009 Annual Report 10

Thank You Interns and Co-op StudentsBest of luck to Desi Balbon, Evelyne Russel and Tammy Sommerville, and many thanks for being part of our team in 2009!

Past and present staff, interns and board members at our Tenth Anniversary Celebration.

Our Great 2009 Staff Team...New advisors and support staff joined us to meet ecoENERGY demand.Certified Energy Advisors: Dave Klassen (Manager), Chris Albrecht, Jim Carnegie, Scott Cooper, Bruce Mitchell, Cheong Ng, Kevin Pratt, Joern Roehl, Steve Royce, Mike Speagle, Kate Taylor and Colin Umbach.

Water Guides: Susan Bryant and Brendan Schaefer.

Outreach: Julian Van Mossel-Forrester (Coordinator), Desi Balbon (Intern), Anne-Marie Wetter (Intern), and Evelyne Russel (Co-op).

Customer Service: Rachel McQuail (ecoENERGY Coordinator), Rachel D’Aguilar (Customer Service Coordinator), Rommy Ibanez and Tammy Sommerville (Intern).

REEP House: Ben Barclay (Project Manager), Heather Cain (Community Engagement) and Cheryl Evans (Outreach Officer).

IT Support: Brendan Schaefer.

Finance/Office Manager: Roxanne Luxton.

Executive Director: Mary Jane Patterson.

...and BoardThe end of our first decade is an opportunity to acknowledge one of our greatest strengths: our Board of Directors. We are lucky to have their guidance and enthusiasm on our team.

■Paul Parker, University of Waterloo (Chair)■Geoff Malleck, University of Waterloo (Treasurer)■Don Eaton, Elora Environment Centre (Secretary)■Jason Ball, Ball Construction■Mary-Louise Byrne, Wilfrid Laurier University ■Michael Duschenes, Perimeter Institute■Jenn Lynes, University of Waterloo■Kate Neff, Your Neighbourhood Credit Union

Photo: Aaron Schwabb Photography

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Financial Report

Revenue 2009 2008Clientfees $ 891,414 $ 624,669

Grants $ 348,317 $ 258,441

Contracts $ 26,115 $ 35,193

OtherIncome $ 9,910 $ 4,729

Total Revenue $ 1,275,756 $ 923,032

Expenses 2009 2008

Salariesandbenefits $ 946,778 $ 651,942

Qualityassurance $ 80,649 $ 57,619

REEPHouse-construction $ 69,521 $ -

REEPHouse-designandmonitoring $ 16,921 $ 41,001

Outreach $ 36,657 $ 12,078

Occupancy $ 32,019 $ 11,524

Contractedservices $ 24,586 $ 14,491

Traininganddevelopment $ 18,510 $ 5,861

Communications $ 14,052 $ 6,985

Office $ 14,294 $ 4,940

Insurance $ 8,196 $ 5,212

Amortization $ 7,985 $ 5,011

Organizationaldevelopment $ 5,545 $ 3,099

Travel $ 3,657 $ 3,008

Interestandbankcharges $ 2,577 $ 1,147

Total Expenses $ 1,281,947 $ 823,918

Excess of Revenue Over Expenses $ (6,191) $ 99,114

Statement of Revenue and Expenses

Past and present staff, interns and board members at our Tenth Anniversary Celebration.

Thank-YouThanks to the friends and mentors who contributed their valuable time, skills and expertise in 2009.

Revenue Breakdown

2009

2008

2007

70%10%

EarnedRevenue

LocalFunding

ProvincialFunding

FederalFunding

InternationalFunding

20% 30% 40% 50% 60%0%

Aaron Schwab Photography, www.aaronschwab.com Stephen Dixon, TdS Dixon Inc. Jane LynesJames Malvern, Kay Professional CorporationJohn Straube, University of Waterloo and www.buildingscience.com

REEP Waterloo Region222 Frederick StreetKitchener, Ontario N2H 2M8

Telephone: 519-744-9799Fax: 519-603-3453info@reepwaterlooregion.cawww.reepwaterlooregion.ca

REEP is a registered charity under the name Waterloo Region Green Solutions.

REEP was founded by:

REEP is a member of Green Communities Canada, a national association of non-profit organizations that deliver practical solutions to Canadian house-holds. Our ecoENERGY and Well Aware programs are available through this membership.

Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper.