Sustainable Buildings Canada’s (SBC) Better Condos Boot Camp initiative was recognized as a 2026 Clean50 Top Project, one of only 40 initiatives nationwide to receive this honour.
The program empowers condo boards, property managers, and residents with knowledge and tools to drive deep energy retrofits and building decarbonization.
“Many condominium owners and boards may not realize that decisions they’re making today will determine their ability to prepare for upcoming climate and regulatory changes,” said Bettina Hoar, SBC project director and chair of the Better Condos Boot Camp. “Getting to net zero or even beyond is already feasible, but failing to plan for it now could leave condominiums facing higher costs, reduced property values, and potential insurability challenges in the years ahead.
“The Better Condos Boot Camp addresses a key barrier to timely action: the knowledge and attitudes of the multiple decision-makers in a condo, while also highlighting the need for modernized condo law to make it easier for buildings to act.”
The program brought together SBC collaborators, industry experts, and public and private-sector partners to demystify the retrofit process and motivate condo communities to lead by example. It received support from Save on Energy (IESO), BDP Quadrangle, the City of Toronto, and other contributors.
“Much of our success depends on partnerships between industry, government, and communities and this award is an example of what’s possible when we all work together to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon future,” added Brynn Nheiley, SBC’s executive director.
SBC worked with researcher Yazan Zamel, whose paper, “Legal and Policy Barriers and Enablers to Deep Energy Retrofits in Ontario Condominiums,” highlights the importance of initiatives like the Better Condos Boot Camp.
Zamel’s research reveals that outdated voting thresholds, restrictive reserve fund rules, and ambiguities within Ontario’s Condominium Act continue to impede progress on building retrofits. These regulatory barriers—often requiring approval from two-thirds of all owners—make it challenging for even the most committed condo boards to implement energy-efficient upgrades.
Blending research insights with hands-on training and real-world examples, the program has become a model for how collective learning can help condo communities bridge the gap between policy and practice. The initiative empowered participants to identify practical strategies such as enhanced reserve fund studies, engineering reclassification of upgrades, and more inclusive owner engagement that can unlock stalled projects and accelerate decarbonization efforts across the multi-residential sector.
