OTTAWA – At City Hall last week, the atmosphere was electric, quite literally. The Mayor’s Awards for Leading Ottawa Buildings in Energy brought together building operators, sustainability advocates, and industry leaders to celebrate those who are making Ottawa greener, one retrofit at a time.
As Mark Sutcliffe presented awards and speakers like Brent Gilmore from the Canada Green Building Council shared insights, one theme stood out: change is happening, and programs like Hydro Ottawa’s Ottawa Retrofit Accelerator (ORA) are making it possible.
For many building owners, the first step toward decarbonization feels daunting. Where do you start? How do you balance cost, compliance, and impact? That’s the challenge ORA was designed to solve, and we’re here to be part of the solution.
The Opportunity Behind the Celebration
Behind the applause was a clear message: programs like Hydro Ottawa’s ORA are built to support your efforts.
The ORA program empowers commercial, institutional, and multi-unit residential building owners to save energy and cut carbon. It offers eligible Hydro Ottawa customers funding for a Carbon Pathway Study. That is to say; a strategic roadmap to cut emissions, improve energy efficiency, and plan upgrades that make sense for your building and your budget.
With up to 75% of study costs covered (and up to 90% for affordable housing providers), the ORA program removes financial barriers and delivers a clear plan that includes energy audits, emissions benchmarking, retrofit options, and funding opportunities.
If you own or manage a commercial, institutional, or mid/high-rise residential building over 20,000 ft², and you’re a Hydro Ottawa customer, you could qualify.
Why Consider a Carbon Pathway Study?
Think about where your building is headed. Are HVAC or window upgrades on the horizon? Do you have greenhouse gas reduction goals in place—or need to prepare for federal contract requirements? Maybe you’re interested in energy audits or quick-payback upgrades that make financial sense. A Carbon Pathway Study doesn’t just answer these questions; it complements your existing planning tools like Building Condition Assessments, Capital Plans, or Reserve Fund Studies, ensuring sustainability is woven into every decision.
What the Study Includes
This isn’t just a checklist—it’s a comprehensive roadmap. The study begins with an ASHRAE Level II energy audit to uncover efficiency opportunities, followed by a detailed emissions breakdown and benchmarking to show where you stand. From there, energy modeling explores renewable potential, while retrofit actions are mapped out with clear costs, savings, and timelines. And because funding and certification can make or break a project, the study identifies opportunities to maximize both— helping you move forward with confidence and clarity.
Why JLR?
As an ORA delivery consultant, we won’t just help you check boxes, we’ll help you build a strategy that works. Your retrofit plan can be practical, impactful, and future-ready.
We’ve been proudly Canadian and employee-owned since 1955, serving Ottawa and communities across Ontario for 70 years. Our deep local roots and decades of experience mean we understand the unique challenges and opportunities in this region.
Ready to take the first step? Contact JLR today and let’s build your roadmap to a low-carbon future.
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