Reducing Emissions in the Bow Valley
Are rising energy costs impacting your bottom line? Does your building need upgrades, but you're unsure where to start?
The Biosphere Institute, in partnership with Alberta Ecotrust Foundation's Retrofit Accelerator, is offering a free training and coaching program to help local hotel and commercial building owners understand their energy use, identify opportunities to reduce costs, and plan for future upgrades.
Interested in learning more? Join us for a free Information & Networking Session on Wednesday, November 25, from 2:00–4:00 PM at the Canmore Opera House. Meet the experts, ask questions, and connect with other local property owners and operators.
Unable to attend the information session? No problem! Attendance is optional and is not required to participate in the program. Please fill out the Expression of Interest form below.
What You’ll Gain
How the Program Works
Phase One: Training & Coaching
Participate in three full-day, in-person workshops led by the Retrofit Accelerator team. Learn how to understand your building's energy use, identify opportunities for improvement, evaluate upgrade options, and plan for implementation.
Between workshops, participants will have access to free, personalized one-on-one coaching, practical tools and resources, and opportunities to learn from other local building owners and operators.
Phase Two: Retrofit Planning
Following Phase 1, select participating properties will have the opportunity to receive subsidized, customized retrofit plans developed by qualified consultants.
These plans will assess potential building improvements, estimate costs and energy savings, and provide a roadmap for future upgrades.
Additional details about Phase 2 eligibility, selection, and funding will be shared as the program progresses.
Workshops & Coaching
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January 2027 | Full-day, in-person workshop
Every successful building upgrade starts with understanding how your building uses energy today. Learn how to assess your building's energy performance and identify opportunities for improvement.
Topics include:
Understanding utility bills, electricity rates, and demand charges
Identifying energy consumption patterns and seasonal trends
Benchmarking building performance using ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager
Setting energy management goals and engaging key decision-makers
What you'll gain: The knowledge and skills to assess your building's current energy performance and identify potential opportunities to reduce energy costs.
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February 2027 | Full-day, in-person workshop
Learn how to evaluate potential building improvements and make informed decisions about where to invest.
Topics include:
Assessing and prioritizing energy efficiency upgrades
Understanding energy audits and the components of a retrofit plan
Planning and managing building improvement projects
Exploring available financing, incentives, and funding opportunities
What you'll gain: Practical skills to evaluate retrofit options, prioritize upgrades, and identify financing opportunities that align with your building's needs.
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March 2027 | Full-day, in-person workshop
A successful building upgrade requires a strong business case and a clear path to implementation. Learn how to move from identifying improvements to preparing for action.
Topics include:
Building a financial business case for upgrades
Evaluating energy savings, costs, and other building benefits
Selecting qualified service providers and planning implementation
Tracking energy performance and measuring project results
What you'll gain: A better understanding of how to advance building improvements from planning toward implementation and evaluate their results.
Want more detail? View the full Phase 1 Training & Coaching Outline.
Every building is different. Between workshops, participants will have access to free, one-on-one coaching with Alberta Ecotrust's Retrofit Accelerator specialists.
Coaches can provide tailored guidance to help you:
Understand your building's energy performance through benchmarking and data analysis.
Explore potential building upgrades and identify practical next steps.
Navigate funding and financing opportunities.
Work through building-specific challenges and questions.
Participants will also receive access to practical tools, templates, and resources to support their learning and planning.
Who Can Participate?
Eligible properties must:
Be located in the Bow Valley region, from Lake Louise to Kananaskis, including Stoney Nakoda Nations.
Be an existing building that has been fully operational for at least two years.
Be a commercial building providing lodging, food, or hospitality services such as hotels, large restaurants, strip malls
Residential buildings, including multi-unit residential buildings (e.g., condominiums) and registered bed and breakfasts, are not eligible.
Who should participate?
Building owners, general managers, facility and operations managers, sustainability professionals, and staff responsible for building upgrades or capital planning.
Not sure if your property is eligible? We encourage you to attend the November 25 information session or contact the Biosphere Institute for clarification.
What Is Expected of Participants?
Participants should be prepared to:
Attend all three full-day, in-person workshops between January and March 2027.
Spend some time between workshops gathering building information, such as utility bills and existing energy assessments.
Please note: Attendance at the November 25 information session is optional and is not required to participate in the program. However, participants are expected to attend all three workshops beginning in January 2027.
Additional Resources
Interested in learning more about building retrofits and the support available through this program?
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Want to learn more about the free training and coaching program?
Explore the full Phase 1 program outline developed by Alberta Ecotrust Foundation's Retrofit Accelerator team, including detailed workshop descriptions, learning objectives, one-on-one coaching opportunities, and additional learning resources.
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Launched in 2024, Alberta Ecotrust Foundation's Retrofit Accelerator helps building owners and operators plan energy-efficient upgrades through expert coaching, technical guidance, and practical resources.
Since 2024, the Retrofit Accelerator has worked with over 160 building owners and supported the development of more than 150 Deep Retrofit Plans.
The Retrofit Accelerator team will deliver the three-part workshop series and provide personalized one-on-one coaching throughout Phase 1 of the Bow Valley program.
Watch the Retrofit Accelerator Promotional Video
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A Deep Retrofit Plan is a detailed assessment and roadmap for improving a building's energy performance. It goes beyond a traditional energy audit by evaluating different upgrade options and helping owners make informed decisions about future investments.
Phase 2 Opportunity: Following the free training and coaching program, select participating properties will have the opportunity to receive subsidized Deep Retrofit Plans prepared by qualified consultants.
Learn More: Deep Retrofit Plans Explainer
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Explore guides, case studies, articles, and technical resources to help building owners understand energy efficiency improvements and plan successful retrofit projects.
The ENBIX Resource Library offers information on building retrofits, energy efficiency, financing, and low-carbon building practices.
Explore the ENBIX Retrofit Resource Library