Calgary ACORN's Eco-Tenant Union project was a year-long project that connected the dots between housing precarity and energy inefficiency in Calgary's rental housing. It also developed short-term and long-term policy campaigns that induced the scaling of apartment retrofits in Calgary.

An engaged citizenry is crucial for effective climate action, especially among low-income tenants, who are often the least civically engaged and most vulnerable to climate change. ACORN’s Eco-Tenant Union project emphasized the importance of tenant engagement in home retrofitting, potential redevelopment, and broader ecological issues while also educating tenants on energy-saving practices, tenant rights and how to organize a tenant union.

Over 100 tenants participated in the project through meetings and events. ACORN knocked on 17,500 doors and created 1,476 new contacts across Calgary. These contacts, along with existing ACORN members, were further engaged through phone calls, digital communications and house visits to encourage participation in tenant unions, tenant working groups, and ACORN chapters.

Tenant involvement varied, from attending a single event to becoming ACORN Tenant Union leaders. These leaders were trained to lead meetings, organize tenants in their communities and engage with policymakers and stakeholders.

In the spring of 2024, ACORN launched its municipal platform, linking issues of substandard and unaffordable housing to energy inefficiency in apartments. The platform calls for the City of Calgary to license landlords to enforce health and environmental standards, expand public transportation, and enhance the BenchmarkYYC program for better public information on building energy efficiency.

Key outcomes include agreements from the Canada Infrastructure Bank to limit rent increases in future funding deals and new partnerships with organizations and policymakers.

The project built capacity in tenant communities and civil society in Calgary, both essential for driving large-scale policy changes needed to reduce GHG emissions.

Informed tenant participation is essential for maximizing the co-benefits of energy retrofits in rental apartments. To achieve this, tenants need resources to build the organizational power required to become stakeholders in these projects.

There is a significant risk that tenants' interests could be compromised in efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in apartment buildings. This could not only diminish the ecological benefits of the retrofits but also exacerbate the housing affordability crisis. Moreover, it might create political opposition to energy retrofits among those who would typically support them, such as housing advocates and their allies. This is why ACORN Canada’s role as a stakeholder is so crucial—it ensures a consistent voice for tenants' interests.