Nadia's Story

*Names have been changed at thehomeowner’s request to protect their privacy.

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For many retired seniors living on a fixed income, home repairs can be stressful and sometimes unaffordable. Nadia lives alone in the  Northeast Calgary home that she had moved into more than a decade earlier. Her daughter, Mira, lives nearby and has helped her mother over the years to care for the house and keep it comfortable.

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Like many aging homes, larger repairs were becoming inevitable. Built in 1996, the house still had its original furnace, which was nearing 30 years old. It was during a furnace maintenance appointment that Nadia and Mira were warned it wouldn’t last much longer.

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“[The technician] said, eventually, the heat exchanger will go, so you should start looking at it,” recalled Mira, adding that they were advised not to wait more than a year.

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When they requested a quote to replace the furnace, the technician mentioned the City of Calgary’s Home Upgrades Program, which another one of his customers had told him about. Nadia and Mira looked into it, but were hesitant to apply at first. A program offering fully subsidized retrofits for low-income households sounded too good to be true.

“We were convinced there was going to be a cost eventually,” explained Mira. “I was checking with my brother to find outwhat he thought, then we decided to go for it.”

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With Mira’s help and encouragement, Nadia applied to all three streams of the Home Upgrades Program: the energy and water savings workshop, the home upgrades, and the RetroKits.

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Nadia and Mira attended an online workshop where they learned about how to save energy and water. They described the workshop as “helpful and accessible”.

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“It gave a nice overview. I wasn’t familiar with energy efficiency too much before, and I soaked in some information about all the different terms,” said Mira.

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Together they submitted Nadia’s application for the Home Upgrades stream, which they found easy to understand. They said the communication from the program team was friendly and professional.

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“It’s been really good,” Mira said, adding that they found the experience overall to be very smooth.

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Through the Home Upgrades stream, Nadia’s home received a new high-efficiency furnace, water heater, humidifier, and basement insulation, as well as air sealing. Nadia noticed the change right away, especially that the new furnace was much quieter compared to the old one.

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After the furnace was installed, the house was noticeably more comfortable than before. The difference it made to the house was immediate. Mira particularly noticed the difference in their guest room, which had always felt colder than the rest ofthe house.

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Nadia also received a RetroKit. After installing the window kit it included, she shared that the instructions were easy to follow and that she would recommend the RetroKit to others.

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For Nadia, the upgrades came at the rightt ime. Thanks to the Home Upgrades Program, she was able to replace essential equipment in her home at no cost, which would have been difficult tomanage on a fixed income. Mira credits the program for helping her mother remain comfortable in her home for years to come.

For seniors especially, this kind of program can make a big difference. Many older adults want to age in place, but major repairs like furnaces and water heaters can be expensive and stressful, and waiting too long can lead to unsafe or uncomfortable conditions. By covering the cost of upgrades and making the process easy to navigate, the Home Upgrades Program helps seniors keep their homes warm, safe and efficient, and gives families peace of mind that essential systems are taken care of.

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The Home Upgrades Program works in close collaboration with trusted local trades to deliver upgrades safely andefficiently. Like many other homes in the program, Nadia’s home upgrades were completed with support from trades partners Ideal Insulation, O'Neil Plumbing and Gas Inc, and MaxGreen Windows and Doors, without whom this work would notbe possible.

To learn more. visit: https://www.homeupgradesprogram.ca/calgary

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