Deep energy retrofitting of existing buildings has become critically important to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions from the built environment. It will also conserve older buildings and make them more comfortable, durable, and climate resilient. One of the most effective approaches is exterior retrofitting through adding prefabricated insulative panels to the exterior walls and roofs to improve a building envelope’s thermal performance. Such activities could provide a sizable market for wood-based systems, particularly for retrofitting the housing stock of older low-rise wood-frame buildings in Canada and the United States. This document aims to keep the Canadian wood industry and prefabrication providers abreast of this potential
market by providing a brief overview about the background, technical solutions, and potential barriers of such retrofitting.