Decarbonization and Electrification in Social and Community Housing Living Labs in Quebec
Explore community-led models to decarbonize social housing through innovative social finance and policy co-construction. Analyze regulatory and financial frameworks shaping equitable energy transitions while engaging closely with living labs in Quebec's diverse communities.
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Project Description
Project Overview
This transformational Quebec Living Lab advances decarbonization and electrification in social, affordable, and low-income housing. It combines technical innovation with community engagement to deliver scalable solutions for a sector often excluded from market-driven retrofits. The project includes four living labs located in Longueuil, Montreal-Nord, Hochelaga, and Montreal, each in partnership with key community and public agencies.
What You Will Do
Conduct desk research on participatory and community-led energy transition models. Analyze social economy and solidarity finance approaches within housing and energy sectors. Evaluate financial tools for retrofit and electrification in social housing. Develop policy recommendations for an equitable energy transition. Create stakeholder-specific roadmaps for policy, finance, and governance. Document emerging co-governance frameworks. Analyze policy and regulatory contexts impacting social housing transformation. Conduct impact assessment at various project phases. Develop long-term community-led monitoring frameworks and engage stakeholders to validate findings. Prepare policy briefs and dissemination materials.
Expected Outcomes
Development of scalable, equity-focused retrofit solutions for social and community housing. Innovative financial and governance models that enhance participation from diverse stakeholders. Policy frameworks supporting a fair energy transition accessible to low-income housing sectors. Strengthened community capacity for ongoing monitoring and impact evaluation of retrofit initiatives.
Why This Matters
Social, affordable, and low-income housing sectors have often been excluded from mainstream market retrofits, limiting their ability to reduce carbon footprints and energy costs. This research addresses this gap by integrating social finance, community engagement, and policy co-construction to enable just and inclusive transitions towards sustainable energy, aiding climate goals and social equity simultaneously.
Entry Requirements
How to Apply
Eligibility
Supervisor Profile
Prof Marguerite Mendell is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Concordia University's School of Community and Public Affairs. Her research spans social finance, impact investing, social economy, and policy co-construction, drawing on the work of Karl Polanyi. She is recognized internationally for her contributions to economic democracy and social innovation, actively participating in global dialogues and policy consultations.