What is Renewing Homes?

This podcast exists to host thoughtful, in-depth conversations about residential retrofits and the real-world complexity behind them. Originating in Canada but intentionally North American in scope, it creates space for builders, designers, researchers, trades, and policymakers to talk across silos, share hard-won lessons, and wrestle honestly with what it takes to improve homes at scale.

The goal is simple but ambitious: better understanding, better collaboration, and a retrofit industry that learns faster by listening more carefully.

The podcast explores the practical, technical, and human dimensions of residential retrofits. Conversations range from building science and construction practice to policy, program design, and market realities, always grounded in real projects and lived experience across Canada and the United States.

Host Bio

Ben Hildebrandt focuses on residential retrofit, high-performance construction, and the practical realities of improving existing homes. He earned his Architectural Technologies diploma from SAIT in 2013 and has worked across Alberta as a building envelope consultant on both residential and commercial new construction and remediation projects.

Ben currently leads building science-focused applied research at SAIT’s Green Building Technology Access Centre, contributes to curriculum development related to high-performance housing and retrofit practices, and instructs continuing education courses on residential retrofits. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Retrofit Canada, supporting collaboration and capacity-building across the residential retrofit sector.

Through Renewing Homes, Ben explores the challenges and opportunities of residential retrofit alongside the people doing the work, with the aim of strengthening understanding, collaboration, and practice across the industry.

Editorial Approach

Renewing Homes is an independent, long-form podcast focused on thoughtful, experience-based conversations about residential retrofits.

The podcast exists to explore how existing homes can be improved through better design, construction, policy, and decision-making. It prioritizes real-world experience, technical depth, and systems-level thinking over simplified narratives or surface-level commentary.

Conversations span disciplines, perspectives, and roles, recognizing that no single trade, profession, or organization holds all the answers. Nuance, disagreement, and evolving thinking are welcomed when grounded in evidence and lived experience.

Renewing Homes maintains editorial independence. Guests, topics, and conversations are selected by the host and guided by the goal of advancing understanding and constructive dialogue, rather than promoting predetermined messages.

The host is professionally involved in residential retrofit research, education, and industry collaboration, and may reference or discuss work from organizations with which he is or has been affiliated, including academic institutions and non-profit organizations such as Retrofit Canada. Relevant platforms, resources, and initiatives may be highlighted where they meaningfully add value to the conversation. These relationships are disclosed openly and do not determine editorial direction.

Podcast production, editorial decisions, and hosting are conducted independently and do not represent the official positions of any employer, partner organization, or affiliated institution. Participation in podcast activities is separate from the host’s employment with any organization.

Renewing Homes is not a marketing platform or product showcase. It does not exist to promote specific products or commercial services, nor to offer simplified or one-size-fits-all solutions. Topics are examined critically and independently, with respect for the complexity of retrofit work and the real-world contexts in which decisions are made.

Renewing Homes may include clearly identified sponsorships or advertising. Any such relationships do not influence editorial decisions, guest selection, or the substance of podcast conversations, and are governed by the same commitment to transparency and editorial independence outlined above.

The podcast is guided by curiosity, integrity, and respect for the challenges and opportunities of improving existing homes, with the aim of strengthening the residential retrofit ecosystem through better conversation.

Who This Podcast is For

Renewing Homes is for people working to improve existing homes — and who recognize that doing so well requires integration across disciplines.

Listeners include builders, trades, designers, architects, engineers, building scientists, program designers, policymakers, researchers, manufacturers, educators, and retrofit practitioners at all stages of experience. It is equally relevant to those working on individual projects and those shaping programs, standards, and market transformation efforts.

The podcast assumes curiosity, openness to multiple perspectives, and respect for the complexity of retrofit work. While discussions are grounded in professional practice, motivated homeowners and students seeking deeper understanding may also find value.

What This Podcast is Not

Renewing Homes is not a how-to or DIY podcast, and it does not present retrofit work as simple, prescriptive, or universally transferable. Conversations focus on understanding decisions, trade-offs, and context rather than delivering step-by-step project guidance.

It is not a product review platform, sales channel, or promotional space for commercial offerings. Guests are invited for their experience and insight, not to market services or technologies.

The podcast also does not advocate a single methodology, standard, or organizational viewpoint. Diverse approaches and disagreements are explored openly, with the aim of learning rather than consensus.

Transparency and Disclosures

Renewing Homes is an independent podcast. Content and opinions expressed are those of the host and guests and do not represent the views of any employers, academic institutions, non-profit organizations, or partners. Any affiliations are disclosed for transparency and do not determine editorial direction.