Alberta Pilot projects test weather-resistant housing tech

Key Takeaways:

• Aviva Canada is funding two Calgary-area pilot projects to test affordable, climate-resilient housing features that can better withstand hail and high winds.
• The projects come amid rising severe weather losses in Canada and aim to show that resilient construction is achievable and cost-effective, using materials like Class 4 shingles, hurricane ties and triple-pane windows.
• Findings are expected to guide future building codes, industry training and Habitat for Humanity projects, with research showing strong long-term financial benefits from investing in climate adaptation.

The Whole Story:

Aviva Canada is committing over $400,000 to fund two pilot projects in the Calgary area aimed at demonstrating how homes can be built to withstand severe wind and hail damage, the company said in a news release.

One project will add hail-resistant features to a 24-unit affordable housing development in Chestermere, Alberta, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity. The second will install wind and hail-resistant materials in a multi-unit housing project in Calgary, developed with the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction and the Canadian Home Builders’ Association.

The pilots come as Alberta faces increasingly frequent severe weather events. In 2024, Canada recorded $9.2 billion in insured losses from severe weather—more than the combined total for 2021, 2022 and 2023. Alberta and British Columbia account for more than half of Canada’s insured losses from extreme weather, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada.

“We must work together to help protect Albertans and homeowners across Canada from the growing threat of severe weather events,” said Susan Penwarden, Managing Director, Personal Lines at Aviva Canada. “The homes built through these projects will not only provide shelter, they’ll also provide peace of mind to these families that their home can stand strong today and in the future.”

Climate-resilient features in the builds include Class 4 hail-rated shingles, hurricane ties and extra fasteners to secure roofs during high winds, secondary ice and water barrier underlayment, Hardie Board siding, triple-pane windows, and hail-resistant roof vents and gutters.

Insights from the Calgary projects are intended to help builders and the construction industry understand the cost and feasibility of climate-resilient construction. Findings will inform future Habitat for Humanity projects, building codes, industry training and policy advocacy.

“This is a meaningful partnership for Habitat for Humanity,” said Pedro Barata, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada. “Thanks to Aviva’s support, we’re able to integrate the latest and most effective resilient features into these builds—protecting families and demonstrating that climate-ready housing is both achievable and affordable.”

Paul Kovacs, Executive Director of the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction, added: “Our collaboration with Aviva Canada is an exciting opportunity to demonstrate how resilient construction can safeguard families and communities—while informing future building practices across the country.”

Research shows every dollar spent on adaptation and resilience delivers $13 to $15 in direct and indirect future savings and benefits, including lower repair and replacement costs and avoided supply chain disruptions.