Developmental Evaluation: Halifax’s Climate Action

Client: Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) – Energy and Environment Team

Context: In June 2020, HRM adopted HalifACT, an ambitious climate action plan aimed at achieving a net-zero economy by 2050, making it one of Canada’s boldest climate movements. To reduce energy consumption, one of HRM’s strategies is focused on supporting homeowners with deep energy retrofits. They sought to test their approach by piloting a new program, aiming to understand its impact and effectiveness.

Our Approach: Colab worked with HRM’s Energy & Environment team to create a Developmental Evaluation plan for the pilot program. Together, we co-developed a developmental evaluation and learning framework with an iterative approach to gathering data, interpreting feedback, and informing decisions. Throughout the pilot, we facilitated real-time data sharing and sensemaking, allowing the team to adapt quickly and improve the program during its initial rollout. This ensured that challenges were addressed promptly and insights were applied immediately, enhancing the program's success.