Meet our Energy Trailblazer: Fellipe Falluh
Fellipe Falluh
Founder, Retrofit Construction
Montréal, Quebec
Fellipe Falluh’s work is where innovation meets tradition. Originally from Brazil and coming from a family of builders, Fellipe grew up with a deep appreciation for sustainability and the environment. As a third-generation contractor, he witnessed firsthand the potential of the construction industry to drive meaningful change. With a commitment to improving the built environment, Fellipe earned a degree in civil and environmental engineering from McGill University and, at just 24 years old, founded Retrofit Construction; “where sustainability meets well-being and the past meets the future.”
Recognized as one of Corporate Knights’ 30 Under 30 Sustainability Leaders and a recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal, Fellipe is a trailblazer in sustainable building practices. Inspired by global solutions like the Dutch Energiesprong model, he is introducing prefabricated retrofits to Canada, offering efficient, tenant-friendly ways to reduce energy use. As vice-president of the board at Bâtiment Passif Québec, Fellipe promotes Passive House principles across the province, championing high-performance construction.
His completed retrofit of a 130-year-old duplex in Montreal became the first net-zero-ready certified building in Quebec, setting a precedent for energy-efficient construction. More recently, he achieved another milestone by completing a fully net-zero retrofit of an old barn, the first of its kind in the province.
Fellipe is shaping the future of sustainability through advocacy and education. He co-hosts the podcast Au-Delà des Murs, where he engages with professionals to inspire innovation and progress in high-performance construction. By combining hands-on expertise with thought leadership, Fellipe continues to lead by example, proving that the path to a sustainable future starts with rethinking the buildings we live and work in every day.
Fellipe’s Career Journey
Undergraduate Degree
Fellipe pursued an undergraduate degree in civil engineering at McGill University and Professional Engineer license, P. Eng.
Certification
Fellipe obtained an LEED accredited professional certification.
On-the-Job Experience
Fellipe works as a contractor on Green Building projects, retrofitted his own home/duplex in Montreal, and founded a company specializing in deep energy retrofits, Retrofit Construction.
Advice on entering the energy efficiency sector
As a female and a Black female, there are always going to be obstacles. That doesn’t mean, however, that I didn’t face them head-on. I like a challenge. I welcome it, actually. It motivates me. So for any women out there who are BIPOC or women in general, we are dominating a very male-induced industry.
Where things are trending in workforce development is, upskilling the soft skills that you don’t have. We’ve recognized that it’s not just learning the technical stuff, you have to give them the management skills and the business skills and the stakeholder engagement skills.
The great thing is that with this sector, there is such a need for workers that they are offering courses to everyone. That’s really opening up for people. You don’t need to go back to school necessarily. Go do a degree or diploma. You can take like little courses at a time to upskill yourself and make yourself relevant.
